The World's Best Book Summaries
Is there news censorship in America? What indirect censorship tactics do the elite use to influence big media outlets? Despite the supposed “freedom of the press,” the government and big corporations control what the general public sees in the news. They’re able to skirt censorship laws by using suppression and intimidation techniques. Here are the five most common tactics used to censor the media in America.
Where does news come from? Who are the sources that provide the content? In their book Manufacturing Consent, Chomsky and Herman explain that the most common sources for the news are political and economic figures. This means that these elites can control what makes it to the news and what is suppressed. Here’s how the elites shape what the general public sees.
What is ethos in the context of persuasion? How do you use ethos to evaluate a persuasive argument? Ethos is used to gain credibility and trust in a persuasive argument. However, it can be used for more than just writing a persuasive essay—you can use ethos to judge the arguments of others. The three things you need to look out for are the virtue, level of interest, and practical wisdom of the speaker. Here’s how to use ethos to judge an argument.
How did humanitarian aid help Africa during the AIDS crisis? Could have the crisis have been handled better? In his book The White Man’s Burden, economist William Easterly believes that the AIDS crisis could have been dealt with more effectively if the humanitarian aid programs had focused more on prevention and less on treatment. This stance is controversial because the utilitarian viewpoint basically ignores those who are already sick. Continue reading to learn about Easterly’s take on the AIDS crisis.
Why are the problems with the top-down aid model? Why is the humanitarian aid system flawed? In his book The White Man’s Burden, William Easterly posits that the top-down aid model is disconnected from its recipients and is a recipe for under-delivering. However, there are cases to be made for both sides of the argument. Continue reading to learn more about the flaws in the global aid system.
Should Christians serve in government? What is Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s view? According to Bonhoeffer, Christians should not hold a position with the government. He gives three reasons for this in his book The Cost of Discipleship. Some Christians (and perhaps even the Bible) do not support his position, and it seems that Bonhoeffer himself might have changed some of his views over time. Keep reading to learn more about Bonhoeffer’s perspective on Christians in government.
What is William Easterly’s The White Man’s Burden about? How was the book received by the public? Easterly’s book is controversial because he actually makes the case against providing certain types of aid to countries that are struggling. Some saw his book as revolutionary while some thought it was blasphemous. Here is a brief overview of The White Man’s Burden with a look at some of the critiques.
Why does inflation occur? Is inflation a natural occurrence or is it caused by external forces? In her book The Deficit Myth, Stephanie Kelton—a former Senate Budget Committee staffer and 2016 campaign adviser to Bernie Sanders—discusses inflation in depth. Kelton believes that inflation occurs naturally and is not a result of government policies. Continue reading to learn about the causes and effects of inflation.
Is Social Security running out of money? Why does modern monetary theory say the entitlement program crisis is a lie? Modern monetary theory (MMT) says that social entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicaid will always be safe. This theory goes against the common belief that, due to the number of Baby Boomers, the social entitlement programs will run out of money and future generations will need to find alternative forms of aid. Keep reading for economist and MMT believer Stephanie Kelton’s take on the entitlement crisis.
How does the federal reserve set monetary policy? Why does economist Stephanie Kelton believe that the Fed is causing needless suffering in the United States? In her book The Deficit Myth, Kelton (a believer in modern monetary theory) thinks that the federal reserve is too conservative and overreacts when it comes to the fear of inflation. Kelton and other MMT proponents believe in using a combination of deficit spending and low interest rates to boost demand and create full employment instead. Below, we will discuss the problems with the Federal Reserve, according to Stephanie Kelton.