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May 18, 2023 • 10min

I Am Malala Full Book Introduction

I Am Malala I Am Malala Full Book Introduction When Malala Yousafzai was born in Pakistan, she was a normal girl, but she went on to resist terrorists and advocate for women’s right to education. As a result, she was shot in the head by armed militants at the age of 15, but she miraculously survived. Her story moved the world, and she won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize at only 17 years old. How did she have the superhuman courage to face death, and how did she maintain such strong convictions in her fight for equality? Let’s experience this brave and visionary tale together. Author : Malala Yousafzai, Christina LambMalala Yousafzai, born in 1997 in Pakistan, became well-known when she published an article on the BBC website at age 11 that argued for children’s and women’s rights to education. When she won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, she was only 17 years old, making her the youngest person to ever win the prize. Christina Lamb is a well-known British war journalist who started covering Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1987. She has been named Britain’s Foreign Correspondent of the Year five times, and she has received Europe’s highest honor for war correspondents, the Prix Bayeux-Calvados. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book, I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. In the beginning of the 21st century, most people living in peaceful countries enjoyed comfortable lives, and they saw the right to education as a given. They could hardly imagine that, under the same sky, many corners of this world were full of war. The dark places were overrun with fear. Citizens of those countries were being tossed between endless oppression and torment, and countless children were yearning for education and equal treatment, but they struggled in vain. They may have been impacted by poverty, illness, or war, but all of them wanted the world to hear their voices, and the author of this book, Malala Yousafzai, was one of them. Malala was born to a normal family in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. When frequent terrorist activity broke out in Pakistan, and an anti-government organization, the Taliban, controlled their small village in the Swat Valley, she refused to be silent. Instead, she stood up to her oppressors and fought for the right to an education. She was regarded as the terrorist organization’s enemy, a label that put her life in jeopardy. She was shot by a terrorist at the age of 15. After miraculously surviving, she became the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17. I Am Malala, the autobiographical account of these experiences, was on the New York Times best-seller list for over a year. In the book, she reveals a terrorist organization’s evil deeds and darkest facets, giving an account of her extraordinary struggle to secure women’s right to education. Time magazine commented, “In trying to silence this Pakistani schoolgirl, the Taliban amplified her voice. She is now a symbol of the struggle for women’s rights all over the world.” Malala mentions in her book that there are 57 million children in the world who have not been able to attend elementary school, and Pakistan is one of the countries where this problem is most serious. In 2014, the World Bank released a report that showed there were 7 million people in Pakistan who were deprived of education, and two thirds of those people were women. Most of the people who have lost out on schooling don’t have basic arithmetic, reading, or other language skills. A UNESCO survey found that the main barriers that stand between children and education are gender, geography, poverty, and armed conflicts, those conflicts being one of the top reasons that students are unable to attend school. Among elementary-age children that are unable to attend school, over one third of them live in areas impacted by war or similar conflicts. Maybe we have no way to imagine how people live in Pakistan, especially in the areas and times most heavily impacted by conflict and terrorism. When their lives are hanging in the balance, do they still have dreams? When facing hardships, do they choose to be resigned to their fate, or do they stand up and fight? Do the children learn from their life experiences instead of learning from teachers? All of these questions will be answered after we have finished listening to this bookey.   In this bookey, we will see what we can truly gain from Malala Yousafzai in three parts: Part One: A cry for freedom in the face of Taliban terrorists; Part Two: A struggle for education under the oppression of the Taliban; Part Three: A call for world peace after being attacked by the Taliban. 
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May 18, 2023 • 12min

