Bøger i Smart Summaries serien

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Guns, Germs, and Steel tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Jared Diamond’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesDetailed timeline of key eventsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond: Professor Jared Diamond’s informative and fascinating Pulitzer Prize–winning Guns, Germs, and Steel explores a historic question: Why were the Eurasian peoples able to dominate those from other lands? Diamond argues that it was ecology and geography—not race—that shaped the modern world. Societies that developed in regions with fertile land for farming and that had domesticable plants and animals were able to progress more quickly, thereby creating the tools to conquer preliterate cultures. Drawing on a variety of disciplines—from linguistics, genetics, and epidemiology to biology, anthropology, and technology—Guns, Germs, and Steel offers an eloquently argued view of the development of human societies. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Thank You for Your Service tells you what you need to know--before or after you read David Finkel's book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Thank You for Your Service includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter overviewsProfiles of the main charactersImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Thank You for Your Service by David Finkel: Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Finkel's Thank You for Your Service is an intimate and powerful account of the lives of Iraq veterans after they return home. Having depicted life on the front lines in Baghdad in his first book, Finkel follows the struggle of the same soldiers' return to civilian life. He exposes the hidden costs of war: the reality of living with post-traumatic stress disorder, the physical wounds and financial struggles of military personnel, and the spiraling suicide rate amongst veterans. Soldiers are plagued by nightmares, memory loss, violent impulses, and guilt over their dead comrades. Spouses and children are bewildered by the return of their loved ones, whose personalities have changed beyond all recognition. Finkel humanizes the aftermath of military life and makes a strong case for increased investment in veteran mental healthcare. Thank You for Your Service has received great critical acclaim and was among the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Economist's top 10 Books of the Year in 2013.the The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of 1984 tells you what you need to know—before or after you read George Orwell’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of 1984 includes:Historical contextChapter-by-chapter overviewsCharacter analysisImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About 1984 by George Orwell: George Orwell’s classic novel 1984 is a cautionary tale about a dystopian society under the crushing and watchful eye of a tyrannical regime led by Big Brother. The dark story revolves around Winston Smith, an everyman who is tired of the government’s lies and relentless persecution of people who dare think for themselves. He manages to find the strength to stand up to a totalitarian system and, in the process, finds love and affection in a world where both have been deemed obsolete. Originally published in 1949, Orwell’s 1984 is a masterpiece of modern fiction and one of the most enduring and influential books of the twentieth century. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of fiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Mark Manson’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson includes:Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesImportant quotesFascinating triviaSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original workAbout The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson: In his tender but tough take on the self-help genre, popular blogger and accidental life coach Mark Manson makes a convincing case for caring less to achieve more. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck offers deeply insightful—and occasionally profane—advice by cutting through the crap and offering the honest, raw truth. Manson’s program for self-improvement insists that by not being positive all the time, we can accept our limitations, embrace our fears, and live a grounded, truthful, and happy life. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Sixth Extinction tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Elizabeth Kolbert’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert includes:Historical contextChapter-by-chapter overviewsDetailed timeline of key eventsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert: Our planet has endured five events of mass extinction, from centuries of catastrophic heating and cooling to the asteroid that fell to earth and ended the Cretaceous Period. We are currently facing the sixth extinction, and this time the human species is to blame. Elizabeth Kolbert travels the world and meets with scientists who are grappling with the ecological outcomes of human activity. Her Pulitzer Prize–winning modern science classic tells the stories of thirteen different species that have already disappeared or are on the brink of extinction as a result of human activity. A captivating blend of research and historical anecdotes enlightens readers about the unintentional consequences of our behaviors, from climate change and global warming to invasive species and overexploitation. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Man’s Search for Meaning tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Viktor E. Frankl’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl includes:Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: Written just after World War II, Viktor Frankl’s international bestseller Man’s Search for Meaning is both a heartbreaking memoir and a source of inspiration for millions of readers. Dr. Frankl’s description of his time in a string of Nazi concentration camps is a fascinating, mandatory read for anyone wanting a better understanding of the Holocaust. A highly respected psychotherapist, his ideas on human emotion, the mind, mental health, tragic optimism, and the day-to-day neuroses of common people in the modern world provide spiritual guidance as each of us searches for meaning in our own lives. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get a brief overview of The Innovator’s Dilemma—the bestselling business book about disruption and how companies adapt. Named one of the most important business books ever written by the Economist and the winner of the Global Business Book Award, The Innovator’s Dilemma uses true stories of the successes and failures of prominent companies to analyze why great firms fail when faced with critical market and technological innovation. In this summary of Clayton Christensen’s book for entrepreneurs, managers, CEOs, and business leaders, you’ll learn: Why sometimes “doing the right thing” can be the wrong thing, especially when faced with disruptive technologyWhy most companies, even good ones, struggle to adapt their business practicesWhat executives can do to ensure both the short-term health and long-term survival of their organizations With historical context, chapter-by-chapter overviews, important quotes, definitions of key terms, and other features, this summary and analysis of The Innovator’s Dilemma is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get an overview of Hidden Figures, the true story about the African American female mathematicians who helped NASA win the space race. Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures tells the incredible real-life account of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden—who, in a time when black women faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles, went to work as “calculators” at NASA. With pencils, paper, and slide rules, they transformed airplane, rocket, and satellite designs—and ensured a World War II victory. Despite the social and political climate at the height of Jim Crow, these women rose up and became integral to the project that put the first man on the moon. From World War II to the Cold War to the civil rights movement to the space race, Hidden Figures tells the story of four remarkable women whose contributions to science led to some of NASA’s greatest successes. The book has become a New York Times bestseller as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award–winning and Academy Award–nominated picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner. With historical context, important quotes, fascinating trivia, a glossary of terms, and other features, this summary and analysis of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Handmaid’s Tale tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Margaret Atwood’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader.  This short summary and analysis of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood includes: Historical contextPart-by-part summariesAnalysis of the main charactersThemes and symbolsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale: Margaret Atwood’s dystopian literary masterpiece tells the story of Offred, a Handmaid living in the near future in what was once the United States. A new theocratic regime called the Republic of Gilead has come to power and changed life as she knew it. Once Offred had a her own name and a loving family—a husband and daughter—both of which were taken from her; now she belongs to the Commander and his hostile wife, and her only value lies in her ability to bear a child for them. She used to read books and learn; now such things are forbidden to all women. Gripping, disturbing, and so relevant today, The Handmaid’s Tale is a brilliant novel and a chilling warning about what can happen when extreme ideas are taken to their logical conclusions. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of fiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Underground Railroad tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Colson Whitehead’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesAnalysis of the main charactersThemes and symbolsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: Colson Whitehead’s National Book Award–winning The Underground Railroad is a bold, original, and unflinchingly brutal portrait of slavery during the darkest period in American history. On the cusp of womanhood, Cora is a runaway slave, pursued by her memories of abuse and abandonment, and by the implacable and notoriously cruel slave hunter known as Ridgeway. Her journey on the Underground Railroad—in Whitehead’s conceit, a literal, subterranean railway—propels her journey across a dangerous landscape in search of freedom. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of fiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Euro tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Joseph E. Stiglitz’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader.This short summary and analysis of The Euro by Joseph E. Stiglitz includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesProfiles of the main charactersImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Euro by Joseph E. Stiglitz: In The Euro, Columbia Business School professor and Nobel Prize–winning economist author Joseph E. Stiglitz argues that the fundamental cause of the Eurozone’s recent economic difficulties was the creation of a single currency without the institutions to support it. The euro bound 19 countries with very different economies—and very different views about economics—together, but it did not include the institutions or rules to make such a union succeed. The results of this union are clear: although the United States has experienced growth since the financial crisis, Europe is stagnant and Eurozone unemployment remains over 10%. New York Times–bestselling author Joseph Stiglitz outlines three possible ways forward: fundamental reforms to the current system, an end to the single currency experiment, or a new system entirely. The Euro is required reading for all citizens of today’s globalized world. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Alexander Hamilton tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Ron Chernow’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesDetailed timeline of key eventsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow: Ron Chernow’s New York Times–bestselling biography of Alexander Hamilton sets the record straight on the often-misunderstood founding father. Beginning with a thoroughly researched investigation of Hamilton’s controversial origins, the book takes an immersive look at the man who authored the Federalist Papers, fought in the Revolutionary War, crafted the nation’s financial system, and served as George Washington’s right-hand man before being killed in an infamous duel with Aaron Burr. More than a portrait of one man, Alexander Hamilton is the story of America’s birth—and the inspiration for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Broadway musical. The summary and analysis in this ebook are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Grit tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Angela Duckworth’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Grit by Angela Duckworth includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Angela Duckworth’s Grit: Psychologist Angela Duckworth blows the lid off of theories that suggest IQ and socioeconomic status are the sole predictors of success. Not intellectually gifted, according to her traditional, Asian-American father, Duckworth nevertheless became a MacArthur “Genius.” Winning the award led her to reflect upon the qualities that got her there: perseverance and passion. Interviewing dozens of the world’s winners, Duckworth ventures into the playing fields of achievement, speaking with CEOs and coaches, and visits West Point, competitive swim teams, and even the National Spelling Bee to discover the common threads. Pulling from history, as well as cutting-edge neuroscience and behavioral science, Grit offers tips and advice for everyone—from parents to athletes to entrepreneurs—about how getting gritty can help you to succeed. