The World's Best Book Summaries
Who was Michael Oher, high school athlete, before he was an NFL player? How did sports help shape his future? For Michael Oher, high school at Briarcrest started out with difficult, like the rest of his academic career. But Michael Oher’s life changed when he got involved in school sports and met the Tuohy family. Read more about Michael Oher, high school, and how his luck changed.
What is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance about? What lessons does author Robert Pirsig discuss? Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a discussion of life lessons framed around a father-son motorcycle trip. Through the book, Pirsig touches on many themes, such as the uses of technology, forming strong relationships, and how to find meaning in the journey. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance below.
In The Tattooist of Auschwitz, how did Lale set up an outside connection from Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp? How did his smuggling service come in handy? Although Lale was afraid of getting caught, he found an outside connection and set up a small smuggling service inside Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. It was thanks to this connection that he was able to procure Penicillin and save Gita’s life Keep reading to learn about Lale’s secret, smuggling enterprise in Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
Can it be argued that we are all part of one global civilization? What are the common themes that are shared by all nations of the world? As globalization has connected the world economically, socially, and technologically, all of humankind has merged into one global civilization. And although nations differ in terms of cultures and religions, they all follow virtually the same economic, medical, and scientific paradigms. Read about the rise of global civilization.
How did Lale make his concentration camp escape? How did he jump out of the pot and into the fire? In Heather Morris’ historical fiction novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale escapes a concentration camp in Vienna. He ran into Russian soldiers who he thought might help him, but quickly realized he was forced into another dangerous situation. Continue reading about Lale’s concentration camp escape.
What is the sunk cost effect? Why do we keep following through on projects that stop paying off? The sunk cost effect is a general tendency to continue on an endeavor once considerable resources have been invested into it—even when the costs start to outweigh the benefits. It’s human nature to respond this way—the more you invest, the harder it is to pull the plug on a commitment. Keep reading to learn about the sunk cost effect.
What was the Michael Oher car accident scene in The Blind Side about? Did Oher and SJ really get in an accident? In The Blind Side, Michael Oher gets into a car accident with his younger brother, Sean Junior, in the front seat. Oher was able to save SJ from serious injury by blocking the airbag from hitting him, showing he had strong protective instincts. Read more about Michael Oher, the car accident, and the real story.
How can breaking out of homeostasis help you reach new mental and physical levels? Is it possible to push yourself beyond your limits without burning yourself out? By pushing your body or mind hard enough and long enough, you can “trick” it into using its desire for homeostasis to your advantage. Over time, your body will change in ways that enable you to run that extra mile or lift that extra 50 pounds. The more you push yourself, the more the structure and chemistry of your brain will adapt to breaking out of homeostasis. Keep reading to learn how breaking
In Patrick Lencioni’s book, Death by Meeting, how did Yip CEO Casey go from a PGA golfer to making videogames? What factors halted Yip’s potential growth? Patrick Lencioni’s book Death by Meeting is a business parable about a CEO named Casey who doesn’t know how to lead a productive team meeting. Casey gave up his golf career after a case of the yips and decided to turn his passion for golf into a videogame. Continue reading to learn more about how Casey started Yip Software in the Death by Meeting book.
Do you often find yourself spending time on unproductive activities that add neither value nor enjoyment? How do you stop wasting time and start getting things done? Studies show that most people waste more valuable work time in a day than they realize. This time is wasted dealing with the various distractions thrown their way while they’re trying to work. To stop wasting time, you must learn to say “no” to distractions and “yes” to active focus. Keep reading for tips on how to stop wasting time and start getting things done.