Guns, Germs, And Steel Full Book Introduction

Guns, Germs, And SteelGuns, Germs, And Steel Full Book Introduction Why did the inhabitants of the Eurasian continent conquer the American natives, instead of the other way around? Why are wheat, maize, and livestock like pigs and cows found in certain regions of the world and not in others? This book reveals the facts behind the broader environmental elements that have helped shaped the world’s history, thereby effectively refuting anthropological theories based on racism. It also records the underlying causes of the current situation and the many injustices visible in our modern world. This book can be considered as a true history of all the races and ethnicities of the world. Author : Jared DiamondJared Diamond is a polymath spanning a wide range of fields including anthropology, ecology, physiology, and evolutionary biology. He is a current professor of geography and former professor of physiology at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, as well as an editorial board member of Skeptic magazine. Dr. Diamond has received a MacArthur Foundation Genius Award, in addition to research prizes and grants from the National Geographic Society. He is well-known for his popular science books such as The Third Chimpanzee; Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse; and Why Is Sex Fun? Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. In 1972, the author, Jared Diamond, was walking along the beach in New Guinea when a local friend Yali asked him, “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?”  To his surprise, Dr. Diamond found it difficult to answer this seemingly simple question. Why is that so? Yali’s question may seem like a simple question about the difference in the production of goods, but his question actually contains many hidden caveats. Why, for example, did the people of New Guinea still seem to be “living in the Stone Age” two centuries ago, while the Europeans already had a wide variety of inventions such as steel axes, gunpowder, garments, soft drinks, and umbrellas? Taking a closer look at the difference in lifestyles of these two groups of people, we may connect it to the broader spectrum of disparities in the modern world and ask: why is it that people of Eurasian origin (including those who have settled in North America) control most of the world’s wealth and power today? Moreover, some ethnic groups, like the indigenous peoples of Australia, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa, no longer hold their homeland but have been subjugated or even wiped out. Around the start of the 16th century, European countries began to occupy territories all over the world. Why was it the Eurasians who conquered and subjugated native peoples, rather than the native Americans, Africans, and Australian aborigines, conquering or subjugating the Eurasians?   Some people claim that around that time, Eurasia already had many advanced empires with all kinds of technological and weapons advantages that people in other parts of the world did not. It was these technological and political differences that led to the inequalities that we see in the world today. While this is an obvious answer, the deeper question remains as to what caused these differences in the first place.   Historically, certain groups have claimed that Europeans are naturally more intelligent and genetically superior to other races. Of course, today we know that such an explanation is not only racist and offensive, but also factually incorrect.  So, what is the true cause of these differences? In the years since his conversation with his friend, Dr. Diamond has conducted significant research into human evolution, history, and language, and he published Guns, Germs, and Steel twenty-five years later as an attempt to answer Yali’s question. Like The Third Chimpanzee, which we unlocked in a previous bookey, Guns, Germs, and Steel has also won the Royal Society’s Science Book Prize for Dr. Diamond. In addition, it was a New York Times bestseller and has won the Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction. The book reveals some broad environmental factors that have benefitted the historical development of certain regions of the world, thereby debunking anthropological theories based on race and racial superiority. At the same time, it offers possible causes for many of the inequalities that we see in the world today. It can be regarded as a true history of the peoples of the world.  In this bookey, we will introduce the book in three parts: Part 1: Guns, germs, and steel; Part 2: Time, flora and fauna, and geographical barriers; Part 3: China, Oceania, and Africa. 
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May 18, 2023 • 17min

