The World's Best Book Summaries
Why do people care about their status? Is social status important? The Status Game by Will Storr explains that on a basic level, people play status games because we’ve evolved to do so. But the reasons that people care about status are more numerous and nuanced than that. Below we’ll explore some of the reasons that explain the importance of social status.
Have you ever felt humiliated in public? What triggers social humiliation? If you ever try to fit into a new group, you’ll likely feel humiliated if your efforts don’t work out. This is a common consequence of status games, according to Will Storr. Continue reading to learn more about the psychology of social humiliation.
Why are malls dying in the United States? What factors are contributing to their downfall? How can they adapt for the future? In the 1980s, the mall was a vibrant epicenter in America. Today malls are struggling to survive, their demise fueled by online shopping, large department store closures, and the COVID-19 pandemic. America’s 700 remaining malls are trying to stay alive by modernizing stores and digitizing processes. Keep reading to learn why malls are struggling and what can be done to revive them.
Do you want to increase your status? How can you play the status game safely? The Status Game by Will Storr claims that it’s impossible to disengage from status games completely—despite the risks of playing them. But it is possible to protect yourself from the dangers of status games. Let’s explore how to increase status without getting hurt.
What is the outgroup homogeneity effect? Why do cliques and groups form rivalries with one another? The outgroup homogeneity effect is when members of a group see themselves as unique individuals but believe outsiders are all the same. However, it’s likely that these in-group members aren’t as unique as they think they are. Below you’ll learn more about the outgroup homogeneity effect, according to The Status Game by Will Storr.
What causes social inequality? How does status cause inequality? When a group playing a status game feels threatened by another group, it feels justified in demonizing its enemies and destroying lives to protect its status. The result is deep-rooted inequality where minorities suffer while an elite class thrives. Let’s dive into what causes social inequality, according to The Status Game by Will Storr.
Do you worry about your position in society? Why shouldn’t you care about what others think of you? In The Status Game, Will Storr writes that a status game is successful when it generates status for its members and for the group as a whole. Though there are plenty of reasons to play status games, they have a dark side. Find out why you shouldn’t care what others think of your status in society.
What is the Anthropocene Epoch? How big of an impact have humans had on the planet? We might soon officially be living in the Anthropocene Epoch, a period in Earth’s history in which human activity has changed the entire planet. It means we’ve affected the planet as much as the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs and as much as the repeated Ice Ages. Keep reading to learn how new epochs are declared and why some think we shouldn’t call this epoch the Anthropocene.
What is car bloat? Why do Americans tend to prefer huge cars? What are the negative consequences? Car bloat—a trend toward ever-larger vehicles—is taking over US roads, and it shows no signs of slowing. The trend of Americans buying bigger, heavier vehicles is amping up car prices and damaging the environment, public health, and roads. Let’s take a look at what led to car bloat and why it’s a problem.
What are the best servant leadership examples? How can churches and businesses be socially responsible? Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf gives advice about how different kinds of institutions can fulfill their unique social responsibilities. He also discusses what you can do as an individual to fulfill your social responsibility. Keep reading for servant leadership examples in churches, universities, foundations, and individuals.