101summaries

Key Insights in this book: We wash ourselves excessively because of contemporary notions of "cleanliness." Throughout human history, the justifications for washing ourselves have varied. Advertising was utilised by the soap industry to change how people view hygiene. Though less severely regulated than medicines, skin care is slowly but surely encroaching on the realm of medicine. It's not always terrible to expose our skin to microorganisms. More than excessively strict hygiene habits, our usage of antibiotics likely compromises our health. The skin microbiota may contain vital data on our health. To stay healthy, we need a balance between cleanliness and exposure to germs. Why should I care? Learn how the extreme hygiene we practise today may be doing more damage than good. Imagine a society in which showering was no longer practised. I know, it's disgusting. But hold on. What if that future world was actually healthier for us? Believe it or not, author James Hambli

Key Insights in this book:   It is still unclear what consciousness' role in evolution is. It's conceivable that inanimate objects, including animals, have consciousness. We might someday develop superintelligent machines that appear to be conscious. We are considerably more divided than we'd like to think. The idea of free will has no biological foundation. Sometimes racism isn't open and clear. Societies must use extreme caution when approving tyranny. Future technological advancements might bring about the end of the world. We can better understand the universe's surprising realities with the aid of math and physics. Anything is possible with enough knowledge. Why should I care? An enlightening investigation into the history, universe, and the human psyche. On the campus of a university, each department is housed in a separate structure. The boundaries between fields are still clearly delineated, and the disciplines remain mostly isolated. But as soon as you leav

Key Insights in this book: To facilitate cooperation, humans have developed specific cognitive abilities. A genetic characteristic associated with improved communication skills is friendliness. All the telltale symptoms of self-domestication are present in the amiable bonobo. It appears that friendliness has promoted human evolution. Even with strangers, our brains have evolved to create strong social relationships. Outsiders may appear less human because of our close social ties. By interacting closely and casually with people, we can promote tolerance. Our treatment of animals is a reflection of how we treat one another. Why should I care? a development of friendship through time. The expression "survival of the fittest" connotes to the layperson that competition rules in the natural world. Only the most savage, resilient, and cunning species survive. A completely different viewpoint is put out in Survival of the Friendliest, which asserts that friendships are more importan