The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you tend to take things personally? Are you always making assumptions? Are you a gossip? The world today is full of suffering and cruelty. From birth, we are trained to accept society’s rules as “the way it is.” But, agreeing to these rules stops us from becoming our true selves. The good news is that there’s a different way to live. Use these The Four Agreements exercises to help you implement a new approach to life.
Did you hear about the time Richard Feynman attended a dance party for deaf students? Did you know he was a drummer with a samba band in Rio? Nobel laureate Richard Feynman is known for his scientific accomplishments. He’s also known for being fun. Never one to turn down an adventure, he seized joy throughout his life. His personality shines through in his memoir Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! Continue reading for a look at Richard Feynman’s personality as revealed through a few stories in his memoir.
Do you feel powerless to impact politics? Does it seem like the major decisions are made by powerful people far away? You’re not alone—and things haven’t always been this way. In The Power Elite, American sociologist C. Wright Mills discusses how a small group of corporate, military, and political leaders has taken over a vast majority of American political and economic decision-making. Continue reading for Mills’s exploration of how the centralization of power progressed in America at the expense of the people.
What’s so great about the free market? Does self-interest benefit everyone? How should taxes be used? Many economists consider The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith to be one of the major foundational texts of their discipline. Writing in 1776, Smith argues that free markets are the best institution for cultivating a nation’s wealth. Continue reading for an overview of this important classic work.
When you experience change, is it distressing or rewarding? Do you tend to overanalyze? Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that demonstrates in practical terms how to handle change better and avoid pitfalls. You can do this by practicing a few key principles: anticipate and prepare for change, overcome fears, envision success, and enjoy change. Continue reading for Who Moved My Cheese? discussion questions that will help you apply the book’s principles.
Why did Richard Feynman take up art? How was it a good counterbalance to his work in math and science? Nobel laureate Richard Feynman is known for science, not art. But, later in his life, he responded to a challenge to learn how to draw. Through the experience, he learned far more than how to create art. Read more to learn about Richard Feynman, art, and the wonders of learning.
Can self-interest be a good thing? What does it have to do with labor, embargoes, and taxation? According to Adam Smith, self-interest in the context of a free market is what a nation needs in order to flourish. In The Wealth of Nations, he argues that free markets harness the power of rational self-interest to incentivize the production of useful goods while efficiently distributing surplus wealth. Read more to understand Smith’s case for free markets and individual self-interest as the best ways to grow a nation’s economy.
What was Richard Feynman’s reputation when he was young? Why did he buy broken radios? Though Richard Feynman’s recollections in his memoir may seem to bounce from topic to topic at random, they all exemplify certain key values that underlie Feynman’s idiosyncratic personality. They emerge in his childhood, developing his reputation early on. Continue reading for an exploration of the young Richard Feynman.
What is specialization of labor? What impact does it have on workers and on the economy as a whole? According to Adam Smith, specialization of labor contributes to the wealth of a nation. In his seminal work, The Wealth of Nations, Smith explains three ways this happens. He also discusses how a market’s size affects the amount of specialization that can occur. Continue reading to learn Smith’s views on labor specialization.
How does a country make money? What separates a wealthy country from a poor country? Many economists consider Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations one of the major foundational texts of their discipline. Writing in 1776, Smith argues that free markets are the best institution for cultivating a nation’s wealth. Keep reading to learn the basics of how a country makes money.