The World's Best Book Summaries
What, exactly, is an ideology? What are its limitations? How can people find meaning and direction without them? According to Jordan Peterson, ideology should be dropped. In Beyond Order, he discusses the pitfalls of ideology and recommends an alternative path toward civil society and personal fulfillment. Read more to learn why Peterson urges us to abandon ideology.
What would happen if communism and Islam took over the West? Are they on the verge of destroying Western society? In Stefan Aarino’s book Hard Times Create Strong Men, he claims that communism and Islam are spreading to the US and that they will destroy American values. This is because modern Christian men are becoming too tolerant and will be pushed aside. Keep reading to learn about the problems with communism and Islam, according to Aarnio.
Is a war between the US and China inevitable? What’s the history and the future of US-China relations? Hostility between the US and China has been growing for over a decade, eroding the wary but pragmatic relationship of years past. Now, as tensions threaten to escalate, diplomat and politician Kevin Rudd argues that a full-blown military conflict can and should be averted. Continue reading for an overview of The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd’s analysis of this critical situation.
What separates breakthrough innovation from core innovation? What difference does it make for your business? The authors of Lead From the Future say you must change your focus from short-term concerns and time horizons to the future you want to see at least five or 10 years out. Adopting such a visionary approach for your organization requires you to shift how you think about and execute innovation. Keep reading to learn why breakthrough innovation must be part of the equation.
Do you believe you can reinvent yourself at this point in your career? Do you think it’s too late to make a career change? Barbara Oakley believes you’re capable of having a mindshift. This opens up career opportunities for you that you didn’t have before. But, before you can open up opportunities, you must open up your mind to possibilities. Read on to learn about the importance of being open-minded in the context of your career and ability.
What is the book The Confidence Game by Maria Konnikova about? How do con artists get away with manipulating their victims? How can you see past their games? Psychologist Maria Konnikova claims that con artists have existed for as long as human communities have. Con artists are people with an uncanny ability to gain someone’s trust, swindle them, and disappear before the victim even grasps what’s happened—a ruse known as a confidence game, or “con.” Read below for our The Confidence Game book overview to get the main ideas.
What is David Robson’s The Expectation Effect about? Do your expectations always become your reality? Science writer David Robson argues in The Expectation Effect that your brain’s predictions about your body, your health, your intellect, and your emotions are so powerful that they create your reality. By changing what your brain predicts, you can change the reality your brain creates for you and the limits it sets for you. Read below for a brief overview of The Expectation Effect.
Does it seem like society is falling apart? What’s the answer to the cultural decay all around us? Social justice scholarship and activism changed from a force for good to a dangerous movement with totalitarian tendencies. That’s the view of Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay, who say that the tenets of liberalism—namely freedom of speech and belief in science—matter more today than they ever did. Read more to learn about the importance of liberalism in society, especially now when so much is at risk.
Who began behaviorism experiments? What animals were commonly used in these experiments? Behaviorism is the study of why people and animals behave the way they do and how they learn. Psychologists often used dogs, cats, and rats to examine behavior because it yielded better results than a philosophical approach. Keep reading to learn more about certain behaviorism experiments that changed the face of psychology.
In which directions might you pursue growth for your business? How does knowing your growth gap help you plan? Once you have a vision for your business, you must convert it into a strategy that will bring your vision to life. According to the authors of Lead From the Future, your strategy must contain a long-term financial picture of your business. This requires you to determine your growth target and growth gap. Read more to learn how to develop your business’s long-range financial outlook.