Sapiens Full Book Introduction

SapiensSapiens Full Book Introduction Homo sapiens were once an inconspicuous group in the corner of Africa. How did they eventually make it to the top of the biological chain and take over the planet? Where did money and religions originate from? Why did the empires created by humankind rise and fall one after another? How did science and capitalism become the most crucial tenets of modern society? This book will help you sort out the journey of humankind from ancient times. By uncovering the origins of cultures, religions, laws, nations, and credit, humankind can reexamine itself. Author : Yuval HarariBorn in Israel, Yuval Harari is a history professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a world-renowned historian and a rising star in the field of history. His focus areas incorporate history, anthropology, ecology, genetics, and other academic disciplines. From a macroscopic point of view in his research, he frequently yields perspectives that are innovative and can afford much food for thought. Hence, his works are highly sought after by readers from all walks of life. Once published, his Sapiens became an international hit and gained popularity in dozens of countries. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. East Africa, 2 million BC. It was a stretch of lush grassland, covered by a sea of bright greenness after the rainy season. Above the distant horizon were a few pale cumulus clouds scattered across the azure sky. A gutted giraffe lied underneath a tall Acacia tree, while a pride of lions gnawed on it. In a secluded spot in the grass next to the tree, hounds and jackals waited quietly. By the time the lions had left the area, hounds and jackals swarmed and feasted on the giraffe until all that's left was a skeleton, then they departed contentedly. At this moment, another group of creatures, very humanlike and somewhat chimpanzee-like, walked out of the bushes a little further. The group of creatures had arms and legs but walked upright. After carefully gathering around the giraffe skeleton and vigilantly surveying their surroundings, the creatures chiseled the giraffe's bones with several sharp stones. They dug out the only edible tissue that remained: marrow. The surface of the moon, 1969. The plains and plateaus composed of Plagioclase and basalt were dotted with meteor craters of breccia. Since the atmosphere was thin and almost nonexistent, the sunlight shining onto the grayish-white pitted ground was directly reflected into space. It not only resulted in considerable land surface temperature difference but also turned the sky pitch black. For billions of years since its birth, this place had been dead and quiet. Until this day, there had been no sign of life except for occasional visits by meteorites. A strange metallic device appeared in the distant sky and landed after quickly approaching. Two creatures in white but outlandish attire descended from the machine above. They bounced clumsily on the ground, inserted flags, and erected a metal tablet on this patch of land. Then one of them made a footprint in the ground and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." At this point, it should be clear to everyone that both stories are about ourselves as humans. Not so long ago, we were just weaklings on the prairie. We lived a life of fear and anxiety, feeding on raw, bloody meats. But in a short amount of time, we created a colossal global civilization. By what force did we as a species rise to power? Where did humankind originate? And how was civilizations born? How did we stick out from many other species and jump to the top of this planet's food chain? How many more mysteries are there in the history of humankind? In today's review of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, we will clear these doubts and explore the essential questions of history and modern society. The author of this book is Yuval Harari. Born in Israel, Harari is a history professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a world-renowned historian and a rising star in the field of history. His focus areas incorporate history, anthropology, ecology, genetics, and other academic disciplines. From a macroscopic point of view in his research, he frequently yields perspectives that are not only innovative but also afford much food for thought. Hence, his works are highly sought after by readers from all walks of life. We've already covered his bestselling books 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. The book, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind that we're going to discuss today became an international hit once published. It is a phenomenal and unique work that has become popular worldwide. Next, we will uncover the book through four parts: Part one: The Cognitive Revolution; Part two: The Agricultural Revolution; Part three, The Unification of Humankind; Part four, The Scientific Revolution.
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May 18, 2023 • 15min

21 Lessons For The 21st Century Full Book Introduction

21 Lessons For The 21st Century21 Lessons For The 21st Century Full Book Introduction Artificial intelligence has already entered our lives. While we enjoy the convenience it brings us, we are also worried that it might take our jobs, access our data, and make decisions for us. Given the numerous challenges we will be facing in the future, how do we make sure we can stay at the forefront of time and survive? Following Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, as the finale of the trilogy, the book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century will bring you to a significant discussion about human destiny in the twenty-first century. Author : Yuval Noah HarariThe author of this book is Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli writer, also known as “the young geek“. Not only does the book take a historical perspective, but also covers a wide range of knowledge areas, such as biology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and religion, fully demonstrating the author’s extensive knowledge. Unlike traditional historians, Harari, being creative, makes videos based on the content of his book and uploads them on YouTube, gaining a large number of young fans. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. According to statistics from the Internet Data Center (IDC), the amount of data generated globally in the year 2008 was zero point four nine zettabytes (ZB). If we assume that a book has 200,000 words, that amounts to an equivalent of fourteen hundred trillion books, which can fill two hundred and eighty thousand libraries. By 2011, the amount of data had increased by two point seven times, which equals to an average increase of 250,000 libraries per year. Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) can process a great amount of data, and allows us to enjoy the technological advancement it brings to our lives. However, when we benefit from technology, have we ever thought about the possibility of AI taking our jobs, accessing our data, and even making decisions for us? When it comes to this point, how will we survive? The book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Harari discusses this exact question. Not only does it take a historical perspective, but it also covers a wide range of knowledge areas: biology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and religion. The author believes that individuals can have a direct influence on the world. Known as the young geek, Yuval Noah Harari is a historian who obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Oxford. Besides this book, he has published another two global bestsellers, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, completing his trilogy. Unlike the other two books, the one we are going to discuss today is more instructive. It focuses more on the challenges people are facing at the present moment. It gained enormous popularity and wide attention around the world since it was published, and has so far been authorized for publication in over twenty countries. This book has selected twenty-one significant topics on the solutions relevant to the future of humans. This Bookey will divide them into three main parts. Part One talks about the challenges the information explosion era poses to human beings; Part Two is about how individuals can find the truth; Part Three looks at how individuals can prepare for the future.
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May 18, 2023 • 13min

