The World's Best Book Summaries
How does media racism feed into cultural biases? How do media channels skew our perspective on the lives of the black community? Media racism is pernicious in its gross misrepresentation of the black community. Specifically, it creates scenarios where white citizens feel justified in monitoring black behavior and policing it if necessary. Read about the influence of media on racism and cultural bias.
What are the beliefs of white conservatives? Why do they bemoan the loss of cultural dominance, and what are the hallmarks of this culture? White conservatives cite values such as church, masculinity, and family as the main pillars of their beliefs. These values often are designed to uphold the status quo, a task that’s becoming more difficult in an evolving world. Read more about white conservatives, culture, and how they hold onto the status quo.
What are the differences between the caste system in India vs America? How can we make sense of this juxtaposition? Most people are unlikely to see the overlap between the caste system in India vs America. But similarities exist between the two societies, in that both are government-sanctioned caste systems. Read about the overlap between caste system in India vs America.
What is endogamous marriage? What role does endogamy play in preserving the social structure in a caste society? Endogamous marriage is the practice of marrying within one’s own group or social unit. In the context of racial casteism, endogamous marriage is one of the means of protecting the dominant caste’s bloodline and maintaining the caste structure. Read about the practice of endogamous marriage, its history, and the lasting effects of endogamy laws.
What is the role of government in a free society? How can government serve the people while still allowing them economic freedom? Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom argues that without government interference, people and society will be allowed to flourish. According to Friedman, the role of government in a free society is to be uninvolved. Read more about the role of government in a free society.
What is the welfare state? Why do conservatives distrust and dislike the welfare state? The “welfare” state refers to government social systems like disability, unemployment, and more. The welfare state also includes public services like the Post Office and infrastructure. Conservatives believe that others, like glamorous “welfare queens” take advantage of government hand-outs while they struggle and work hard for their money. Read more about the conservative views on the welfare state below.
Why do people vote for Trump? What leads people to vote against their own interests? Since the 2016 election, people have been asking the question “why do people vote for Trump?” especially since it often means voting against their own economic or social interests. In Strangers in Their Own Land, Arlie Hochschild theorizes that people vote for Trump based on emotional truth. Read more to find out the answer to the question “why do people vote for Trump?”
What is Keynesian economics criticism? What are the major issues with Keynesian economics? Keynesian economics criticism comes from those who support free-market capitalism. Maynard Freidman argues that this theory is ineffective and gives the government too powerful of a role. Read more about Keynesian economics, criticism, and more.
What is the social structure of India and how was it created? How many castes does it consist of and what are the implications of this division? The social structure of India is an intricate system of many castes and sub-castes. The five main castes are the 1) Brahmin, 2) Kshatriya, 3) Vaishya, 4) Shudra, and 5) the Dalits. Read about the social structure of India and its impact on society.
What is an HSP introvert? What qualities do these highly sensitive people have and how can they benefit society? An HSP introvert is a highly sensitive person. They are known to be deep thinkers with high levels of empathy, who are more observant and sensitive than others. Read on for more about HSP introverts and real-life examples.