The World's Best Book Summaries
How do you view death? How can your belief about death motivate you to live your life well? What you believe about death affects the way you live your life, for good or for bad. Life Worth Living discusses what a few philosophers and religious traditions say about death and how these beliefs put life into perspective in various ways. Read more to learn how different views of death might give you motivation for living life well.
When you realize you’ve made a mistake, what’s the first thing you do? How do you make things better? Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz wrote Life Worth Living as a guide to developing your own philosophy of life. But, even when you’re living a worthwhile and virtuous life, you’re bound to mess up. What you do next matters. Keep reading for some wisdom on how to fix your mistakes and move forward in a positive direction.
Do you have trouble getting started with new life habits? Do you lose momentum and fail to make the changes stick? Life Worth Living discusses the importance of creating your own philosophy of life. When you glean a new piece of your life philosophy, it’s important to translate your newfound values into action. This might require making changes to your life or even to yourself, which can be an intimidating prospect. Continue reading to learn how to make changes in your life, drawing on insights from economists, literary greats, and religious traditions.
How often do your emotions get the best of you? Are you in control of them, or are they in control of you? Emotions are strong. But, Dr. Julie Smith says that you can be stronger. Take control, and don’t let your emotions control you. You can take the reins by practicing mindfulness, naming your emotions, and noticing and shifting your thought patterns. Keep reading for Smith’s practical advice on harnessing your emotions.
How should we address social harms such as war and poverty? Do you sense a call to take on such issues in your community or the world? The 2023 book Life Worth Living urges you to adopt a philosophy of life. Oftentimes, such personal life philosophies entail an obligation to minimize social harms such as crime and bigotry. The authors share approaches from Mary Wollstonecraft, James Baldwin, and Confucius. Read more to draw inspiration from these thought leaders.
What are emotions? When is it healthy to have challenging emotions? How aware of your own feelings are you? According to Dr. Julie Smith, the most important thing to know about emotions is that they are a normal part of the human experience. That goes for the highs and the lows. What matters most is that they match the situation. Read more to learn how to understand emotions and work with them in a healthy way.
How do you deal with hardship? Do you respond in a way that inspires others? Every year, Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz teach a course on living well. Their book Life Worth Living captures the course’s concepts. One of the matters they discuss is how to deal with hardship in the context of a life well lived. Keep reading for their advice based on insights from philosophers, religious traditions, and literary greats.
What exactly are moods? Are you frequently stuck in a low mood, even when the situation doesn’t call for it? Is there a way to shift out of a low mood without going to therapy? Dr. Julie Smith writes that you can understand your moods and assert control over them to a large degree. Depression and sadness don’t necessarily warrant formal therapy. She offers several insights and tips for elevating your outlook in her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Read more to get some self-help for low mood conditions.
Do you feel helpless or angry when confronted with mean people? Do you wish you had better strategies for dealing with them? The Asshole Survival Guide by Robert Sutton offers wisdom for dealing with jerks—rude and tyrannical people of all kinds. Focusing primarily on bad behavior in the workplace, he argues that, with the right tools, you can take away a jerk’s power, lessen their effect on you, and keep them from harming others. Continue reading for an overview of this practical book.
Do you have a colleague who’s difficult to work with? Is there a professional and wise way to deal with them? In The Asshole Survival Guide, Robert I. Sutton offers wisdom for dealing with jerks—rude and tyrannical people of all kinds—especially in the workplace. He discusses considerations you should address before deciding if and how to go on the offensive and shares direct and subtle methods of confrontation. Keep reading for Sutton’s advice on how to confront a coworker professionally that can help you keep your sanity and your job.