Thinking, Fast And Slow Full Book Introduction

Thinking, Fast And SlowThinking, Fast And Slow Full Book Introduction The human brain is equipped with two thinking systems, System 1 that is good at thinking fast, and System 2 that is good at thinking slow. System 1, the fast thinker, relies on intuition when it makes a judgment. While it is fast and efficient, it is inept at statistical reasoning and is susceptible to many systematic biases. On the other hand, System 2, the slow thinker that oversees rational thinking, is lazy and often takes System 1’s intuition for granted. More often than not, we are irrational when we make judgments and decisions, and we are definitely not what the author calls “Econs.” Author : Daniel KahnemanDaniel Kahneman is a psychologist and a pioneer in behavioral economics. He was awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for bringing psychology and economics together to better understand how humans make decisions under uncertainty. His research has covered social psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics. Documenting his pioneering findings in these fields, the 2011 book Thinking, Fast and Slow is an ensemble of Kahneman’s finest works. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book Thinking, Fast and Slow, a milestone in the field of behavioral economics. Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and author of the book, has combined psychology and economics to examine how humans make judgments and decisions under uncertainty. His trailblazing work won him the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. By collaborating with his colleague Amos Tversky, Kahneman paved the way for a new field of study, Behavioral Economics. Their research broke down the barriers between social psychology, cognitive science, and economics, providing us with a better understanding of the mechanisms of the human brain in judgment and decision making. Psychologists Keith Stanovich and Richard West were the first to propose that the human brain runs two cognitive processes, fast thinking and slow thinking, which they named System 1 and System 2. These terms were adopted by Kahneman in this book. System 1 and System 2 are not two physical parts in the human brain but a virtual concept that showcases how thinking works. System 1 is a subconscious, fast-thinking system that relies on intuition, whereas System 2 is a conscious, slow-thinking system that takes voluntary effort to control. System 1 is in charge of the day-to-day tasks that we are familiar with, such as braking or turning according to signals when we drive. On the other hand, System 2 takes over the tasks or problems that System 1 finds alien or fails to solve, such as doing the mental arithmetic of 17 times 38.  Although the human brain has two thinking systems at its disposal, System 2 is, in fact, very lazy. It would not set to work unless the situation compels it to, such as when faced with a problem that System 1 cannot solve. As a result, most of the judgments and decisions that we make for our lives and career are predominantly System 1’s works. System 2 is at best its assistant. In most circumstances, the work distribution between System 1 and System 2 is highly efficient. However, System 1 has many flaws and is prone to systematic errors, which is what  Kahneman chose to focus on in this book. He mainly discusses the cognitive attributes and weaknesses of System 1. By understanding System 1’s flaws, we can consciously avoid many cognitive fallacies and become better decision-makers.  Next, we will summarize the book in three parts by focusing on the traits and flaws of System 1 when it makes decisions; and why we are not rational Econs. Part One: System 1 makes judgments based on intuition Part Two: System 1 is inept at making statistical judgments Part Three: We are not rational Econs
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May 18, 2023 • 16min

