Strategic Inflection Points: When Your Business Is in Crisis

Strategic Inflection Points: When Your Business Is in Crisis

What are strategic inflection points? Is your business facing such a crisis? Drawing on his experience as the CEO of Intel, Andrew Grove provides clear guidance on preparing for, identifying, and adapting to the kinds of upheavals that send less agile companies out of business. He calls these crises “strategic inflection points.” Keep reading to learn what strategic inflection points are and how to determine whether your business has reached one.

Machiavelli on War Forces: Personal Armies Are the Way to Go

Machiavelli on War Forces: Personal Armies Are the Way to Go

When it comes to building an army for war, what does Machiavelli advise? What’s the secret to finding loyal soldiers? In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli distinguishes three types of armies: hired forces, borrowed forces, and personal forces. He cautions princes to avoid hired forces, to be wary of borrowed forces, and to opt for personal forces when possible. Continue reading for a brief discussion of Machiavelli on war forces.

Only the Paranoid Survive: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

Only the Paranoid Survive: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

Could your company survive a major upheaval? How can you give it a better chance to weather the storms? Every company must navigate a changing business landscape, but not all changes are equal. Andrew Grove’s book Only the Paranoid Survive provides a practical guide for business leaders struggling to navigate a major disruption to their industry. Here’s our overview of the book’s principles and concrete advice.

Machiavelli: Virtú Is the Main Ingredient of the Ideal Prince

Machiavelli: Virtú Is the Main Ingredient of the Ideal Prince

What does Machiavelli mean by “virtú”? How does it differ from the modern understanding of virtue? In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli sets forth several qualities that great princes (rulers) have. According to Machiavelli, virtú is the characteristic that stands above the rest. However, it doesn’t mean exactly what its apparent modern equivalent means. Keep reading to find out what virtú is to Machiavelli.

Hidden Motives: Recognizing the Elephant in the Brain

Hidden Motives: Recognizing the Elephant in the Brain

How can you determine the true motives behind behaviors? How can you become less selfish and purer in your own motives? In The Elephant in the Brain, Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives hidden behind altruistic pretexts. They call these selfish motives the “elephant in the brain.” If we learn to recognize these “elephants,” we can improve our individual behaviors and our social institutions. Continue reading for some tips on recognizing hidden motives in yourself and others.

The Purpose of Religion in Society: Cementing Social Norms

The Purpose of Religion in Society: Cementing Social Norms

Why do most religions have rules about marriage and sex? What difference does it make when religions have norms related to appearance? In The Elephant in the Brain, Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives hidden behind altruistic pretexts. The authors say that religion, too, is shaped by ulterior motives, and they share their theories about what they think religion is really about. Continue reading to find out more about the purpose of religion in society, according to Simler and Hanson.

Mirrors for Princes: How Machiavelli’s The Prince Fits In

Mirrors for Princes: How Machiavelli’s The Prince Fits In

What does “mirrors for princes” mean? How is The Prince different from most works in the genre? Mirrors for princes was a popular literary genre during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The works served as advice for rulers on how to behave and lead. While Machiavelli’s The Prince is the best-known example, it stands apart from most. Read more to learn how The Prince fits into the mirrors for princes genre.

What Is the Main Purpose of Education in Society?

What Is the Main Purpose of Education in Society?

What is the main purpose of education in society? Does education have a hidden agenda? Do employers care more about your education or your degree? According to Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson, some institutions are about shaping society in a desired direction. They argue that education is about producing good citizens and employees, getting them accustomed to rules, schedules, and authority figures. Keep reading to learn more about this intriguing view of education’s purpose.

Machiavelli: Governments Comes in Two Flavors

Machiavelli: Governments Comes in Two Flavors

What are the two types of government, according to Machiavelli? What’s the ideal form of government? Niccolò Machiavelli uses the first few chapters of The Prince to describe different kinds of government. According to Machiavelli, governments can be separated into two types: republics and principalities. Read more to understand the difference between these two forms of government.