The World's Best Book Summaries
Who invented the group madness theory? Why do people behave irrationally—even violently—when in a crowd? Group madness is the idea that people lose their free will, reasoning, and restraint when in a crowd—everyone goes mad all at once and there’s no ideological motivation or justification involved. Group madness theory was invented by nineteenth-century French polymath Gustave LeBon. Keep reading to learn about Gustagrve LeBon’s group madness theory.
What is neomania? Why do we experience it and how can it make us more fragile? Neomania is the obsession with any and all things new. This is a normal preoccupation for humans, but can lead to the development of fragile systems. Read more about neomania below.
What is the meaning of optionality? How does optionality work and how can it improve choices and outcomes? A key aspect of antifragility is having a variety of choices available. Having many options maximizes your chances of achieving success in most situations, whether it’s political, economic, or another type of system. Read more about optionality, its meaning, and how it relates to antifragility.
What happened at the 1968 Democratic National Convention? Why was this part of safeguarding democracy? At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the party officially nominated for president a candidate who hadn’t won any primaries. This caused many to push for change in how candidates were nominated, so they could be chosen by the people and not party elites. Read more about the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the democratic safeguards that were put in place.
What do we know of the psychology of shame? What do people tend to be ashamed of? Do you think shameful feelings are grounded in reality or are they purely subjective? Although shame is a subjective emotion, the psychology of shame has more to do with other people than with ourselves because shame stems from the fear of judgment. Most people tend to harbor shameful feelings about things that wouldn’t be deemed scandalous by others. That said, there are also some things that would be deemed shameful by society in general. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at
Is the U.S. a failed democracy? What makes a failed democracy, anyway? The U.S. is not a failed democracy, but it has faced numerous challenges, and there are those in power who threaten the rights and freedoms of Americans every day. This is why it’s important to prioritize democratic principles. Keep reading to find out how we can prevent the U.S. from becoming a failed democracy.
What is the Heidi/Howard study? What do the findings say about the gender double standard in modern workplaces? The 2003 “Heidi/Howard” study tested perceptions of women and men in the workforce. The study demonstrates the difference between likeability and success for men and women. The more successful a man is, the greater his likeability. The more successful a woman is, the worse her likeability. Keep reading to learn about the Heidi/Howard study and its implications for women’s achievement.
Was the Clinton impeachment an example of abuse of power in the government? Why should we take abuses of power like this seriously? In the 1990s, the rise of pundit-like political figures like Newt Gingrich changed the political landscape. This paved the way for further party polarization, and abuse of power in government wherein one party uses government systems to harm another, such as the Clinton impeachment. Keep reading to find out why the Clinton impeachment was an abuse of power in government.
Why do men avoid marriage? How can you turn your boyfriend into your husband? If you’re in a committed relationship, then the next obvious step is marriage. However, Steve Harvey explains in his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man that even committed men avoid marriage because it means changing their way of life and officially taking them off the market. To avoid this, Harvey says you should set the expectation early in a relationship. Continue on to learn more about men and marriage, according to Steve Harvey.
Do you think public shaming is an effective form of punishment? What are the potential consequences of public shaming for the victimized? Although the methods have changed, public humiliation is still used as a way to inflict punishment for contemptuous behavior, and for a reason—it works. However, public shaming can have serious consequences for the victim because people who’ve been publicly shamed may lose their friends, family, and career, potentially forever. Keep reading to learn about public shaming, its history, and the consequences for the victimized.