The World's Best Book Summaries
How do children learn? What parenting model nurtures children’s learning styles? Children learn primarily by watching and listening. In The Gardener and the Carpenter, Alison Gopnik argues that a supportive parenting style—rather than a controlling one—fosters this learning most effectively. Keep reading for the best way to help your child learn and grow so they can be the best version of themselves.
Why are DEI programs becoming controversial? Do DEI programs even work? What are the arguments being posed against them? Some states are banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and some companies face boycotts or criticism for implementing them. However, others claim that DEI programs are essential to maintaining cognitive diversity and fair practices. Below we’ll discuss arguments for and against DEI programming, and consider what might be done differently.
Do you see everything as a learning opportunity? Are you eager to figure out things for yourself? According to Confucius, learning throughout life is vital. Whether it’s picking up new ideas and skills or gaining insights from other people, you should keep your eyes and your mind open to what you can learn and how you can grow. Read more to learn what Confucius had to say about learning in The Analects.
When you observe others, what do you learn? What kind of people should you seek to learn from? In The Analects, Confucius discusses the importance of learning from other people. This might be through an actual teacher-learner dynamic or simply through observation. He says it’s important to learn from the right people, and he explains how you can find them. Keep reading for advice from Confucius on how to learn from others.
Have you been asked to give a speech? Are you seeking out opportunities to improve your public speaking skills? Public speaking expert John C. Maxwell shares advice on how to choose a topic for a speech in his book The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication. He recommends that you don’t go it alone; rather, you should find a few people who will brainstorm with you. Read more to learn how to find the right people and, together, come up with winning ideas for your speech.
Would you like to memorize a poem or the presentation you’re giving next Tuesday? Do you just want some help remembering what you’re supposed to pick up at the store? The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas aims to help anyone memorize and recall all sorts of information. The authors explain the principles that govern memory, and they share strategies that capitalize on those principles. Continue reading for an overview of this classic book on memory.
Do you need to memorize information in a sequence for school or work? Do you always forget which US president came after James Buchanan? Your brain has a natural affinity for associations. The Memory Book shows you how to use this skill to connect sequential pieces of information. This enables you to remember a full list of words in their original order. Read more to learn how to memorize lists and use this skill in real life.
Are you trying to find a solution to a dire issue? What are the best problem-solving tools to use? Problem-solving is something you do every day, whether you notice it or not. Whether you have a broken coffee machine or you’re trying to beat out the competition in the market, there’s always an issue in need of fixing. We’ll first look at the five steps to problem-solving and then explore problem-solving tools to make the process easier.
Do you have trouble remembering people’s names? How might you make abstract information easier to recall? We always use association, often subconsciously, to commit things to memory. In other words, we remember things in relation to each other. So, we can recall anything if we link it to another piece of information we already know. This is particularly helpful for abstract information, which is harder to remember. Read on to learn how to use memory association techniques to memorize abstract data.
What are critical theories? How are they a new take on postmodernism? Why are they popular? Authors, academics, and cultural critics Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay dive into the history of social justice in their book Cynical Theories. They believe the movements started out on a positive note but eventually became corrupted through critical theories. Read on to understand what critical theories are, including their methods and doctrines.