Oliver Twist Full Book Introduction

Oliver TwistOliver Twist Full Book Introduction The novel Oliver Twist tells the story of Oliver, an orphan raised in a workhouse. When he cannot take any more abuse, he escapes to London. In London, he is hooked into a den of thieves and undergoes many hardships before getting free with the help of various kind Samaritans. Oliver doesn’t know the identity of his father but finally discovers the truth about his birth. The author Charles Dickens created this kind-hearted protagonist whose life is beset with tragedy. In so doing, Dickens won the love and sympathy of countless readers. By telling Oliver’s story, Dickens revealed darkness and injustices endemic in English society at the time. Author : Charles DickensCharles Dickens is one of the most celebrated English novelists of the 19th century. During his life, he wrote a total of 15 full-length novels, more than a hundred short stories, dozens of novellas, and numerous essays, travel journals, and plays. He was one of the most prolific writers the world has ever known, creating works in almost every genre apart from poetry. Dickens’ novels reflect the social conditions of his times, evoking them in vivid detail. Through his works, Dickens articulated the views and outlooks of his contemporaries and exposed the stark societal conflicts and hypocrisies of his age. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the novel Oliver Twist. In England, in 1837, when Victoria came to the throne, it signaled the dawn of the “Victorian era”. It was a period of relative domestic peace with few international conflicts. Tranquility and stability lasted, and in 1851, the Great Exhibition was staged in London, consolidating the achievements of the Queen’s reign and establishing England’s position as the leading power in the world. Charles Dickens was a rising star on the literary scene at the time. He had established his reputation with the publication of his novel The Pickwick Papers. In that founding year of the Victorian era, 1837, Dickens began writing a serialized novel for the monthly magazine Bentley’s Miscellany. The two-year-long series later became his novel Oliver Twist. This book tells the story of an orphan raised in an abusive workhouse who later escapes to London. His name is Oliver Twist. In the city, Oliver chances upon a group of thieves who want to use him as an accomplice. In their company, he suffers many hardships. Finally, good Samaritans come to his aid and rescue him, and Oliver discovers the true circumstances of his birth. In Oliver, Dickens created a tragic but kind-hearted protagonist who won the love and sympathy of countless readers. In telling Oliver’s tale, Dickens also reveals the darkness and injustices common in English society at the time, especially when it comes to treating the underclasses. Although Victorian England is remembered today as a powerful state, Dickens’ writing presents the era as, in equal parts, good and evil. Under the same sun, the palatial estates of the wealthy sat beside the filthy slums of the poor. At any moment, both the upstanding and the wretched could be on their way up to heaven or on a descent toward the gates of hell. Dickens was born in 1812 in the town of Portsmouth in the southeast of England. There, his father worked as a minor clerk at the Navy Pay Office. In 1823, the family moved to London, but their finances were in dire straits. The entire family of eight adults and children lived in a cramped little shack in Camden, a district in North London. Their situation was so grave that by the start of the following year, Dickens’ father was sent to the Marshalsea debtors’ prison, a working punishment for owing money. The family moved there with him, but not Dickens. He remained in London. Two weeks before his father was taken away, Dickens had entered Warren’s Blacking Warehouse near The Hungerford Stairs on the Thames. There he was put to work as a child laborer. He toiled 12 hours a day, sticking labels on bottles of shoe polish. Through this personal experience, he was able to easily empathize with the misfortunes of helpless and oppressed children suffering a similar plight. He gained first-hand experience of the filth and corruption in the underbelly of London. This would later inform his writing, providing him with a wealth of creative material for his future career as a writer. Over almost two centuries, Oliver Twist has withstood the test of time. The book has become one of the world’s most highly celebrated English-language novels. It continues to be loved by countless readers to this day. In this bookey, we will explain Oliver Twist’s significant and timeless appeal in three parts: Part One introduces Oliver’s traumatic early life as a workhouse apprentice and at an undertaker’s premises. This part introduces the welfare system used in England at the time to support the poor. Part Two recounts how Oliver accidentally ventures into a den of thieves after arriving in London. Along the way we will also analyze Dickens’ vivid depictions of London’s underbelly. Finally, Part Three unravels the mystery surrounding Oliver’s birth and briefly discusses aspects of weakness in the novel.
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May 18, 2023 • 16min

