The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the main problems with the criminal justice system? How can we fix our understanding of justice? The criminal justice system is far from perfect, but we can help get it there. Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy highlights the institutions that have corrupted how we view justice and offers solutions to guide us in the right direction. Continue reading to learn more about these problems and how we can fix them.
Why does the criminal justice system put children in prison? Does imprisoning children violate the Eighth Amendment? The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from excessive punishment. But Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy says that this amendment is violated when children are imprisoned with life-without-parole sentences. Decide if children in prison need to be protected by the Eighth Amendment below.
What is healthy sex in a relationship? What are the benefits of healthy intimate relationships? Having healthy sex in a relationship starts with reframing how we think about sex in the first place, claim the authors of The School of Life. According to them, our society has come to believe that sex should just be easy and fun, yet the authors argue that human desire is much more complicated than this. Read on to learn how the authors define healthy sex in a relationship and why it’s so important.
What are the best Just Mercy quotes to remember? What do these quotes say about the quality of the criminal justice system? In Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson describes the injustice many incarcerated victims face when they’re sentenced to death row. Drawing from all the cases he worked on as a lawyer, Stevenson gives insightful commentary on corrupt justice and making things right in the system. Keep reading for the best quotes from Just Mercy with explanations.
Who is Bryan Stevenson? How does Stevenson help death row inmates? Stevenson’s book Just Mercy details his life work as a lawyer and social justice activist who helps death row inmates who could be redeemed. He shares how his legal background showed him the unfairness of the justice system and the need for merciful treatment of the accused. Keep reading for more on Stevenson’s work as a lawyer who exposes the corrupt justice system.
Who is Walter McMillian in the book Just Mercy? Why is his case so famous? In Just Mercy, Walter McMillian is described as an inmate who was wrongfully convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. Lawyer and author Bryan Stevenson took an interest in McMillian’s case since he believed racial bias was involved in his conviction. Continue reading to learn more about the McMillian case, from the initial arrest to freedom.
What’s the importance of humility? What kind of life will you live if you’re arrogant? Humility is one of the Eight Pillars of Joy that Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama describe in their book The Book of Joy. The opposite of arrogance, humility has the power to put you in someone else’s shoes and build powerful bonds. Discover why humility is important in the grand scheme of things.
Why is Merlin Sheldrake fascinated with fungi? How do fungi expand our imaginations? According to Merlin Sheldrake, fungi push us to consider new ways of thinking about ourselves, other people, and non-human beings. It’s no wonder that Sheldrake wrote Entangled Life, a whole book about the beauty of fungi. Here, we’ll explore two concepts that fungi challenge us to question: individuality and intelligence.
What should the government spend money on? What should its priorities be and why? In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith discusses what he thinks are the best ways to grow a nation’s economy. Since growth is the goal, Smith opposes most public spending. He outlines two criteria for what he considers proper government expenditures. Only four things meet these criteria. Let’s take a look at what makes the cut and why.
How are typical Western diets and lifestyles influencing people’s health? What is microbial diversity and what happens when it’s compromised? Science journalist Ed Yong writes about the health implications of living a Western lifestyle in his book I Contain Multitudes, which debunks common myths about microbes and how they impact our lives. Yong argues that a typical Western diet is just one factor that leads to decreased microbial diversity. Read on to learn about the health risks of following a typical Western diet and lifestyle, according to Yong.