The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you feel like a terrible person because of a mistake you made? How can you deal with shame in a healthy way? A common reaction people have when they’ve done something wrong is to feel shame. It’s a completely normal emotion to feel in these types of situations, but it can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Luckily, there are ways to overcome shame. Continue reading to learn how to deal with shame and accept your mistakes.
What is Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir’s Scarcity about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In their book Scarcity, behavioral science researchers Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir explain how scarcities of time and money temporarily change our brains: They make us more efficient with a limited resource in the short term, but they also decrease our mental bandwidth, distorting the way we process information and make decisions. Below is a brief overview of Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir.
Why is child labor in the U.S. on the rise? How much has child labor increased in recent years? Between 2015 and 2022, the number of children employed in violation of child labor laws in the U.S. tripled from 1,012 to 3,876. Most minors in these exploitative work situations are migrant children who have fled violence and poverty in their home countries to pursue better circumstances. Keep reading to learn what’s behind this increase in child labor violations in the U.S.
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.
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.
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.
What is Scott Barry Kaufman’s new hierarchy of needs? How has Maslow’s theory of needs changed over the years? In Transcend, Scott Barry Kaufman offers a new hierarchy of needs, updating Abraham Maslow’s ideas about what people need to reach their full potential. He argues that Maslow’s “pyramid” is misunderstood, and his updated view is more in line with modern science and Maslow’s full body of work. Read on to learn about Kaufman’s new hierarchy of needs, according to his book Transcend.
Want to know how to stop holding yourself back with negative thoughts? How do negative thoughts limit us? According to author and life coach Gary John Bishop, the way you think dictates your reality. To learn how to break free of negativity and stop holding yourself back, you have to first learn to reframe your mindset, which Bishop helps his readers do in his book Unfu*k Yourself. Read on to learn how to stop holding yourself back with negative thoughts, according to Bishop’s advice.
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.
Want an overview of The 50th Law by Robert Greene and 50 Cent? What do the authors say is the secret to overcoming your fears in life? The 50th Law, by rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) and author Robert Greene, argues that the biggest factor holding us back in life is fear. This fearfulness only holds us back from gaining power and success, but Robert Greene and 50 Cent argue that you must become fearless to truly thrive. Read on for a brief overview of The 50th Law by Robert Greene and 50 Cent.