The World's Best Book Summaries
What does it mean when an author includes a blind character in literature? How do authors sometimes include metaphorical blindness? Blind characters are difficult to write because the author needs to describe how that character will navigate the world. So why write a blind character? Because both literal and metaphorical blindness are important symbols in literature. Keep reading to learn more about what blindness means in literature.
What is Stoicism’s take on death? How can Stoicism help us come to terms with, and even appreciate our mortality? In Stoicism, death is viewed as a constant reminder of the fragility and transience of life. In this sense, death is a gift as it helps us to appreciate what’s most important in life. Read about Stoicism’s take on death and mortality.
What does Stoicism teach about acceptance? Isn’t acceptance the direct opposite of the Stoic approach to life? In Stoicism, acceptance isn’t about surrendering to life’s misfortunes. Rather, it’s about finding the strength to resist arguing about how things should be and to instead accept them as they are. Once you do so, you can very likely use the problem or challenge to your benefit. Read about Stoicism’s take on acceptance.
What is the Inner Citadel? And what does it take to build one? The Inner citadel is a Stoic concept that refers to inner strength or resilience exercised in the face of adversity. Building your Inner Citadel means strengthening yourself both mentally and physically during good times so you have the strength you need during bad times. Learn about the stoic concept of the Inner Citadel.
Who is Robert DeWeese in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? What is his role in the story? Robert DeWeese is a friend of Pirsig who he meets in his travels. Deweese doesn’t have a large role in the story, but helps Pirsig explain the importance of art and of life. Read more about Robert DewWeese in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
What does it mean to “go beyond self” in Buddhism? If we have no self, then how can we feel things like love and grief? There is no “self” in Buddhism. Buddhism teaches that each being is part of a universal presence rather than an individual being. It can be very difficult for people, especially Westerners, to go beyond the self because we’re raised to believe that the self is all-important. Continue reading to learn more about the “self”, Buddhism, and Radical Acceptance.
What is the connection between religion and morality? Is the belief in God necessary for morality and social order? Holy books such as the Bible and Quran try to draw the connection between morality and religion by conflating the cosmic God and the lawgiver God. But humans don’t need divine law or the threat of hell in order to act morally. Morality is baked into the DNA of humans and all social animals. Keep reading for more about morality and religion.
What is the difference between science vs art? What does Robert Pirsig say about these differences in his book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, author Robert Pirsig explains the two life philosophies in science vs art. He conveys these through his ideas, and through the differing ideas of fellow travelers. Read more about the difference between science vs art in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
What is the quality of life meaning? How does Robert Pirsig explain quality? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig gives the idea of quality of life meaning in a few key ways. He also highlights the importance of striving for quality of life. Read more about the quality of life meaning according to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
How would you explain the meaning of life? What’s the logic behind your meaning-of-life story? Throughout human history, people have come up with countless stories to explain the meaning of life. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to matter to most people if their stories are logically sound. As long as they give their life a function and conceptualize it within a larger scope, the explanation is deemed satisfactory. Keep reading to see how people attempt to explain the meaning of life using storytelling and consider the logical flaws of these explanations.