Freakonomics: Book Club Exercises for a Thoughtful Discussion

Freakonomics: Book Club Exercises for a Thoughtful Discussion

Would you like to understand your fellow humans better? When is conventional wisdom wrong? What if you thought like an economist? Authored by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything applies the tools of economics to explain real-world phenomena that aren’t conventionally thought of as “economic.” The book contains fascinating implications and applications. Continue reading for discussion questions and a quiz that you can use with your Freakonomics book club.

Richard Feynman: Science Requires Intellectual Honesty

Richard Feynman: Science Requires Intellectual Honesty

What’s Richard Feynman’s approach to science? What should scientists do with doubt? What’s every scientist’s responsibility? According to Richard Feynman, science is a serious business. Feynman is known for having fun and enjoying his work, but he also has a reputation for integrity in his field. In his memoir, he writes about the importance of intellectual honesty and accountability in science. Continue reading to learn Feynman’s views on the practice and profession of science.

How the American Intellectual Class Fails in Its Duty

How the American Intellectual Class Fails in Its Duty

What’s the role of intellectuals in society? How has that role changed in America over the years? Sociologist C. Wright Mills says that America’s intellectual class used to run interference for the people, helping them understand what was going on and know how to stand up for their interests. All of that changed after World War II. Learn how the American intellectual class is now part of the problem.

The Four Agreements Exercises: 21 Discussion Questions

The Four Agreements Exercises: 21 Discussion Questions

Do you tend to take things personally? Are you always making assumptions? Are you a gossip? The world today is full of suffering and cruelty. From birth, we are trained to accept society’s rules as “the way it is.” But, agreeing to these rules stops us from becoming our true selves. The good news is that there’s a different way to live. Use these The Four Agreements exercises to help you implement a new approach to life.

Richard Feynman’s Personality: The Playful Scientist

Richard Feynman’s Personality: The Playful Scientist

Did you hear about the time Richard Feynman attended a dance party for deaf students? Did you know he was a drummer with a samba band in Rio? Nobel laureate Richard Feynman is known for his scientific accomplishments. He’s also known for being fun. Never one to turn down an adventure, he seized joy throughout his life. His personality shines through in his memoir Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! Continue reading for a look at Richard Feynman’s personality as revealed through a few stories in his memoir.

The Centralization of Power: How the People Lost Control

The Centralization of Power: How the People Lost Control

Do you feel powerless to impact politics? Does it seem like the major decisions are made by powerful people far away? You’re not alone—and things haven’t always been this way. In The Power Elite, American sociologist C. Wright Mills discusses how a small group of corporate, military, and political leaders has taken over a vast majority of American political and economic decision-making. Continue reading for Mills’s exploration of how the centralization of power progressed in America at the expense of the people.

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: An Overview of a Classic

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: An Overview of a Classic

What’s so great about the free market? Does self-interest benefit everyone? How should taxes be used? Many economists consider The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith to be one of the major foundational texts of their discipline. Writing in 1776, Smith argues that free markets are the best institution for cultivating a nation’s wealth. Continue reading for an overview of this important classic work.

15 Who Moved My Cheese? Discussion Questions to Ponder

15 Who Moved My Cheese? Discussion Questions to Ponder

When you experience change, is it distressing or rewarding? Do you tend to overanalyze? Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that demonstrates in practical terms how to handle change better and avoid pitfalls. You can do this by practicing a few key principles: anticipate and prepare for change, overcome fears, envision success, and enjoy change. Continue reading for Who Moved My Cheese? discussion questions that will help you apply the book’s principles.

Richard Feynman’s Art—What’s the Story Behind It?

Richard Feynman’s Art—What’s the Story Behind It?

Why did Richard Feynman take up art? How was it a good counterbalance to his work in math and science? Nobel laureate Richard Feynman is known for science, not art. But, later in his life, he responded to a challenge to learn how to draw. Through the experience, he learned far more than how to create art. Read more to learn about Richard Feynman, art, and the wonders of learning.

Adam Smith: Self-Interest Is the Engine of a Free Economy

Adam Smith: Self-Interest Is the Engine of a Free Economy

Can self-interest be a good thing? What does it have to do with labor, embargoes, and taxation? According to Adam Smith, self-interest in the context of a free market is what a nation needs in order to flourish. In The Wealth of Nations, he argues that free markets harness the power of rational self-interest to incentivize the production of useful goods while efficiently distributing surplus wealth. Read more to understand Smith’s case for free markets and individual self-interest as the best ways to grow a nation’s economy.