Madame Bovary Full Book Introduction

Madame BovaryMadame Bovary Full Book Introduction Emma, the protagonist of the novel, was a farmer’s daughter. The education she received in the monastery and the influence of the Romantic movement had given her many fantasies about the wealthy aristocratic life. As a result, she was deeply disappointed with her mediocre husband and ordinary marriage, and lived through a gradual moral and financial degeneration. Through the course of what she considers an unworthy life, Emma becomes deeply indebted and her overall dissatisfaction with her own reality leads her to take her own life. This novel portrays one of the most classic female images in the history of literature and reveals the reality behind the French society during the mid-19th century. Author : Gustave FlaubertGustave Flaubert was a French novelist and leading exponent of literary realism in the 19th century. He was very rigid with his works, often repeatedly revising every word and sentence until they looked perfect. Madame Bovary is his most famous work and is considered a literary masterpiece. Since its publication, the novel has been highly praised in the literary world. Czech writer Milan Kundera claims that “ever since Madame Bovary, the art of the novel has been considered equal to the art of poetry.” Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we’ll unlock the book Madame Bovary, written by the famous 19th-century French author Gustave Flaubert. One of the most influential works in the history of French literature, the novel is considered to have established a new paradigm of literary realism. However, Madame Bovary was very controversial when it was first published. From 1856 to 1857, the novel was published as a series in the French magazine Revue de Paris. Shortly afterwards, it was under prosecution by the authorities of that time, accused for being an “outrage to public morality and religion”. Gustave Flaubert, an unknown novelist living in seclusion in the countryside at that time, was summoned to the court for trial. In the end, Flaubert was found not guilt, and because of this novel he gained a notable reputation and status in the history of literature. You might be curious now; what’s this novel about and why did it cause such a wrath? The book was badly received by the public because it portrayed Emma Bovary, a depraved woman, as the main character. Flaubert did a good job portraying Madame Bovary’s path toward depravity and her affairs with multiple lovers. What’s more, Flaubert wrote the whole story with a soothing and objective tone, without any sense of judgement or criticism on Madame Bovary’s life. That’s why the public prosecutors at the time believed that this novel was "the poetics of adultery". The novel has been criticized for promoting the liberation of sexual desire, which would have a bad influence on young female readers. Many readers also thought this novel was shocking and that it went against their moral standards.   Hearing this, you might be even more curious: What is this story about? How should we understand the literary image of a woman who’s considered immoral by traditional standards? What did Flaubert want to express when portraying Madame Bovary? Why is this novel considered a milestone in the history of world literature? In this bookey, we will answer these questions one by one and interpret the book from the following three aspects: Part One: The main plot of the novel; Part Two: Understand Madame Bovary Part Three: Gustave Flaubert's literary achievements 
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May 18, 2023 • 16min

