The World's Best Book Summaries
What should the government spend money on? What should its priorities be and why? In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith discusses what he thinks are the best ways to grow a nation’s economy. Since growth is the goal, Smith opposes most public spending. He outlines two criteria for what he considers proper government expenditures. Only four things meet these criteria. Let’s take a look at what makes the cut and why.
How can you figure out whether certain information is relevant to the issue at hand? How do you know if an information source is credible? The first step to critical thinking is gathering information. To do this well, first, clarify your topic or question and its parameters. Then, assess the relevance of the information you find. Check it for reliability, bias, and fallacies. Continue reading to learn how to gather information to find real answers and solutions.
What was Nelson Mandela’s childhood like? Why, exactly, did he go to prison? What legacy did he leave? Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela chronicles his extraordinary life story. Mandela is known as one of history’s great peacemakers, but his own life wasn’t a peaceful one. He had to fight, every step of the way. Continue reading for an overview of this important book, along with a short exercise to reflect on what you’ve read.
What does Buddhism say about suffering? What are the three truths about suffering? Suffering is a normal part of life, and there are many lessons that we can learn from it. Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama’s book The Book of Joy claim that in order to feel joy, you need to fully understand the role suffering plays in your life. Keep reading to learn more about suffering in Buddhism.
How are typical Western diets and lifestyles influencing people’s health? What is microbial diversity and what happens when it’s compromised? Science journalist Ed Yong writes about the health implications of living a Western lifestyle in his book I Contain Multitudes, which debunks common myths about microbes and how they impact our lives. Yong argues that a typical Western diet is just one factor that leads to decreased microbial diversity. Read on to learn about the health risks of following a typical Western diet and lifestyle, according to Yong.
Do you get distracted a lot? How do distractions hinder your performance? Getting distracted not only wastes your valuable time but also makes it more difficult to resume focus. Attention research has shown that employees focus on a project for 11 minutes before being interrupted, and on average it takes them 25 minutes to refocus. Here are some tips for managing distractions and preventing them from stealing your focus.
Want to know how to manage rapid business growth? What are the most common issues of rapid-growth companies? According to Andrew Chen’s book The Cold Start Problem, once you’ve achieved rapid growth, you also inherit a unique set of problems. In the book, he explains how to manage rapid business growth by explaining methods for navigating the three most common issues you’ll encounter. Read on to learn how to manage rapid business growth, according to Chen.
What’s the importance of fungus? How do humans depend on fungi? Merlin Sheldrake’s book Entangled Life argues that it’s important to further invest in mycology. With fungi, plants stay hydrated, we challenge our ideas of intelligence, and we have advanced solutions to mental illnesses. Continue reading to learn why fungi are important for all life forms.
Is fear getting in the way of you living your best life? How can you be brave and face your fears? Facing your fears is a rite of passage in life. No matter what age we are, we’re all scared of something, which means we’re constantly battling fears. Take initiative with your life and learn how to face your fears with these life-changing tips.
What is regret? What is Daniel Pink’s three-step process of regret? In The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink, regret is described as an outcome of reflecting on past choices people wish had gone differently. Pink further claims that regret is a process that everyone goes through. Keep reading for a breakdown of Pink’s process of regret and why we regret in the first place.