The World's Best Book Summaries
How dangerous are predatory landlords? How did landlording turn into a full-time job? In his book Evicted, Matthew Desmond argues that predatory landlords are contributing to the housing and eviction crisis in the US. They target low-income earners by charging too much in rent, neglecting repairs, and making non-binding agreements. Continue reading to learn more about predatory landlord practices and their effects.
Is housing discrimination still around today? How do landlords get around discrimination laws? Despite being outlawed in 1968, housing discrimination toward minorities is still prevalent today. The discrimination creates further problems, forcing minorities into poor neighborhoods and restricting their access to education and healthcare. Keep reading for further insights into the present housing discrimination problem.
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? What criteria should you use to choose which causes to support for maximum impact? William MacAskill’s book Doing Good Better offers insights on selecting effective altruism causes. He proposes evaluating problems based on their magnitude, feasibility, and how underappreciated they are. This approach helps you identify where your efforts can have the greatest positive impact. Keep reading to discover how you can make more informed decisions about which global issues to tackle.
Are you worried about the future of AI? Have you ever wondered if we could simply stop its development? Can AI be controlled or contained? In Scary Smart, author Mo Gawdat explores why halting AI’s progress is no longer possible. He explains that we’ve reached a point of no return, where superintelligent AI will become an independent, thinking entity beyond our control. Keep reading to discover the three reasons why AI can’t be contained or controlled.
What are the advantages of an ethical business? What type of business model does Salesforce follow? According to Marc Benioff, the best approach to business is to place moral principles at the forefront of organizational decision-making, which is a model called principled business. In this model, profit isn’t the sole driving force; instead, it’s balanced with a commitment to social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and internal fairness and equity. Let’s look at how ethical businesses drive success, using examples from Benioff’s company Salesforce.
What are Salesforce’s core values? How does Salesforce promote inclusivity and excellent customer service? Marc Benioff says that Salesforce became a Fortune 500 company by practicing principled business. Salesforce prioritizes four key moral principles: service, advancement, inclusivity, and confidence. Let’s discuss how the company has translated each of these principles into action over its history.
Why is diversity and inclusion important in any business? How does Salesforce create an equal space for all of its employees? Marc Benioff explains that he’s always striven for inclusivity at Salesforce. However, he didn’t explicitly focus on this principle until two key incidents brought Salesforce’s underperformance in this area to his attention. Let’s look at the two incidents that persuaded Benioff to improve Salesforce’s diversity and inclusion plan.
What is Salesforce’s business model? What principles do the company follow? According to Marc Benioff, it’s not enough for a company to simply have principles—it must also practice those principles consistently and benefit all its stakeholders. His company, Salesforce, practices principled business in two ways. Keep reading to learn more about Salesforce’s business model and the principles it upholds.
How does Salesforce give back to the world? Why is Salesforce so involved in American politics? Marc Benioff considers society and the global environment two of Salesforce’s chief stakeholders. A couple of ways he addresses social and environmental problems are through a philanthropic program and campaigning for political change to promote minorities’ rights. Discover more about Salesforce’s philanthropy efforts.
Are you tired of feeling guilty for your actions? Is that feeling justified? What if you’re not responsible for what you do and say? In his book Determined, Robert Sapolsky explores the concept of determinism and its implications for personal responsibility. He challenges our traditional notions of praise, blame, and punishment in a world with no consequences for our choices. Keep reading to understand Sapolsky’s thought-provoking ideas about human behavior and accountability.