The World's Best Book Summaries
How well do you really know yourself? How do you regard the parts of yourself that you don’t like? We all have parts of our personality, character, body, or background that bother us. What we do in response makes a difference. Dr. Julie Smith advises that we accept who we are, warts and all. Read more to learn how to practice self-acceptance with Smith’s suggestions.
Do any of your coworkers disrespect you? Do they make you dread going to work? In The Asshole Survival Guide, organizational psychologist Robert I. Sutton explains how to identify assholes at work. He also discusses three research-backed ways their behavior hurts the people around them. Continue reading for Sutton’s valuable insights.
When did Barbra Streisand begin acting? Did she worry about being typecast? How has she combined her other talents with acting? Barbra Streisand isn’t just an amazing singer; she’s also an accomplished actress. In fact, she began acting professionally before she started her singing career. Over the years, she’s enjoyed remarkable achievements in the theater and the movies. Continue reading to learn the highlights of Barbra Streisand’s acting career.
How did a trading company, ostensibly formed for commerce, come to rule most of the Indian subcontinent and its millions of people for over 50 years? What impact did it make? The Anarchy by William Dalrymple charts the rise of the English East India Company (EIC) during the 17th and 18th centuries. Dalrymple explains how it rose from a small outfit of merchants into the imperialist superpower that established British colonial rule in India. Continue reading for an overview of this fascinating book.
Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Did your creativity get squashed at some point? Julia Cameron says it’s not too late to reconnect to your inner artist and find what’s been lost—creativity, dreams, and desires. These elements are all still inside you somewhere, and she encourages you to go after them. Continue reading to learn how to reconnect to your creativity and recover what’s been lost.
How wealthy was the Mughal empire? Why were the English the deferential party in the Mughal trade relationship? In The Anarchy, William Dalrymple charts the rise of the English East India Company. He sets the stage by discussing conditions in India during the 17th century and what made it so attractive to British merchants. Read more to understand how England took notice of the wealth in India and began trading within the powerful Mughal empire.
Do you lack motivation to do what needs to be done every day? Are you so overwhelmed you don’t know how or where to start? Motivation is a feeling, so it naturally ebbs and flows. Dr. Julie Smith writes that it’s important to treat it as such and, therefore, not let it get the best of you. In her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, she shares four techniques that can help you overcome a lack of motivation. Keep reading for Smith’s practical advice on how to be more motivated and do what you need to do.
How does Barbra Streisand compare directing and acting? What’s so noteworthy about her film Yentl? According to Barbra Streisand, directing isn’t easy. But, it provides more of what she looks for in creative pursuits. In her autobiography, Streisand writes about her film directing career, and it’s easy to see how her landmark project Yentl showcases so much of her one-of-a-kind style. Keep reading to learn the highlights of Streisand’s directing career.
How strong is your creative intuition? Do you know how to channel your emotions into creativity? How often do you experience synchronicity? In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron shows you how to tap into your deeper creative self where your real emotions and wild ideas reside. One way to do this is to get a better handle on your creative intuition and feelings, which will also help you produce the art you’re intended to produce. Read more to learn Cameron’s advice for leveraging your creative intuition and emotions.
How did the mighty Mughal empire fall? What role did the East India Company play in its demise? While not the direct cause behind the breakdown of Mughal authority, the East India Company benefited from the resulting power vacuum. William Dalrymple explains that the company’s gradual accumulation of control paved the way for the establishment of British rule across India. Keep reading to learn about the dramatic fall of the Mughal empire.