The World's Best Book Summaries
What is a positive cash flow? How do you create cash flow? Positive cash flow means your business is bringing in more money than it’s spending. According to John Warrillow’s book Built to Sell, generating positive cash flow is the key to creating sustainable growth that will make your business easier to sell. Here’s how to create cash flow for your small business.
Are you feeling unhappy at work? What are the warning signs of a toxic job? What’s a “bullshit” job? In Bullshit Jobs, author David Graeber found that many jobs in contemporary societies are, in fact, pointless. He claims that pointless jobs proliferate because Western cultures traditionally understand work as something that’s supposed to be unpleasant, if not downright miserable. If you’re feeling unhappy at work, read on to learn the four warning signs of working a bullshit job, according to Graeber.
How should we take care of our environment? What aspects of the environment should we focus on the most? Science provides useful tools for mutual care. Species identification and research enable mutual care by increasing your familiarity with the natural world and providing evidence for how to be better land stewards. Read how to take care of our environment by practicing mutual care, as stated in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass.
Does global warming cause extreme weather? Are floods, droughts, fires, and hurricanes worse than ever? If so, what’s the cause? Bjorn Lomborg writes that climate alarmists all echo the same sentiment: Climate change leads to more extreme weather. Opposing this view, he argues that climate change has had relatively little impact on extreme weather. Keep reading to understand how Lomborg arrives at this conclusion.
Are digital games good or bad for you? What’s an effective way to monitor your own thoughts? Focus can be trained. In his book Focus, Daniel Goleman discusses two practical (even enjoyable) ways to strengthen your various attention skills. In particular, he shows how digital games and meditation can lead to sharper focus. Continue reading for some practical advice on how to train your focus.
Who are “protectors” in IFS? What role do protectors play in our psyche? “Protectors” are the parts of ourselves that guard our “exiles”—the youngest and the most vulnerable parts of ourselves—from unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and memories. In other words, protectors are the defense mechanisms we use to avoid getting hurt. Keep reading to learn about the concept of IFS protectors and how to work with them in therapy.
What is meant by “soul work”? What are some things you can do to improve your soul’s health? According to Ryan Holiday, doing soul work is the key to happiness and contentment. To begin to heal your soul, you must confront and heal your spiritual wounds, cultivate virtue, and connect to something beyond yourself. Here’s how to do soul work, according to Ryan Holiday.
How does climate change impact the economy? Should this be a major concern? The real cost of climate change will be economic, argues Bjorn Lomborg. He contends that we should stop catastrophizing about the weather, the planet, and our very existence and focus instead on what climate change will do to global GDP. Keep reading to learn about the anticipated economic effects of climate change.
How can you make abstract concepts concrete? What are some techniques you can use to help people understand complicated concepts? Complex ideas are often abstract, and abstract ideas are hard to understand. Communicating complex ideas simply is a skill, and Jeff Bezos has it. In The Bezos Blueprint, Carmine Gallo discusses how Bezos brings abstract ideas into the real world. Keep reading for two examples of this skill in action.
How did the suffrage issue cause a rift between feminists and Blacks? Can women take “strong and independent” too far? According to Candace Owens, feminism (as a social movement) has historically been at odds with the liberation of Black Americans. She warns that feminism continues to hurt the Black population today—specifically in the areas of suffrage, independence, and abortion. Keep reading to understand how these policies and attitudes devastate especially Black Americans.