The World's Best Book Summaries
What are some of the most noteworthy A Moveable Feast quotes? How does Hemingway describe his life in Paris? A Moveable Feast is Ernest Hemingway’s memoir from his time living in Paris. At that time, Hemingway was hungry, poor, and happy. He lived with his wife Hadley and befriended many literary giants. Continue below for quotes from A Moveable Feast.
Want to know how to critique a book the right way? Why is it important to critique the books you read? According to Mortimer Adler, the author of How to Read a Book, your job as a reader is to determine which of her problems the author has solved, which she has not, and decide if the author knew she had failed to solve them— because there is no book that is free of fault. This is how you properly critique a book according to Adler.
In what ways is using willpower like working out at the gym? Why is self-control highest in the morning? Can you increase your willpower stamina? The more you use your willpower, the more it becomes depleted, just like your energy when you work out at the gym. Willpower depletion can lead to negative side-effects such as binge eating or spending money. Luckily, there are ways to counter willpower depletion and ways to increase your willpower stamina. Continue below for research and tips on willpower depletion.
How did the invention of the electronic telegraph undermine print-based discourse? How did the inclusion of photography add to the telegraph’s assault on print culture? The electronic telegraph was invented to send messages over long distances and create the opportunity for a national conversation. But in the process, the relevance of information was undermined and newspapers started printing decontextualized information. Keep reading to learn about the history of the telegraph and how it paved the way for the entertainment era.
What is a dopamine high? What is the biological purpose of dopamine? How can a dopamine high undermine your self-control? Dopamine is the brain neurotransmitter that is at the root of every craving and desire. Dopamine can be dangerous because it causes a form of arousal when you want something, but does not release any sort of satisfaction when you receive that item. This cycle of want and disappointment can lead to anxiety and addiction. Here’s everything you need to know about dopamine highs and how to use dopamine in your favor.
What are the four levels of reading from Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book? Why are most adults still reading at an elementary level? How can you improve your reading level? The four levels of reading are elementary reading, inspectional reading, analytical reading, and syntopical reading. With Adler’s guide and some time and practice, you, too, could reach a syntopical reading level. Continue below to learn about each of the four levels of reading.
How did the print culture of previous centuries differ from the entertainment and media culture of today? How has our approach to media consumption changed over the years? The print-centered discourse of 18th and 19th century America was rational, substantive, and serious. In comparison, the entertainment culture of today is shallow, prioritizing entertainment over intelligence. Here’s how the age of print culture differed from our current-day society.
What is the what-the-hell effect? Why does your brain tend to take one bad decision and amplify it? The what-the-hell effect is when you make one bad decision—such as eating a slice of pizza while on a diet—and makes it even worse—eating three more pieces because you already ate one. Rather than doing damage control and stopping at one, your brain says “what the hell” and keeps making it worse. Here is the psychological background to the what-the-hell effect and some tips for avoiding it.
Why is syntopical reading the most difficult form of reading? What are the seven major steps for syntopical reading? According to Mortimer Adler, syntopical reading is the most difficult level of reading because you must first read and analyze a multitude of books, compare them to one another, and understand and compare the opposing viewpoints. In essence, you go from being the student to the master. Here is everything you need to know about syntopical reading.
Is there any truth in media? Is society so focused on entertainment that it’s removed epistemology? How has the form of culture’s media changed throughout history? As society moved from the print era to the television era, serious news has become drowned in trivial nonsense. This is worrisome because it is creating a society where the general public would rather be entertained than well-informed. Continue below for examples of truth in media from the past and an analysis of the effects of television on media.