The World's Best Book Summaries
Why do we assume we’ll be more inclined to do something tomorrow that we didn’t want to do today? Why do we see our future selves as different people? Research shows that you see your future self as a completely different person. This makes you procrastinate on your goals because you assume that future-you will pick up the slack. Here are some tips on how to stop seeing your future self as another person.
Could your personal productivity use a boost? Would you like to learn how to get more done? In Smarter Faster Better, Charles Duhigg discusses six principles that he believes are crucial to improving personal productivity. He argues that it’s not about working longer hours or constantly pushing yourself to do more. Instead, it’s about making wise choices in certain areas of your life. Read more to discover ways to improve personal productivity.
What are the four components of analytical reading? What is the goal of reading a book analytically? Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book describes analytical reading as the third level of reading. At this level, the aim is to understand to book and its background as much as possible in an unlimited amount of time. Keep reading to learn about the four components of analytical reading.
Does the free-market system help or hinder the national interest? Do you think it’s better to let the economy run its course or to intervene? Many people believe that a free-market system—one in which supply and demand dictate prices for goods—serves the desires of greedy businesses rather than the consumers and the national wealth. But the price system naturally diverts capital and manpower to the industries that produce most efficiently and contribute the most to national wealth. Here’s why the free-market system is actually better for both consumers and the national interest.
What’s the role of testing in software development? How do developers make sure that they correctly understand clients’ requirements? In software development, testing ensures that a system works, but that’s a bonus, not their main purpose. The most important purpose of a test is to communicate, specify, and document how a system is supposed to work and how it actually works. In this article, we’ll first look at acceptance testing, which is the main type of testing in software development. Then, we’ll look at how acceptance tests fit into the broader discipline of testing.
Are you looking to further your understanding of Amusing Ourselves to Death? How can you relate this thirty-six-year-old book to life today? Thirty-six years ago, Neil Postman wrote Amusing Ourselves to Death to warn society of a looming future like Brave New World. Postman believed that entertainment value would become more important than truth or intelligence. Continue reading for Amusing Ourselves to Death discussion questions.
Do you know how to innovate effectively? How can this skill lead to greater productivity and success? Productive people know how to innovate. In Smarter Faster Better, Charles Duhigg shares four principles that you can implement to create conditions for creativity and productive innovation to thrive. Read more to learn how to innovate, the Smarter Faster Better way.
What is the difference between de facto and de jure segregation? Are all forms of segregation banned by the constitution? The difference between de facto and de jure segregation is that de facto segregation is by personal choice or private practices, while de jure is due to discriminatory government policy. The Supreme Court ruled that de jure segregation is unconstitutional, while de facto segregation cannot be remedied by the constitution. Read on to discover the history and examples of de facto and de jure segregation in housing.
Do you struggle to find that one perfect idea and hold yourself back from entertaining less-than-perfect ideas? What can you do to increase your chances of getting novel, original ideas? No matter what field of work you’re in, you’d likely benefit from being more creative and generating more good ideas. The most important rule of thumb to follow is to brainstorm lots of ideas. Here’s a spread of advice from Tim Ferriss on how to generate ideas, how to identify the best ones, and how to put them to action.
What is the difference between assertive and aggressive communication? What can you do to avoid being aggressive? How can this help you to avoid conflict? The difference between assertive and aggressive communication is whether you are in control of your emotions. Another key difference between assertive and aggressive communication is how you present your message. In The Chimp Paradox, Steve Peters says that aggressive behavior is caused by your emotional inner Chimp taking over. Read on to find out the key differences between assertive and aggressive communication and what this has to do with your inner Chimp.