The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the disadvantages of pesticides? Why wasn’t the public properly informed about pesticides in the 20th century? Much of Silent Spring is dedicated to describing the damage done by pesticides to various species. Many pesticides have been linked to cancer, nerve damage, blood diseases, impaired thyroid function, and birth defects. Check out why biologist Rachel Carson worries about the use of pesticides.
Why is asking questions important? What are some ways to ask questions without overwhelming your conversation partner? If people never asked questions, we’d likely never make breakthroughs. On a smaller scale, questions open opportunities for further discussion that’ll teach you more about other people. Read more about why asking questions is important, from learning new things to avoiding assumptions.
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.
What genre is U2? How has their genre changed over the years? U2’s genre is a mixture of pop and electronica, and it developed from an absurdist reaction to garage band-style punk and heavy metal. Bono discussed how and why they kept changing their sound in his book Surrender. Let’s take a look at how U2’s genre changed over time and where it settled.
What causes big data discrimination? How do dangerous math models hurt the poor? In Weapons of Math Destruction, Cathy O’Neil argues that dangerous math models disproportionately inflict harm on the poor. This is because they show favoritism towards rich people. Let’s dive deeper into big data’s discrimination problem.
Do you bounce back from criticism? How much do you trust yourself? Do you laugh at (or at least learn from) failure? Dr. Julie Smith writes that your mental health will significantly improve when you silence your inner critic. To do so, she recommends you learn to tolerate negative feedback, build your confidence, become comfortable with failure, and strive to accept yourself unconditionally. Continue reading to get Smith’s four-part guidance on how to silence your inner critic.
Why do people perform mental accounting when it comes to their finances? What are some examples of mental accounting? One of Richard H. Thaler’s arguments against constrained optimization is that people perform mental accounting. Behavioral economics describes this as a cognitive bias that causes people to place different values on money. We’ll focus on three key examples of mental accounting. Let’s take a look at three common examples of mental accounting.
In what way does Barbra Streisand prefer her film performances to her stage performances? What insecurity did she have in relation to her first film? Perhaps movies aren’t the first thing you think of when you consider Barbra Streisand’s long career. But, she found success in Hollywood just as she did on Broadway and in the music charts. She writes about her Hollywood acting career in her memoir My Name Is Barbra. Read more to learn the highlights of Barbra Streisand’s film career.
What does the National Association of Realtors lawsuit mean for major brokerages? What changes could the verdict realistically bring about? Who stands to benefit if commissions drop? In October, a federal antitrust lawsuit verdict found the National Association of Realtors and other big brokerages guilty of colluding to inflate home selling commissions. Experts forecast a substantial shakeup in the industry. Below we’ll take a look at the National Association of Realtors lawsuit and what it means for brokerages and home buyers alike.
How is artistry a spiritual practice? What, exactly, is art? Is there any untapped creativity inside you? In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron asserts that your inner artist is your deeper creative self that contains your seemingly crazy ideas, raw emotions, dreams, desires, and so on. This is a conduit for the creative force. The more intimate you are with this self, the more creative and artistically guided you’ll be. Keep reading to learn Cameron’s five-step process for connecting with your inner artist.