The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you enjoy a strong sense of community? How well do you know—and care about—your neighbors? David Brooks argues that the relationalist approach to life requires a commitment to many people in the form of a local community. He makes a case for the importance of building community, and he offers some steps for doing so. Continue reading to learn why and how you can make a strong commitment to community.
Does plastic ever degrade? Have we taken care of the CFC problem? What’s the worst byproduct of modern living? Garbage leaves a mark on our planet. That’s because much of our modern garbage never leaves the planet. In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman addresses the problem head-on. He explores the impact of waste on the environment and identifies the major culprits we need to tackle. Read more to learn what Weisman discovered in his investigation.
Is carbon neutrality a realistic goal? What would it take to get there? As we look for solutions to climate change, the elimination of carbon emissions seems to be near the top of everyone’s list. However, this is not a practical solution, at least for now. That’s the view of former energy industry scientist Steven E. Koonin. Read on to learn why Koonin believes we must accept the reality of our reliance on fossil fuels.
What does Brené Brown have to say about shame? What’s the solution to feeling shame? In many of her books, author and researcher Brené Brown explains why we feel shame, why it’s harmful, and how to rise from it. All of her research combines into a meaningful discussion on human emotions that you can use to develop your self-worth. Taking advice from four of her books, we’ll look at what is said by Brené Brown on shame and how to combat it.
How do human activities affect the environment? Which is more harmful—farms or cities? What’s the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? The human race has left a mark on our planet, sometimes through carelessness and sometimes by design. In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman outlines several ways that humanity impacts the environment: agriculture, cities, power, waste, and pollution. Keep reading to learn about the human ecological footprint.
Do you have a good handle on the state of the world? Are things worse than ever? By almost any measure, there’s never been a better time to be alive than right now. That’s the belief of Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund. Their book Factfulness explores the misconceptions that color our view of the world. Continue reading for several Factfulness questions that will test your knowledge and adjust your thinking.
How permanent are the changes we’ve made to our planet? Have we left scars that will never heal, or is nature resilient enough to erase any damage we’ve done? The World Without Us by Alan Weisman is a thought experiment that’s designed to answer those questions. He contemplates the world before people and speculates what the world would be like if the human race disappeared. Keep reading for an overview of this book, and discover Weisman’s conclusions for his thought experiment.
What is stochastic terrorism? What’s behind the rise in violence and hate crimes in the United States? From racially motivated mass shootings to threats to elected officials to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, political violence and hate crimes have been on the rise in the U.S. Some psychological experts point the finger at stochastic terrorism. Read on to learn what stochastic terrorism is and why it could be to blame for this uptick in violent acts.
How committed are you to your neighbors? Your work? How can commitments see us through tough times? In The Second Mountain, David Brooks endorses the relationalist worldview, arguing that it’s more satisfying that its counterpart (individualism). He outlines the four commitments in life that he believes are crucial to relationalism—your vocation, marriage, community, and belief system. Read on to learn about the four commitments that constitute relationalist living.
How does overworking affect your health? Can you really die from working too much? Owerwoking and burnout are very common in today’s fast-paced society. It may be good for the economy, but it can wreak serious havoc on one’s health and even kill. Here’s a look at the health effects of overworking.