The World's Best Book Summaries
Who was Lawrence of Arabia? How did he manage to defeat the powerful Turks with his untrained band of nomads? Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence) was a British officer and archaeologist who led various military activities in Arabia during the First World War. Learn what Lawrence of Arabia can teach us about winning as an underdog.
What were the Troubles? What caused the situation to escalate so quickly? What actions and attitudes could have changed its course? The Troubles was a time of violence in Northern Ireland rooted in ethnic, political, and religious conflict. During the Troubles, the Catholics were the Davids (underdogs) and the British Army was the Goliath (the powerful giant). We’ll discuss two aspects of Goliath’s power that actually make him less powerful: the limits of authority and the negative effects of the overuse of power.
What is the relative deprivation theory? How does it affect the choices I make, in school, at work, and in life in general? The relative deprivation theory is a theory that says we compare ourselves to the people around us. Our feelings of happiness or deprivation, success or failure, are not absolute, but rather relative to how happy and successful our neighbors are. Learn why it’s critical to understand the relative deprivation theory when making decisions and assessing your successes and failures.
Because negotiation involves people, it inevitably involves emotions. What are the best ways to deal with these emotions in negotiation and make a successful deal? There are six crucial tips to keep in mind when negotiating. These principles will allow you to benefit from positive emotions while avoiding the stalemates that can come from negative emotions in negotiation.
Who was Konrad Kellen? And is it possible that he could have shortened the Vietnam War? Konrad Kellen was a German political analyst who served in various roles, including U.S. Army Intelligence, during his long career. Learn what Konrad Kellen knew about the Viet Cong and the Vietnamese people that could have ended the Vietnam War earlier and saved many lives…if only the U.S. government had taken his opinion seriously.
Who is Brer Rabbit? And why is he so important to the history of the Civil Rights Movement? Brer Rabbit is a popular character in Southern lore who uses his wits to outsmart characters who are stronger and more powerful than he is. We’ll cover how the Brer Rabbit stories inspired the leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement, and what you can learn from both the stories and the movement.
What are objective criteria? And why should you use them in negotiation? Objective criteria are independent standards used in negotiation that are factual and therefore fair to both sides. We’ll cover how to develop and negotiate with objective criteria.
What is the Three Strikes Law? Is it possible that it does more harm than good? The Three Strikes Law is a California law that doubles the prison time of the offender of a second serious crime and makes a 25-year sentence mandatory for repeat offenders. We’ll cover what the numbers say about the effectiveness of the Three Strikes Law.
What is Project C? Why was it so important to the American Civil Rights Movement and America’s history? And what can we learn from it? Project C (“C” for confrontation) was a series of Birmingham sit-ins, marches, and boycotts organized by civil rights leader Wyatt Walker. Learn how Project C made the fight for equality in America so visible and urgent that the government could no longer ignore it.
Do you feel uncomfortable negotiating for what you want in life? Do you know what negotiation skills and negotiation tactics you need to be successful? Negotiation is a part of life, and we all want to know how to do it successfully. We’ll cover how to develop effective negotiation skills and how to use the most essential negotiation tactics.