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get the key points of The Lean Startup—the bestseller about creativity, efficiency, and building a sustainable business. Through successes and failures with tech companies, Eric Ries began to realize there was a better way to develop a startup. Using his experiences, as well as valuable lessons learned from other industries, Ries identifies the difficulties a startup faces and how to build a more efficient—and successful—business. In the end, all of his advice comes down to saving the most important resource of all: time. This summary of that bestselling business book covers such topics as: How to shorten project-development cyclesValidated learning and rapid scientific experimentationMeasuring progress accuratelyIdentifying your customers’ desiresHow to adapt to changing circumstances quickly With chapter-by-chapter overviews, definitions of key terms, context and analysis, important quotes, and other features, this summary and analysis of The Lean Startup is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Outliers tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Malcolm Gladwell’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesProfiles of the main charactersImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: What makes high achievers, like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and members of the Beatles so successful? Is it pure talent? Personal drive? An off-the-charts IQ? In Outliers, bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell explores the subject of success and argues that there is more to the story than individual exceptionalism. In addition to inherent talent or intelligence, there are other factors that have come into play for the innovators, artists, athletes, and prodigies who have become household names. Many who have attained rock-star status in their fields may have education, culture, access to a specific technology or opportunity, and ten thousand hours of practice to thank for their reaching their goals. Through a wide range of examples and anecdotes, learn what makes outliers so extraordinary. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Thinking, Fast and Slow tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Daniel Kahneman’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary of Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman includes: Historical contextPart-by-part summariesDetailed timeline of key eventsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the source work About Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: Nobel Prize–winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explores the mysteries of intuition, judgment, bias, and logic in the international bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow. His award-winning book explains the different ways people think, whether they’re deciding how to invest their money or how to make friends. Kahneman’s experiments in behavioral economics, in collaboration with cognitive psychologist Amos Tversky, led to a theory of two systems of thought: the fast thinking used when ducking a blow, and slow thinking that’s better employed for making major life decisions. Applying these psychological concepts to different facets of our lives, Kahneman demonstrates how to better understand your own decision-making, and the choices made by others. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Signal and the Noise tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Nate Silver’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader.This short summary and analysis of The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver: Drawing on groundbreaking research, The Signal and the Noise, written by the founder and editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight.com, examines how data has been used in prediction and forecasting, and how to find the true signals—the points that indicate that something will happen—amidst noisy and distracting data. Addressing different fields of forecasting and predictions—from politics to earthquakes to poker—Silver explores the reasons why some things are easier to forecast, like the weather, while others are so difficult, such as terrorism. From one of the country’s smartest thinkers. The Signal and the Noise provides vital insights into how to think about probability and predictions on the economy, climate change, sports, and other subjects that impact our lives. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get a brief overview of the Japanese KonMari method of organizing and take control of your life. Japanese cleaning consultant and New York Times–bestselling author Marie Kondo is known for the revolutionary method of organization detailed in her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which has helped millions create and keep tidy homes. With chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, this summary explains the key points of her book, including: How a calm, comfortable home can ease your mindWhy a “little-by-little” approach doesn’t workHow to identify items that “spark joy” and dispose of those that don’tHow to declutter your home by category Complete with historical context, important quotes, fascinating trivia, a glossary of terms, and other features, this summary and analysis of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Helter Skelter tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Genry’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This summary of Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry includes: Historical contextSection-by-section overviewsDetailed timeline of eventsAnalysis of the main charactersFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry’s Helter Skelter: In the bestselling true crime book Helter Skelter, lead prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi provides a meticulously detailed account of the murders committed by the Manson family and their trial—one of the most sensational criminal cases of the century. From the police investigation of the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and Sharon Tate, to the arrests, the courtroom antics, and the personalities and motivations of Charles Manson and his followers, Helter Skelter offers a haunting look into the horrific repercussions of cult mentality on a violent rampage. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get an in-depth summary of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the #1 bestseller about science, race, and medical ethics. For decades, scientists have been using “HeLa” cells in biological research, from developing the polio vaccine and studying the nature of cancer to observing how human biology behaves in outer space. This famous cell line began as a sample taken from a poor African American mother of five named Henrietta Lacks. A cancer patient, Henrietta Lacks went through medical testing but never gave consent for the use of her cells. She died of cervical cancer in 1951, without ever knowing that the samples were intended for extensive medical research. This summary of the #1 New York Times bestseller by Rebecca Skloot tells Henrietta’s story and reveals what happened when her family found out that her cells were being bought and sold in labs around the world. With historical context, character profiles, a timeline of key events, and other features, this summary and analysis of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Gene tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Siddhartha Mukherjee’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader.  This short summary and analysis of The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesDetailed timeline of key eventsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Gene: From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies, The Gene is a rigorously scientific, broadly historical, and candidly personal account of the development of the science of genetics, the dramatic ways genes can affect us, and the enormous moral questions posed by our ability to manipulate them.  As Siddhartha Mukherjee maps out the fascinating biography of the gene, from research and experimentation to scientific breakthroughs, he always returns to the narrative of his own family’s tragic history of mental illness, reminding us that despite our huge leaps in knowledge, there is still much we do not understand about the incredibly complex human genome. The Gene is an important read for anyone concerned about a future that may redefine what it means to be human. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.