The World's Best Book Summaries
Could your workplace productivity use a boost? Would you like to learn how to get more done professionally? In Smarter Faster Better, Charles Duhigg shares two principles that are crucial to improving workplace productivity. Becoming more productive isn’t about working more hours or constantly pushing yourself to do more. Instead, it’s about making wise choices in certain areas. Read more to learn how to improve workplace productivity.
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.
What is the role of taxation in an economy? Under what circumstances does raising taxes hinder the economy on the national level? Some tax-funded projects are essential to keep the country running. But when the government uses taxes to fund projects and pay wages that are unnecessary, the consequences begin to outweigh the benefits. In this article, we’ll consider the effect of taxation in the context of public works funding.
What is Robert C. Martin’s The Clean Coder about? What qualities, according to the author, distinguish a professional developer? In his book, The Clean Coder, expert developer Robert C. Martin explains how to be a programming professional—an honorable, reliable employee who produces quality work (or takes responsibility for the rare times she doesn’t). A professional’s most important responsibility is to meet their employer’s needs. Below is a brief overview of The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers by Robert C. Martin.
What is in the Amusing Ourselves to Death introduction? How does the 2005 introduction put the book into perspective? Amusing Ourselves to Death was written in 1985 by Neil Postman. In the 2005 version of the book, Postman’s son included an introduction that makes the book more relevant now than it was thirty-six years ago. Here is an overview of the 2005 Amusing Ourselves to Death introduction and foreword to the book.
Why did Thomas Paine write the 1776 pamphlet Common Sense? What were its purpose and historical significance? Common Sense was written by English-borne philosopher Thomas Paine to provide intellectual backing for American independence from England. While Paine’s ultimate goal certainly included convincing Americans of the righteousness of separation from England, the pamphlet itself is actually more directly concerned with larger questions of political philosophy. In this article, we’ll take a look at the main principles of Paine’s Common Sense argument.
How are your decision-making skills? Do you know what probabilistic thinking is—and how it can help you make better decisions? An important element of productivity is the ability to make better decisions. At its root is the ability to predict the future with some accuracy. Probabilistic thinking is one way to do this. Read more to learn how you can make better decisions using probabilistic thinking.
Which regulatory agencies facilitated racism in housing? What are the effects of systemic racism in housing? The IRS, FHA, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) all introduced and enforced discriminatory housing policies that entrenched racism in housing. The primary effect of systemic racism in housing is that it prevents Blacks from building wealth through property ownership, which has led to the massive racial wealth gap seen today. Read on to fully understand how government institutions enabled racism in housing.
What are one-minute goals? How do you set them? Why do one-minute goals work? If you want to learn how to be a one-minute manager, then you need to learn about one-minute goals. Each goal you set should be readable in one minute or less, hence the name. When you have these written performance standards and deadlines, employees feel more driven and have direction. Here’s why you should set one-minute goals for your employees and why they work.
Do you find yourself giving in to temptation too easily? What are the four traps that undermine willpower? There are four main traps that undermine willpower: the “I’m-making-progress” trap, the too-much optimism trap, the halo trap, and the moral licensing trap. Learn about the four types of willpower traps and how to stop giving in to temptation.