The Black Swan Full Book Introduction

The Black SwanThe Black Swan Full Book Introduction Before the discovery of the first black swan, people were convinced that all swans were white. Hence, a “Black Swan” indicates an unexpected and impactful rare event. From the financial crises to the sinking of the Titanic, or the September eleven attacks, “Black Swans” exist in all fields. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the nature and the rules of “Black Swans.” It enables us to understand both how society operates, and how to gain the upper hand in this uncertain world. Author : Nassim Nicholas TalebNassim Nicholas Taleb is a researcher at the New York University Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He is the author of several bestselling books, such as ‘Fooled by Randomness’, ‘An-tifragile’, and ‘Skin in the Game’. As a practical researcher of “uncertainty,” Taleb has written fifty academic papers investigating “uncertainty” and is known as a thinker with “rare courage and broad knowledge.” His thoughts and works have influenced a large population of readers worldwide. He has also helped in making the “Black Swan” become a household concept. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book ‘The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable’. If someone said that tomorrow is always full of unknowns and risks, you may think that they are being a bit alarmist. However, this was true of September the tenth, two thousand and one. Who could have ever predicted that terrorist attacks would happen the very next day? These events stunned the entire world. That morning, terrorists hijacked four passenger airliners. One of the planes crashed on the ground. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. The sky was filled with clouds of smoke, and both towers collapsed within two hours. The fourth plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington and partially damaged the building. Nobody on those four planes survived. About three thousand people were killed, six hundred more than the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It can be said that the September eleventh attacks destroyed the entire World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon. But more importantly, it damaged America’s sense of peace and security. What was shocking about the attacks were not only its sudden and disastrous consequences, but also why the Unites States of America, which has the world’s most advanced means of communication and intelligence, failed to predict this long-planned plot. Now, you may have an idea about what the term “Black Swan” refers to. It indicates an unexpected and impactful event. It’s beyond expectations and brings about immense influence. The September eleven attacks are a typical “Black Swan.” However, if you think that “Black Swans” are limited to national affairs, you are wrong. In fact, “Black Swans” are everywhere. They have an impact on issues ranging from national and social security, to our daily lives. Hence, let’s see what the book ‘The Black Swan’ has to say about why it’s hard to predict a “Black Swan” and how we should cope with the unpredictable future. The author of this book, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, is a researcher at the New York University Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He also wrote several bestselling books, such as ‘Fooled by Randomness’, ‘Antifragile’, and ‘Skin in the Game’. In his early years, he was a businessman and dealt with various financial products in New York and London. Now, he serves as a Distinguished Professor at New York University. ‘The Black Swan’ is the epitome of Taleb’s thoughts concerning “uncertainty”, and a book full of prophetic wisdom. Taleb is also known as the “father of the Black Swan” for putting forward the “Black Swan Theory.” Besides enjoying the status of a classic in the socio-cultural field, the book was listed as a bestseller by the New York Times for more than a year and has been published in over thirty languages. Next, we will deconstruct the core contents of ‘The Black Swan’ in three parts to understand how we can cope with the unpredictable future. Part One: What are the characteristics of the “Black Swan”? Part Two: Why can’t we predict the “Black Swan?” Part Three: How can we cope with the impact of the “Black Swan?”
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May 18, 2023 • 9min

Don Quixote Full Book Introduction

Don QuixoteDon Quixote Full Book Introduction The book revolves around the adventures of a middle-aged man of the lowest nobility. After reading so many chivalric romances, he loses his mind to become a knight-errant and save his country. After recruiting Sancho Panza as a squire, the two embark on their adventure. Author : Miguel De Cervantes SaavedraIt is widely considered that Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was one of the world's greatest novelists and the greatest writer of the Spanish language. Don Quixote is his greatest work, widely recognized as the first modern novel and the pinnacle of world literature. Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book Don Quixote. It is a classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes in the early 17th century. It follows the adventures of a middle aged man named Alonso Quixano, who becomes convinced he is a knight and sets out on a quest to right wrongs and defend the helpless. Accompanied by his loyal squire, Sancho Panza, Don Quixote encounters a series of comical and often absurd situations as he tries to live up to his chivalrous ideals. He battles windmills, challenges a group of priests to a duel, and even rescues a damsel in distress. Despite his well-meaning intentions, Don Quixote's actions often cause chaos and confusion, leading to humorous misunderstandings and misadventures. As he continues his journey, he begins to question the nature of reality and the role of imagination in shaping our lives. The novel explores themes of idealism, delusion, and the power of imagination to transform our world. The novel has been widely celebrated for its humor, satire, and exploration of human nature. The author of this book, Miguel de Cervantes, was born in 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. In Western literature, he is regarded as one of the greatest Spanish novelists, poets, and playwrights. Cervantes began writing at a young age and published several plays and poems before becoming a soldier in the Spanish Navy. He fought in many battles, including the famous Battle of Lepanto, where he was wounded and captured by pirates. After being released from captivity, Cervantes returned to Spain and continued to write. In 1605, he published the first part of Don Quixote, which quickly became a literary sensation and established Cervantes as one of the leading writers of his time. The second part of the book was published in 1615, and the complete novel was published in 1620. Cervantes died in Madrid in 1616, but his legacy as one of the greatest writers in history lives on. Moreover, the impact of Don Quixote has been profound and enduring. It is widely considered one of the greatest works of literature of all time, and its influence can be seen in countless other works of literature, art, and popular culture. The book's hero, Don Quixote, is a timeless symbol of the individual's struggle against the forces of conformity and oppression, and his unyielding idealism and courage have inspired countless readers to believe in themselves and their ability to change the world. Additionally, the novel's clever satire and brilliant storytelling have made it a beloved classic, and it continues to be read and enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds. In short, the impact of Don Quixote has been nothing short of revolutionary, and its lasting legacy is a testament to the power of great literature to inspire and transform the human spirit. Now, we will focus on Don Quixote’s adventures in three parts. In Part One, we will provide a plot summary of Don Quixote’s adventures. In Part Two, we will depict the key characters, like Don Quixote, his squire and lady love. In Part Three, we will elaborate on the style and theme.
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May 18, 2023 • 13min

