The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s the relationship between speculation and the stock market crash? How did the media influence investors? In both 1929 and 1987, speculation and the stock market crash were deeply intertwined. A look at media coverage at the time shows how speculation set the stage for each crash. Let’s consider how speculative bubbles influenced by the media led to major stock market crashes in history.
Why are many US pharmacies closing? What does that mean for the local communities? Major pharmacy chains like Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens are closing hundreds of stores, creating “pharmacy deserts.” Continued pharmacy closures could exacerbate healthcare disparities, necessitating new approaches for equitable access to vital medications and health services in all communities. Continue reading to learn about the reason for the closing pharmacies and the potential effects.
Is social stratification necessarily a bad thing? How can social stratification cause inequality? As communities grow, stratification (a division between more experienced and less experienced members) will naturally occur. Charles Vogl explains that stratification is a good thing, as it gives members something to aspire to. Discover why social stratification and inequality don’t always mean the same thing.
Why is sexism in the entertainment industry such a problem? Are there double standards for men that women wouldn’t be able to get away with? In The Woman in Me, musician Britney Spears uses her own narrative to point out the favoritism toward men in the entertainment industry. The differing treatments between men and women stand out when it comes to their dating lives, mental health issues, and physical appearances. Learn what else Spears discovered about the mistreatment of women in an industry where men aren’t held to such high standards.
What makes something go viral? Why do some ideas catch on when others don’t? Economist Robert J. Shiller contends that narratives drive behavior far more than we might realize. He outlines five factors that contribute to the widespread dissemination of economic narratives: memorable visuals, emotional resonance, influential endorsers, holistic explanations, and a human-centric focus. Continue reading to understand these virality factors that apply to narratives of all kinds.
How are you helping others grow? Should there be room for advancement in communities? Although you should prioritize relationships over status, Charles Vogl says it’s natural to want to continue growing as a person and advancing within a community. In The Art of Community, he makes a few recommendations that can help community members make healthy progress. Continue reading for his recommendations that apply to both offline and online communities.
Is your community ready for new members? How can you help new members feel like they belong? In The Art of Community, Charles Vogl explains that when communities truly believe in their moral code, they’ll want to open their group to all who could benefit from joining it. However, communities should have barriers to admittance that separate people by moral codes. Let’s take a closer look at how to successfully complete the induction of new members, based on how much their beliefs overlap with your community’s.
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.
What’s Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence about? Could artificial intelligence ever surpass human intelligence? According to Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom’s book Superintelligence, there’s a very real possibility that AI could one day rival, and then vastly exceed, human intelligence. When and if this happens, the future of humankind will depend more on AI-generated decisions than human decisions. Read below for a brief overview of Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom.
What are the consequences of the “American dream” narrative? What’s the truth about the gold standard? Economist Robert J. Shiller writes that narratives are extraordinarily powerful because they help us make sense of the world. By organizing random events and observations into stories with clear narrative arcs, we come to understand our world, how it came to be, and our place within it. Keep reading to understand how narratives work and to learn about four recurring economic narratives.