Society Archives

Excellent Sheep: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

Are prestigious schools the best schools? What should parents and students look for when selecting a college? In his book Excellent Sheep, William Deresiewicz claims that elite U.S. colleges and universities are so selective and profit-oriented that they perpetuate social inequality and deprive students of high-quality learning. He argues that the solution is to make high-quality college education accessible to all U.S. students. Keep reading for an overview of the book, along with an exercise to review the content.

The Tipping Point: Discussion Questions and Book Quiz

Are you looking to further your understanding of The Tipping Point? Do you understand all of the lessons from the book? The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers) focuses on how to push ideas or products to a tipping point in order to create a social epidemic. He identifies three factors that can be adjusted to tip an idea to a social epidemic: the messenger, the message itself, or the context of the message. Below, we’ve put together some The Tipping Point discussion questions and a quiz, with answers.

Social Media’s Influence on Society: We’re Even Lonelier

What is social media’s influence on society? What negative influences do experts say we should be concerned about? In her bestselling book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, author Shoshana Zuboff explains the cause and effect of tech giants intrusively monitoring and using our data for profit (i.e. “surveillance capitalism”). Zuboff further explains social media’s harmful role in this system. Keep reading to find out how social media is influencing society and our mental health, according to Zuboff.

How to Bring About Change: Lessons From Biology & Chemistry

Do gun buyback programs work? How did Barack Obama accelerate his 2008 presidential campaign? Change is hard. But, The Great Mental Models Volume 2 provides two models from science that can help us initiate and accelerate change in our own lives and even in the world around us. Authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish discuss what we can learn from incentives and catalysts. Keep reading to learn how to bring about change in yourself and others.

Understanding the Negative Effects of Global Warming

Are the effects of global warming really that bad? How will the rise in the baseline temperature affect the human population? Our understanding of the effects of global warming continues to evolve as scientists collect more data and as we experience them firsthand. Still, there’s no question that global warming affects ecological communities worldwide. Keep reading to learn about some of the well-documented negative effects of global warming.

What a Connected Society Will Be Like in the Future

What is a digitally connected society? How is society becoming more connected? What will it be like when we’re fully connected? According to author Shoshana Zuboff’s book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, big tech companies have incentives to develop a digitally connected society. Zuboff explains that, by creating a world where we are always connected to and dependent on technology, these companies will reap the most profits. Read on to find out what Zuboff says a fully connected society would be like and what social issues arise.

ADHD and Drug Abuse: Are We Facing a New Crisis?

What’s the link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and drug abuse? How serious is this issue? Research shows that those who suffer from ADHD respond well to treatment using medications like Adderall. However, the overprescription of these potentially addictive medications evokes unsettling echoes of the Opioid Crisis. Keep reading to learn the link between ADHD and drug abuse and if society is facing an “Adderall crisis.”

Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

What is Bill Gates’s How to Avoid a Climate Disaster about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Bill Gates asserts that we need to find ways to produce more energy without emitting greenhouse gases and further warming Earth’s atmosphere. To this end, Gates uses his experience in the technology industry to highlight feasible technological innovations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and includes suggestions for their implementation. Below is a brief overview of How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates.

Strongman Leaders: A Dangerous Trend We Shouldn’t Ignore

What does “strongman leader” mean? What makes citizens vote for them? And what does this mean for democracy? Strongman leaders are authoritarian leaders who mask their dictator-like actions behind a facade of democracy. From Russia’s Vladimir Putin to India’s Narendra Modi, these apparent autocrats have gained widespread appeal and are increasingly shaping global politics. Read on to learn more about strongman leaders, their characteristics, and why they pose a threat to freedom.

Ethical Issues in Information Technology: 3 Big Tech Secrets

What are the biggest ethical issues in information technology right now? What risks do they pose to society? According to author Shoshana Zuboff, Google and other tech giants have been able to mine user data with little regard for ethical data collection. She claims that there are three secret factors that have allowed big tech to carry on this way. Keep reading to find out the three ways information technology companies exploit users, according to Zuboff.