The Intelligent Investor Full Book Introduction

The Intelligent InvestorThe Intelligent Investor Full Book Introduction This book covers all the classical investment practices any stakeholder needs to know. It has been known by many as the “Stock Market Investing Bible” since it was first published in 1949. This book analyzes the difference between “investment” and “speculation,” and discusses how investors respond to market fluctuations. It also introduces the core idea of value investing, “margin of safety,” and what strategies defensive and enterprising investors should use. Author : Benjamin GrahamBenjamin Graham, an American economist and investment guru, is the founder of value investing theory. He is known as “the Dean of Wall Street” and “the Father of Modern Security Analysis”. Graham was not only Warren Buffett’s research supervisor at Columbia University’s Business School, but he was also regarded by Buffett as his “spiritual mentor.” Overview | Chapter 1Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today, we will unlock the book The Intelligent Investor. When it comes to stock investment, most people’s first reaction will be to think of Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha.” The book we’re reading today is written by Benjamin Graham, whom Buffett,referred to as his “mentor for life.” When unlocking Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist and The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, we mentioned that Buffet read The Intelligent Investor in 1950 when he was 19 years old. The book struck him immediately. Not long after, Buffett enrolled in Columbia University’s Business School, where he studied value investing, with Graham as his mentor. Three years after graduation, Buffett got a job at Graham’s company, and during his first two years there, Buffett learned about value investing strategies and grew his wealth from $9,800 to $174,000. When Buffett read The Intelligent Investor again in 1972, he said, “I read the first edition of this book early in 1950, when I was nineteen. I thought then that it was by far the best book about investing ever written. I still think it is.” Since its initial publication in 1949, the book has been regarded as a world-renowned classic in investment practices. It has been considered a revolutionary text often referred to as the "Stock Market Investing Bible" by investment gurus such as Warren Buffett. Buffett even wrote the preface and commentary for the book. It's been 40 years since the fourth edition of this book was published, and you may be wondering if the investment strategies mentioned in the book still hold true today. In fact, Graham himself emphasized in the introduction that the book focuses more on the principles of investing and the attitudes of investors. Therefore, we can still learn a lot today from this perspective. Benjamin Graham, an American economist and investment thinker, is the founder of value investing theory. He is known as “the Dean of Wall Street” and “the Father of Modern Security Analysis”. Graham was not only Warren Buffett’s research supervisor at Columbia University’s Business School, but also regarded by Buffett as his “spiritual mentor” throughout his life. His security analysis theory and knowledge of the field was a tremendous shock to the investment field, affecting almost three generations of the biggest fund managers on Wall Street. Next, we will unlock the book for you from three areas: First, the fundamentals of value investing; Second, investment suggestions for defensive investors; Last, investment suggestions for enterprising investors.

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