The World's Best Book Summaries
What does Stoicism have to say about death? Is there a Stoic way to face death? Stoics see death not as something to brush under the carpet, but rather as a reality to confront and make peace with. Stoic philosophers even kept a human skull on their desk as a reminder of mortality. Here’s what Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and a distinguished Stoic philosopher, had to stay on Stoicism and death.
What does memory have to do with the flow state? What are some common memory-dependent activities? Why does today’s society devalue memory? The importance of memory shouldn’t be overlooked. Although it’s been determined that memorization isn’t the most optimal learning device, it’s still important for other reasons. Memory activities such as recounting your ancestry, repeating riddles and sayings, and creating ordered systems can promote flow. Keep reading to learn about the link between memory and flow.
Looking for Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations quotes? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? Many scholars consider Meditations, written by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, to be one of the definitive texts on Stoicism. Stoicism is a philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and its central idea is that rational thinking can guide you through any hardship and allow you to endure any pain. Below are some quotes and passages that highlight some of the key Stoicism concepts and ideas discussed in the book.
What is general relativity vs. quantum mechanics incompatible? Is it possible to unite the four forces with the subatomic particles? The predictions of relativity, which deal with phenomena on the massive, universal scale, break down when applied to the subatomic level of quantum mechanics. Uniting quantum mechanics and relativity is one of the great challenges to establishing a complete theory of the universe. Keep reading to learn about the general relativity vs. quantum mechanics dilemma.
What’s the difference between theory vs practice? Why is it so important to understand this difference when trying to build antifragile systems? When it comes to theory vs practice, the bottom line is that talk is cheap. Many people have good ideas, or at least know how to sell them. But when there’s no action, it’s meaningless, and just contributes to more fragility. Read more about theory vs practice below.
Is the universe finite or infinite? Does the cosmos extend forever or does it have a boundary? The universe is always in the state of expansion but it cannot be infinite. In an infinite (and static) universe, every point of observation would arrive at a star (because there would be an infinite number of stars), but this is clearly not the case (this is known as Olbers’ paradox or the “dark night sky paradox”). Here is why our universe cannot be infinite.
What is rationality vs intelligence? How can using rationality help build antifragility? When it comes to rationality vs intelligence, rationality leads to better decisions and outcomes. Anyone can become rational if they develop the ability to choose the best option at any given time. Read more about rationality vs intelligence and its relationship to antifragility.
Does theoretical physics allow for time travel? And if so, under what conditions could traveling through time be possible? Believe it or not, there may be some scenarios under which traveling through time is theoretically possible. Specifically, it’d possible if it could be shown that parts of the universe exist where there is negative curvature, which is actually in the realm of possibility as far as theoretical physics is concerned. Here is why time travel is (theoretically) possible yet extremely unlikely.
Are you looking for Antifragile quotes? How can these quotes help you understand antifragility, and encourage you to build antifragility yourself? Antifragility is all about the idea of growth through struggle. As we go through life, we continuously grow and learn, and can apply our past struggles to our future success. These Antifragile quotes help explain how that works. Keep reading for six motivational Antifragile quotes.
What is string theory? What conundrum does string theory attempt to resolve? In physics, string theory states that the fundamental building blocks of the universe are one-dimensional strings as opposed to point-like particles. String theory attempts to solve one of the toughest stumbling blocks of physics—that is the difficulty of uniting the uncertainty principle with the predictions of general relativity. Keep reading to learn about string theory, explained in simple terms.