The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the role of shaming in addiction? Why does alcoholic shame make the situation worse? While alcoholism isn’t a disease people should want to have, it doesn’t help to shame those who are affected. In Quit Like a Woman, Holly Whitaker claims that shaming alcoholics only makes things worse. Here’s why alcoholic shame does more damage than good, according to Whitaker.
Is there a creator? Was the universe designed? Where does the weight of evidence lie? Either the universe was created, or it’s here by chance. Mo Gawdat argues that the materialist view is so improbable that we’re left with the likelihood of intelligent design. He believes that this is a good reason for us to be happy. Continue reading to understand Gawdat’s argument.
What’s present-moment awareness? Is it the same as mindfulness? How can you practice it? Mo Gawdat suggests that, for happiness to endure, we must embrace five pillars, which he calls “ultimate truths.” These five pillars lead to joy—an unwavering state of happiness. The first of these pillars is present-moment awareness. Read more to learn about this practice and the difference it can make in your life.
What are the qualities of a good mentor? Should you look for someone who helps you know how or what to think? Martha Beck contends that we fall out of alignment with our true selves by internalizing false beliefs from our culture. She argues that the path to realignment begins with discovering and recognizing these false beliefs. She advises you to find an integrity mentor to help you on this journey. Keep reading to discover what Beck thinks you should look for when selecting an integrity mentor.
What’s the problem with fiat currency? What are the dangers of over-printing fiat money? One danger of fiat money is that it gives the government too much control of the nation’s resources. The government can just print more money whenever they want, which devalues the national currency. Dr. Saifedean Ammous explains the social problems with fiat currency.
What does it mean to “find yourself”? Is there such a thing as a true, immutable self? As your life unfolds, you remain the same person, yet you also change in response to your life experiences. Therefore, the journey of finding yourself is lifelong. To help you navigate this journey, we’ve compiled a roundup of the top 10 must-read books about finding yourself.
Are you a perfectionist? How does striving for perfection hinder your progress? A perfectionist mindset eats away at your self-esteem and productivity. To combat perfectionism, focus on what you are doing well and how you’re improving over time. Keep reading to learn about the dangers of perfectionism and how you can move toward overcoming perfectionist tendencies.
How do astronomers see exploding stars and black holes? How do they observe pulsars and the birth of stars? Astronomers figured out over time that various frequencies of light make it possible to observe space. The full spectrum of light allows them to study the universe in more and more ways. Keep reading for an explanation by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Would you like to be happier, calmer, and more fulfilled? What if you lived life as a Stoic? A good life could be yours. In A Guide to the Good Life, philosophy professor William B. Irvine walks you through a set of Stoic techniques that promise happiness through counterintuitive methods such as imagining losing everything you love or deliberately exposing yourself to discomfort. Read more to learn how to practice Stoicism by following six basic techniques Irvine derives from ancient philosophy. We’ve also included an exercise to help you design your own Stoic practice.
What are scientific controls? Why are they instrumental in experiments? In Bad Science, Ben Goldacre explains that scientific studies are designed to test one treatment at a time, without any influence from other factors. To do this, good researchers make use of scientific controls. Let’s go into more detail on a scientific control’s role in studies.