The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the engineering design process? How can you apply it to your life? The engineering design process can help you formulate different approaches to everyday dilemmas. It prompts you to evaluate which approach is likely to see the greatest success. The process aids in creative problem solving and decision making. Read more to learn about the engineering design process and its practical applications.
How did the government enable housing segregation in the 1950s? What was the role of the Housing Act of 1949 in facilitating this segregation? The segregationist stance of the government with policies such as school placement, slum clearance, and segregated housing projects all contributed to pervasive housing segregation in the 1950s. The Housing Act of 1949 permitted public authorities to segregate within housing projects which gave legal justification to segregationist practices in 1950s housing. Read on to learn more about housing segregation in the 1950s.
How does Ken Blanchard describe the three kinds of managers? What sets a one-minute manager apart from nice and tough managers? In his book The New One-Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard discusses the three kinds of managers: tough, nice, and one-minute managers. One-minute managers instill confidence in their employees and are experts at time management. Keep reading to learn more about the three kinds of managers.
What is heart rate variability? Why is heart rate variability important to willpower? Heart rate variability is the variance in time between each heartbeat. The higher the variability, the more relaxed and adaptable your body is to stress. This is related to willpower because people with higher heart rate variability are better at delaying gratification, dealing with stress, ignoring distractions, and exercising self-control. Continue reading for more information on heart rate variability and what you can do to increase it.
How does inheritance from parents affect adult children? How do you teach your adult children independence and financial responsibility? Inheritance from parents makes less capable, unemployed children more dependent, while adult children that got no inheritance from parents are more likely to take risks and accumulate wealth. You can teach your children financial independence by teaching them the values of frugality, discipline, and independence. Learn how inheritance from parents affects adult children, and what parents can do about it.
Do you ever reward yourself with a snack when you’ve done well on your diet? Why do people tend to think that being “good” gives us moral permission to be “bad”? Moral licensing is when people tell themselves they deserve an indulgent treat because they’ve been good. However, much of the time the “reward” is actually counterintuitive to the person’s goal. Here is why moral licensing goes against self-control.
Is Tim Ferriss’s book Tools of Titans about? What do you think highly successful people—those who are at the top of their game—do differently? In Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss shares the habits and beliefs of 101 high-performing people, including tech investors, entrepreneurs, athletes, and entertainers. The premise of the book is that if you emulate the habits and beliefs of people who succeed the way you want to succeed, you too can be successful. In this brief overview of Tools of Titans, we’ve pulled out the main themes across all the people Ferriss interviewed.
Could your workplace productivity use a boost? Would you like to learn how to get more done professionally? In Smarter Faster Better, Charles Duhigg shares two principles that are crucial to improving workplace productivity. Becoming more productive isn’t about working more hours or constantly pushing yourself to do more. Instead, it’s about making wise choices in certain areas. Read more to learn how to improve workplace productivity.
What is the first level of reading from How to Read a Book? Why do many adults still read at an elementary reading level? In How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler describes elementary reading as the most basic form of reading. Unfortunately, once you’re taught how to read as a child, you are rarely taught how to read better. This leaves many adults in the elementary reading stage. Here’s what it means to read at the elementary reading level.
What is the role of taxation in an economy? Under what circumstances does raising taxes hinder the economy on the national level? Some tax-funded projects are essential to keep the country running. But when the government uses taxes to fund projects and pay wages that are unnecessary, the consequences begin to outweigh the benefits. In this article, we’ll consider the effect of taxation in the context of public works funding.