The World's Best Book Summaries
Why did social norms develop? How do they work, and what role do they play? If you make too much noise in a library, you probably won’t get escorted out by security. Instead, you’ll likely earn some dirty looks or shushing from your fellow patrons. Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson explain how norms of society, such as this example of group enforcement, regulate human behavior. Read more to learn how norms of society play a role in our lives.
What author might have discovered the “holy grail of physics”? What books are fun bedtime reading for the whole family? Timothy could tell you. Based in Idaho, he’s a book guide writer at Shortform. We interviewed him recently to learn a bit about his relationship with books, and he has some fascinating recommendations ranging from the classic to the obscure.
How much can you invest in your startup? How much of a financial leg up can you give your new business? If you have sizable assets to invest in your startup, you have a leg up over the competition. Valuable assets are one of the unfair advantages identified in the book The Unfair Advantage by entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. The authors discuss a potential drawback of assets, how to know if your assets are your unfair advantage in particular, and how to improve and make the most of your assets. Keep reading to learn about the unfair advantage
What did Aristotle say about wisdom as a virtue? Why did he believe it was superior? In an effort to prove that wisdom is the greatest virtue of all, Aristotle explains how the virtue of wisdom is superior to moral virtues. He claims that wisdom is superior because it’s self-sufficient and divine. Let’s take a look at Aristotle’s view on the virtue of wisdom as presented in his Nicomachean Ethics.
Do doctors actually care about you? Why do people buy Teslas? What’s the hidden purpose of education? In The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life, Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives hidden behind altruistic pretexts. They argue that, because we’re a cooperative social species, our brains evolved to hide our true motives not just from others, but from ourselves so as to balance our selfishness with our need to get along. Keep reading for an overview of the book.
Do you feel equipped to answer challenges to your faith? How could you do a better job of explaining what you believe and why? Apologetics are sound arguments designed to justify your beliefs. You need facts and reason at hand to solidify the foundation of your faith and respond to questions and challenges from others who see things differently. Here’s some good news: established facts and reasoned arguments for biblical Christianity exist, and many people have already done a lot of the hard work to bring them together. I’ve assembled what I think are the best apologetics resources. Keep reading
Is knowledge your secret weapon? How can you leverage your learning to strengthen your startup? If you have considerable or specialized knowledge, you have a leg up over the competition. Knowledge is one of the unfair advantages identified in the book The Unfair Advantage by entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. The authors discuss a potential drawback of knowledge, how to know if knowledge is your unfair advantage in particular, and how to improve and make the most of your knowledge. Continue reading to learn about the importance of knowledge in entrepreneurship.
How can people become virtuous? What was Aristotle’s theory? A person can develop moral virtue, Aristotle says, through habit. This journey involves three main elements: achieving a mean between two vices, experiencing pain and pleasure, and acquiring moral education. Continue reading for an overview of Aristotle’s ideas about moral virtue as presented in his Nicomachean Ethics.
How important are location and timing in business? Are they a built-in advantage for you? If you’re in the right place at the right time, you have a leg up over the competition. Location and timing are unfair advantages identified in the book The Unfair Advantage by entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. The authors discuss potential drawbacks of good location and timing, how to know if location and timing are your unfair advantage in particular, and how to improve and make the most of your location and timing. Let’s take a closer look at this unfair advantage.
What’s happiness? What does reason have to do with it? How is virtue a factor? Aristotle concedes that many people agree with him that happiness is the goal of human life. The real challenge is defining happiness. He defines it as rational activity aligned with virtue. Keep reading to understand Aristotle’s definition of happiness.