America’s Government Elite: The Rise of a Bureaucratic Behemoth

America’s Government Elite: The Rise of a Bureaucratic Behemoth

Who has more power in America—elected or unelected officials? Are civil service jobs provided based on merit? Sociologist C. Wright Mills claims that the power elites are in charge in America. He explains that these “influencers” are unaccountable to the people, can exercise their power broadly, and have exploited many national institutions for their own benefit. Many of these elites are in civilian government. Keep reading for Mills’s exposé of America’s government elite.

The Importance of Character-Building: The Ground Floor of Life

The Importance of Character-Building: The Ground Floor of Life

What does it mean to have good character? What difference does character make when it comes to success or failure? According to John C. Maxwell, everyone should prioritize building character over all other goals. That’s because it’s an essential part of personal growth. On the road to true success in life, there are no substitutes for—or shortcuts around—character-building. Continue reading to learn about the importance of character-building when it comes to reaching your potential.

How to Become One With the Universe: 3 Steps to Cosmic Unity

How to Become One With the Universe: 3 Steps to Cosmic Unity

Are you trapped by religious dogma? Do you think more in terms of “I” than “we”? How often do you do things just for fun? Philosopher Alan Watts argues that the ego illusion—the false sense of being an individual separate from everyone and everything else—causes destruction and hardship in Western society. He provides recommendations for how people can escape from the ego illusion and achieve cosmic unity. Continue reading to learn how to become one with the universe, according to Watts.

Richard Feynman’s Education: From MIT to Princeton

Richard Feynman’s Education: From MIT to Princeton

How did Richard Feynman feel when Einstein attended one of his lectures? Why did an army general recruit Feynman when he was working on his doctorate? In his memoir Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, Richard Feynman recounts his years in school at MIT and Princeton, comparing and contrasting the two environments. He also explains how WWII shaped the start of his career. Keep reading to learn about Richard Feynman’s education.

5 Psycho-Cybernetics Exercises to Program Your Mind

5 Psycho-Cybernetics Exercises to Program Your Mind

What’s your self-image? What’s slowing you down in life? Do you have a clear picture of success? Thinking of your mind as a machine can improve your self-image and dramatically increase your ability to feel successful and happy. Maxwell Maltz explores this idea in his book Psycho-Cybernetics. Continue reading for five Psycho-Cybernetics exercises you can use to program your mind and take your life to the next level.

The Things They Carried: Questions for Thoughtful Discussion

The Things They Carried: Questions for Thoughtful Discussion

How do you handle stress? Do you stick to your principles when the going gets tough? What effect do stories have on you? The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien tells the stories of a small company of American soldiers serving in the Vietnam War. Through the narrative, the book blurs the line between autobiography and fiction, leaving the reader unsure as to what is fact and what is myth. Continue reading to see several The Things They Carried questions that you can use to get more out of your reading.

Alan Watts: The Ego Illusion Is Ingrained in Western Society

Alan Watts: The Ego Illusion Is Ingrained in Western Society

How does the language people use reflect and impact the way they see themselves? Is there an inherent flaw in Western science? According to Alan Watts, the ego is the culprit behind the ills of Western society. In The Book, he argues that Western society perpetuates “the ego illusion” through the language people use, the expectations they place on each other, and even the way they approach science. Continue reading to understand Watts’s argument regarding ego in the West.

Richard Feynman, The Manhattan Project, and a New World

Richard Feynman, The Manhattan Project, and a New World

What was Richard Feynman’s contribution to the Manhattan Project? How did he look back on the experience? In the early 1940s, Richard Feynman was working on his doctorate at Princeton. An army general arrived on campus to recruit physicists. Feynman signed up, having no idea how his decision would change his life and put him at the center of a project that would change the world. Read more to learn about Richard Feynman, the Manhattan Project, and the dawning of a new era.

How & Why America’s Media Elite Stole Power From the People

How & Why America’s Media Elite Stole Power From the People

How did the emergence of radio and television affect the political scene in America? Is the internet a solution to the problem—or just more of the problem? Over time, the American people have lost political power. C. Wright Mills identifies the media as one of the three institutions that control the relationship between the people and their political circumstances. He explains how and why the media elite gradually took power away from the people. Continue reading to understand the connection between the media and political power.

Six Thinking Hats: Exercises to Help You Put Your Thinking Caps On

Six Thinking Hats: Exercises to Help You Put Your Thinking Caps On

Would you like to make decisions faster? Is your internal critic way too loud? In Six Thinking Hats, Edward de Bono takes the phrase “put your thinking cap on” to a new level. Our normal thinking process is a hopeless tangle of six types of thinking. We can improve the quality and efficiency of our decisions by untangling these six types and deploying them more consciously. Continue reading for Six Thinking Hats exercises that will help you implement the ideas in the book.