The Good Ancestor looks at how we can leave the world a better place for unborn generations. It’s a concept we don’t consider that much, but an important one nonetheless. We are custodians of the planet and it’s important to leave it in a good state when we pass the baton to the next generation. …
Humankind is a book that questions whether humans are as mean-spirited and governed by self-interest. It’s a belief a lot of us have internalised, but is there any truth in it? Are we as negative toward one another as we think? Rutger Bregman examines this narrative in this fascinating book, which questions what it means …
Fooled By Randomness is the first book in Nassim Taleb’s Incerto series, which deals with asymmetries in life. His books are among the most intriguing I’ve come across and I always feel like I learn something new even if I read 20 pages, never mind the whole book! Taleb looks at the fallibility of human …
Skin In The Game is the final part of Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s five-book Incerto series. This book takes a look at hidden asymmetries in life and shows how we can make better decisions based on how much skin in the game someone, or we, have. The book is not as groundbreaking as The Black Swan, …
On The Suffering of The World is an essay by the German philosopher Alfred Schopenhauer musing on how suffering is an integral part of humanity. He is considered to be a proponent of philosophical pessimism, although this shouldn’t put you off reading this book! It’s an interesting take on a topic that doesn’t get discussed, …
The Prince is one of the most important political texts ever written. The importance of the book can be signified by the fact that the ideas presented in the book are referred to as Machiavellian, after the author, Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli looks at how political power can be won and maintained. Despite writing the book …
You wake up. You scratch your eyes, turn your head to the side to see what time it is and slowly lift yourself up from the depths of the mattress. Once again, your head turns to the side, but this time you reach for something. On the table by the side of your bed is …
One of the best books I’ve read is Siddhartha. It’s a novel by the German writer Hermann Hesse that deals with the spiritual journey of the titular character. The book is set during the time of Gautama Buddha, the spiritual leader of Buddhism. It’s a short but thought-provoking book that caused me to think deeply …
This Meditations summary looks at a book unlike any other. It is a collection of thoughts written down by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At the time of these writings, Marcus was the most powerful man in the world. He commanded the Roman Empire from a position of absolute authority. Marcus did not write down …
This On Living and Dying Well summary looks at a collection of writing by the Roman politician Cicero. He was a prominent figure in Rome during the time of Caesar before his death under the reign of Antony. Not only was Cicero a politician but he dabbled in philosophy. This book focuses on a selection …