The World's Best Book Summaries
What role did religion play in Abraham Lincoln’s life? What did he believe? In And There Was Light, Jon Meacham writes about America’s 16th president. Meacham emphasizes Abraham Lincoln’s Christianity, and he frequently refers to Lincoln’s religious beliefs to explain how they helped guide Lincoln’s thoughts and actions. Keep reading for an inspiring discussion of Lincoln’s Christianity.
Why is there a market for electric vehicles? Why are people venturing into the arena of space travel? Economist Robert J. Shiller asserts that certain narratives take off and take hold because they receive influential endorsements. He credits the charismatic leadership of Elon Musk for two of these economic narratives. Keep reading to learn how Elon Musk’s charismatic leadership has captured our imagination in two sectors of the economy.
How and why did Abraham Lincoln get into politics? When did his centrist approach fail him? What song did he want played after the announcement of the Union’s victory? In And There Was Light, historian and biographer Jon Meacham discusses Abraham Lincoln’s political career, including the president’s actions during the Civil War. Meacham also provides some background information that sheds light on Lincoln’s politics and abilities. Continue reading to learn about Abraham Lincoln’s political career.
What’s the timeline of Britney Spears’ key events in her life? How did she go from a small-town girl to the biggest pop star in the world? Spears’s life story includes sadness and success. But despite the depth of her darkest moments, she insists the bad times don’t diminish the happiness she’s found through her music and raising her children. Let’s follow Britney Spears’s timeline through several key periods of change in her life.
What’s the brief history of Amazon? Where did Bezos come up with the idea of Amazon? Bezos’s story is the story of Amazon, the business he founded in 1994. Though Bezos doesn’t take all of the credit for the company’s success, it was he who shouldered the risk of creating an online retail store in a decade. Let’s break down Amazon’s history, from its beginnings in a garage to hurdling through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Who is Sam Bankman-Fried? How did he make his money? How did he lose it? In just a few years, Sam Bankman-Fried went from being a relative nobody to the architect of a cryptocurrency empire whose net worth neared $30 billion. But, even quicker than his empire burst onto the scene, it crumbled. Continue reading for an overview of Michael Lewis’s Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.
What’s the difference between abolition and emancipation? Why didn’t Abraham Lincoln support a federal mandate to free slaves? In And There Was Light, historian and biographer Jon Meacham discusses Abraham Lincoln’s stance on slavery. He explains where Lincoln’s beliefs came from and the actions he took in an effort to end the practice in the United States. Read more to learn about the Great Emancipator’s views and actions in relation to slavery.
How many childhood friends did Sam Bankman-Fried have? On what rare occasion did he wear a suit? In his recent biography Going Infinite, Michael Lewis provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Sam Bankman-Fried’s life. Lewis writes about the time before Bankman-Fried became a crypto mogul, explaining why he spent his life as a social outcast. Read more to understand Sam Bankman-Fried’s personality.
Why is Amazon so successful? How does Amazon set itself apart from other businesses? When Amazon made over $100 billion in sales in a single year for the first time, Jeff Bezos reported that it’d achieved that volume faster than any other business. In Invent and Wander, Bezos attributes Amazon’s success to its workers and to the company’s culture. Continue reading to learn more about the cornerstones of Amazon’s success.
Why did Abraham Lincoln choose Andrew Johnson as his running mate? Did Johnson carry on Lincoln’s work? Historian and biographer Jon Meacham writes about the life and leadership of Abraham Lincoln in his book And There Was Light. He also discusses the drastic change of course in the presidency and nation after Lincoln’s assassination. Read more to learn about Lincoln and Johnson, according to Meacham.