The World's Best Book Summaries
What factors contributed to the rise and spread of knowledge in Eurasia? What advantages did knowledge provide in Eurasian society? According to Jared Diamond, the author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, three factors lead to the spread of knowledge in the history of Eurasia. Those factors were: a head start in food production, a large area with a dense population, and the ease of diffusion. Continue reading to learn the history of how Eurasia thrived.
Do doctors actually care about you? Why do people buy Teslas? What’s the hidden purpose of education? In The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life, Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives hidden behind altruistic pretexts. They argue that, because we’re a cooperative social species, our brains evolved to hide our true motives not just from others, but from ourselves so as to balance our selfishness with our need to get along. Keep reading for an overview of the book.
How do cause and effect studies benefit from big data? How does big data eliminate causal research problems? To get the most out of big data, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz says you should focus on its four benefits. In Everybody Lies, he dives into one of those benefits: easy cause-effect analysis. Let’s look at the two ways big data makes cause-and-effect studies easier.
What is Jason Fung’s The Obesity Code about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book The Obesity Code, Jason Fung argues that for decades, we’ve misunderstood obesity and, as a result, have consistently failed in our efforts to curb its spread. Fung presents a new theory, arguing that obesity is a hormonal problem that causes overeating and weight gain, rather than a problem of willpower or self-control. Below is a brief overview of The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss by Jason Fung.
What are the different types of prayer? What should you pray about? In Seeking Wisdom, Julia Wisdom explains that there are two main types of prayers you should recite regularly to most effectively harness God’s creative power. These two prayers are prayers of request and prayers of appreciation. Below we’ll explain what these prayers are and how to practice them successfully.
Do you feel equipped to answer challenges to your faith? How could you do a better job of explaining what you believe and why? Apologetics are sound arguments designed to justify your beliefs. You need facts and reason at hand to solidify the foundation of your faith and respond to questions and challenges from others who see things differently. Here’s some good news: established facts and reasoned arguments for biblical Christianity exist, and many people have already done a lot of the hard work to bring them together. I’ve assembled what I think are the best apologetics resources. Keep reading
How do people mislead with statistics? What are some real-world examples of misleading statistics? Anyone with the will and a capable computer program can perform statistical analyses. This accessibility combined with the ease and speed of information sharing in our technology-oriented culture makes it easy for misleading statistics to make their way into our lives and inform our opinions or decisions. Keep reading to find out how you can avoid falling into the trap of misleading statistics.
What is publication bias in research? Why do researchers choose not to report negative findings? Publication bias occurs when the outcome of a research project influences the decision to publish it. Researchers and publishers may be more inclined to share positive research findings because they make for more attention-grabbing headlines. Here’s how publication bias can lead to inflated confidence in research findings.
Is technology distracting? Is technology a personal or a societal issue? The book Stolen Focus by Johann Hari claims that technology contributes to society’s attention crisis. Hari argues that the technology we rely on tracks our every move and tailors the content we see to keep us hooked. Here’s how technology intentionally distracts you from things you need to focus on.
What behaviors should you adopt to become more competent? How does demonstrating competence help others trust you? Author and former CEO Stephen Covey believes building competence relates to demonstrating trustworthy behaviors. In his book, The Speed of Trust, Covey explains that your most valuable interpersonal currency is having trust in your relationships. Read on to learn Covey’s advice on how to be more competent by building trust with others.