The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the first level of reading from How to Read a Book? Why do many adults still read at an elementary reading level? In How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler describes elementary reading as the most basic form of reading. Unfortunately, once you’re taught how to read as a child, you are rarely taught how to read better. This leaves many adults in the elementary reading stage. Here’s what it means to read at the elementary reading level.
Why should you examine a book’s structure? How can x-raying and categorizing a book help you level up your reading skills? According to Mortimer Adler in How to Read a Book, examining a book’s structure is part of inspectional reading. Adler says that if you can’t articulate the book in one sentence and make an outline of the major points, then you can determine that a book is poorly written. Continue reading for more of Adler’s tips on how to examine a book.
What were the early hopes for the invention of the television? How did entertainment value slowly replace trustworthiness? Are we amusing ourselves to death? In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman discusses the impact that television has had on our society. Postman argues that television directly attacks literacy and suggests that we should judge everything based on entertainment value rather than importance. Keep reading to learn why Postman believes that we are amusing ourselves to death.
What is the major benefit of reading? What questions should you ask yourself while you read? How do know which books you should read? Mortimer Adler says that the reason you should read is simple: reading is learning. And to be well-read is not to have read a large number of books, but to have a high-quality understanding of good books. Here’s Mortimer Adler’s advice on how to read better and how to choose which book to read next.
Do you struggle when you’re tasked with reading a textbook? Are there ways to better understand the content matter? In How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler breaks down the best ways to read math, science, philosophy, and social science books. Adler gives advice and provides you with questions to increase your understanding. Continue reading if you want to know how to read a textbook better.
What kinds of books are considered “practical books”? What’s the best way to read practical books? In How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler explains that a practical book is any book that concerns how to do something better. These books require the reader to take action if they agree with the author’s premises. Here’s how to read a practical book from How to Read a Book.
How does educational entertainment undermine traditional, classroom learning? Has television redefined the way we approach education? After the introduction of Sesame Street in 1969, educational entertainment has become the norm for children. Because of this, kids now expect the classroom to be just as entertaining as tv. Here’s how educational entertainment effected the curriculum over time.
Do you have a rival whom you admire in some way? Is there a company that does at least one thing better than you do? How can you apply lessons from them to your own business? In his book The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek emphasizes the importance of learning from your “worthy rivals.” A worthy rival is a competitor who is better than you at certain things, and who can therefore reveal to you ways you can improve, enabling you to better survive in the infinite game. Here is how a worthy rival can inspire you to get better at
What is a black hole? How do black holes get formed? When was the first black hole discovered? A black hole is a point in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing can escape it—even light—once it enters. Black holes are formed when massive stars exhaust their supply of hydrogen and nuclear fuel and begin to collapse in on themselves under gravity. Learn the basics of blackholes, explained in simple terms.
What is rationality vs intelligence? How can using rationality help build antifragility? When it comes to rationality vs intelligence, rationality leads to better decisions and outcomes. Anyone can become rational if they develop the ability to choose the best option at any given time. Read more about rationality vs intelligence and its relationship to antifragility.