Book Summaries 2024

In this guide, we’ll outline Thompson’s advice for putting yourself in the state of mind to empathize and listen, determine what’s happening, and persuade even the angriest person to cooperate. We’ll also compare the principles of his method to other experts’ recommendations for navigating tough conversations.

Throughout this guide, we’ll supplement Haberman’s account with commentary from outside sources to both support her critical portrayal of Trump’s life and career, as well as to bring in perspectives that offer a more favorable view of the 45th president.

In this guide, we explore Levitsky and Ziblatt’s thesis that norms are the bedrock of democracy—and assess their argument that Donald Trump’s presidency posed a unique threat to their survival in the United States. We also include commentary and additional insights from the last three-fourths of Trump’s term, as well as the period after his presidency—events that Levitsky and Ziblatt could not hav...

Win Bigly describes the persuasion strategies Trump used throughout the campaign, how Hillary’s campaign fell short in comparison, and how you can apply these strategies to be more persuasive yourself . Learn the ranking of the most effective persuasion methods, why visual imagery is so powerful, and how to come up with killer slogans.

"Anonymous" describes the increasingly futile efforts of a handful of principled White House officials (referred to as the Steady State) to stave off disastrous, often illegal actions. The author warns that the "guard rails" have come off—the principled staffers have mostly been driven away and Trump is uncontrollable. If he wins another four years, he may sink the ship of democracy.

In this autobiography, Trump recounts his early life and career—from building low- and middle-income housing with his father in NYC’s outer boroughs to erecting luxury apartments in Manhattan. Trump outlines the eleven principles that guide his business decisions, and how they played out in the deals that defined his early career , including projects such as Trump Tower in New York, his first casi...

This guide explores how brain scans revealed the flaws of traditional treatment and informed Amen’s approach and offers practical advice for anyone to enhance their brain health. Additionally, our commentary will expand on Amen’s ideas with research and advice from other health experts.

In this guide, we’ll examine what ADHD looks like in the brain and how it contributes to difficulties with executive functioning (a set of skills that helps with the sorts of complex cognitive tasks listed above). We’ll also debunk some common misconceptions about ADHD. Finally, we’ll explore the main five challenges of ADHD—such as emotion regulation and impulse control—and discuss strategies for...

Our commentary will provide additional information about the history of poverty in the US and how it’s impacting people today. We’ll also examine the pros and cons of some potential solutions. Finally, we’ll present counterpoints to Desmond’s ideas from more fiscally conservative schools of thought, focusing on personal responsibility instead of systemic problems.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to select a product to sell that’ll make you money and how to write the most persuasive marketing copy possible. More generally, you’ll learn how to take advantage of clear-headed moments to do your best work and recover when you’re feeling mentally drained. In our commentary, we’ll supplement the authors’ advice with perspectives from marketing as well as general s...

To answer this question, we’ve brought together the advice of many experts from the worlds of psychology and self-help, including Brené Brown, Nathaniel Branden, and Mark Manson. You’ll learn about the specific destructive patterns low self-esteem can create in your life, as well as five habits you can practice every day to raise your self-esteem.

As a magician, Brown isn’t a stereotypical self-help guru. However, his understanding of how stories misdirect us led to his belief that we can reshape our own narratives to be happy in the here and now while maintaining a positive outlook toward our own mortality. This guide will examine Brown’s definition of happiness and the philosophical building blocks he claims can achieve it. We’ll compare...

In this guide, we’ll discuss how Holiday defines courage and his advice for being courageous in both everyday and extraordinary situations. You’ll learn how to break free from fear, take control of your actions, and make bold decisions. In our commentary, we’ll discuss some of the philosophical principles behind Holiday’s ideas, alternative perspectives on courage, and actions you can take to inco...

In this guide, we’ll explain what Holiday means by stillness , and discuss how stilling your mind requires also stilling your body and soul. We’ll examine each of those domains in turn, and explore Holiday’s techniques for cultivating stillness in each. Along the way, we’ll draw connections to principles from Stoicism, Buddhism, and Taoism and expand on Holiday’s ideas by comparing them with other...

To make his arguments, Holiday draws on the philosophies of Stoic thinkers, advising us to resist the urges of our emotions in order to maintain clarity of thinking. In our guide to his book, we’ll examine his theories through the lens of Stoicism, and we’ll compare them to other management theories that similarly aim to help you find success.

Holiday is a marketing mogul turned Stoic guru whom the New York Times credits for the modern movement of ancient Stoicism as self-help. In this guide, we’ll provide specific strategies to help you exert Stoic discipline over both your internal world and the external world. We’ll also compare and contrast Holiday’s "life hack" Stoicism with the original philosophical texts that inspired it, as wel...

In this guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of Stoicism and walk you through a set of Stoic techniques that promise happiness through such counterintuitive methods as imagining losing everything you love or deliberately exposing yourself to discomfort. We’ll build on Irvine’s recommendations by connecting them to other ancient and modern Stoic texts as well as to ideas from traditions such as Buddhi...

In this guide, you’ll learn about the six different levels of management necessary to run any large organization, as well as the distinct mindset and skills required for each. These requirements indicate which types of unique training each employee needs to prepare them for their next promotion, adding clarity and direction to the leadership development process. In our commentary, we’ll explore so...

In our summary, we’ll provide background on Starbucks' rise to the top of the global coffeehouse industry and the troubles it experienced leading up to the crisis in 2007. Then, we’ll explain the reasons Schultz came back as CEO and his strategies to make the transition as smooth as possible. Finally, we’ll discuss how Schultz revived the company by altering its corporate culture, improving the co...

In this guide, we’ve organized Cole’s tips and tricks into a three-part guide for becoming a successful online writer. We’ll discuss the technicalities of writing successfully, gaining an audience, and eventually profiting from your content. In our commentary, we’ll expand on Cole’s advice using expert sources like On Writing by Stephen King and Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk.

We’ll also examine some of the ways proponents of democracy can promote stronger and healthier democratic institutions through specific institutional reforms, new economic policies to combat inequality, and actions at the individual and grassroots levels to overcome the social divisions that corrode democracy.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the valuable lessons Singer imparts about how to make your life exactly as the universe wants it to be. Throughout the guide, we’ll expand on some of Singer’s realizations by explaining the Buddhist principles they’re derived from. We’ll also compare his lessons with those of other spiritual and self-help authors like Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, Tara Brach, and Gary...

In this guide, we’ll discuss four key components of a good life philosophy—spiritual, emotional, material, and moral welfare. Then, we’ll explore why it’s important to carefully consider your life philosophy. Finally, we’ll explain four methods for aligning your actions with your life philosophy. In our commentary, we’ll discuss additional life philosophies, research about what it means to live we...

In this guide, we’ll explore Sinek’s steps to understanding and living your purpose and your organization’s. We’ll also highlight some of the critiques Sinek received for his approach, as well as alternatives to his theory and to the process he advocates for finding your purpose.

In The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck , Mark Manson argues that we are frustrated in life and feel like failures because we value and prioritize the wrong things, thanks in part to society’s emphasis on positive thinking, over-involved parents, and our susceptibility to superficial social media messages. This leads us to pursue emotional highs that don’t lead to lasting happiness. The solutions a...