The World's Best Book Summaries
What is human progress? Can it be defined objectively? What’s “better”? Psychologist Steven Pinker believes that humanity is on the path of progress. But, exactly what that means can be hard to pin down. He tackles the definition in his book Enlightenment Now. Keep reading to learn what human progress is, according to Pinker.
What are Enlightenment values? How are they relevant today? In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker provides statistics to show that life has improved over time, all around the world. And he says the driving forces of this progress are reason, science, and humanism—values that are derived from the European Enlightenment. Continue reading to learn more about these Enlightenment values from Pinker’s perspective.
What do Stoics believe? Perhaps more importantly, how do they live on a day-to-day basis? The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman is presented as a daily devotional to share insights from the ancient Stoic philosophers on how to live a good life. They explain that Stoicism isn’t merely a set of beliefs—it’s a way of life. Read more for our overview of The Daily Stoic, including an exercise designed to help you put Stoic principles into practice today.
Do you consider your mortality? Is thinking about death a good idea or a bad one? The Stoic philosophers thought it wise to think about death. They believed that considering life’s brevity has a way of getting us to focus on what matters most. In The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman share insights from the ancient Stoics like this that help us put things into perspective. Keep reading to learn more about this bit of Stoic wisdom, along with some analysis of their ideas.
How does pride relate to suffering? Why should you be kind to others? In The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman explain that the Stoic philosophers advocated humility and kindness. The Stoics saw these qualities as a key to living wisely, which they believed was required for life’s ultimate goal—living virtuously. Continue reading to understand why the Stoics valued humility and kindness.
Do you wish things were different? Do you hang on tightly to possessions that could be gone tomorrow? The Stoic philosophers tried to manage their lives wisely. Wisdom entails applying good judgment to the way you live life so that you can stay focused on living virtuously (the ultimate goal). An attitude of taking life as it comes is part and parcel of living wisely. Read on to learn how to take life as it comes, the Stoic way.
Are you committed to lifelong improvement? Do you consider that others depend on you to do your part in this world? The Stoics were all about living a virtuous life, and they saw it as a marathon, not a sprint. Because of this, they emphasized the importance of perseverance. You must make a commitment to living virtuously and then stick with it. Continue reading to understand the Stoic view of perseverance.
How do you respond when things go wrong? How should you feel, and what should you do? The Stoic philosophers taught that we should pursue virtuous living. They recognized, though, that we will inevitably suffer setbacks on that journey. In The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman share the Stoics’ advice for dealing with life’s setbacks. Continue reading to learn how to handle disappointments the Stoic way.
Do you embrace life with all of its flaws, or do you pretend they aren’t there? Are you practical, or are you fanciful? Philosophers might be accused of living in abstraction, pontificating on life while detached from its realities. The Stoics, though, believed that life isn’t something you just talk about; it’s meant to be lived in stark reality. Read more to learn how the Stoics urge us to live in the real world.
Is BLM Marxist? Does the movement encourage revolution? What’s the connection to Critical Race Theory? Mark Levin claims that social justice movements and organizations such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) are promoting Marxist ideologies that encourage the overthrow of American society. He discusses these movements in his book American Marxism and warns about the dangerous consequences of their agenda. Continue reading to understand Levin’s argument.