The World's Best Book Summaries
What is Thomas Hobbes known for? How did Hobbes’ views influence modern-day moral philosophy? Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who lived during the 17th century and who exerted a significant influence on modern philosophy. According to Thomas Hobbes, human nature is essentially cruel and selfish, and the only way to subdue humanity’s evil impulses is through power. Here’s how Hobbes’ philosophy influenced modern-day societal order.
Are you satisfied in life, or do you wish things could be different? How important is it to accept circumstances as they are? Naval Ravikant advocates the habit of acceptance. Acceptance is simply being content with a circumstance no matter what—it’s a kind of freedom. As he sees it, it’s freedom from things like frustration, expectation, desire, and so on. Practicing acceptance will help you find contentment. Read more to learn Ravikant’s advice on how to accept things as they are.
What’s Gap-thinking? How can you get out of it and stay out of it? What does it have to do with self-accountability? Gap-thinking is comparing who you are now to who you want to be. According to the book The Gap and the Gain, this is a recipe for unhappiness. Authors Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy argue that you should shift to Gain-thinking, which is comparing who you are now to who you used to be. They believe that holding yourself accountable is a key to getting out of—and staying out of—Gap-thinking. Keep reading to learn how powerful holding yourself
What does economic gender inequality look like? What are women’s economic disadvantages? Caroline Criado Perez asserts that the gender data gap harms women’s economic standing. This is a failure that results in discriminatory systems that harm women’s finances. Read more to learn how the gender data gap results in workplaces that don’t consider women’s needs.
What is Carl Sagan’s book Cosmos about? What’s out there in the vast reaches of space? Are we alone in the universe? Renowned astronomer Carl Sagan offers some insight into these questions and many more in his widely acclaimed book, Cosmos. In this book, he provides a comprehensive description of the science, philosophy, and history of astronomical discovery, from ancient Ionia to the time of the book’s publication in 1980. Here’s a brief overview of Cosmos.
What are the effects of childhood trauma on your adult life? How does childhood trauma affect romantic relationships? In Getting the Love You Want, therapists Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt suggest that your unconscious mind chooses a mate who will help you resolve the wounded parts of your childhood. When your partner fails to meet your unconscious expectations, your relationship falls apart. Check out how your childhood affects your adult relationships below.
What are the most important benefits of finding a sense of purpose? How will life improve once you find your unique purpose? In Find Your Why, Simon Sinek, David Mead, and Peter Docker lay out the steps individuals and organizations can take to discover their purpose and strengths and share them with the world. Discovering your unique purpose—your Why—and strengths helps you find fulfillment at work and in life. Keep reading to discover the three benefits you will enjoy by finding a sense of purpose, according to Simon Sinek.
How did Ernest Shackleton step up as a leader when the Endurance sank? What are lessons on leadership to take away from Shackleton’s experience? In 1914, Ernest Shackleton and 27 other men set out on the Endurance ship to Antarctica, but the ship became trapped in ice. Shackleton effectively led his team through a time of crisis, and all the men survived because of his leadership skills. Learn more about Ernest Shackleton’s leadership skills from Alfred Lansing’s book Endurance.
What’s the problem with people-pleasing? How does trying to make others happy sabotage your own happiness? People-pleasers go to great lengths to make other people happy and to avoid conflict and confrontation. If you make other people’s happiness your main priority, it’s very hard to be comfortable and happy with yourself because it compels you to second-guess everything you do and to negatively judge yourself whenever you get unwanted feedback. Keep reading to learn about the psychology of people-pleasing.
What is the capital-to-income ratio? How does it help us understand wealth inequality? According to Thomas Piketty, the capital-to-income ratio is the total stock (meaning the total inventory) of all the assets owned by residents of a country divided by total national income. Piketty further stresses that national capital and national income aren’t the same things. Keep reading for an in-depth look at the capital-to-income ratio.