Think You Know the Real Stories Behind History? Test Your Non-Fiction Smarts!

What is the primary subject of “The Second Sex” by Simone de Beauvoir?

Gender inequality

Political history

Evolutionary biology

Global economics

The Second Sex is a seminal work in feminist literature, primarily discussing the treatment and perception of women in society. Simone de Beauvoir analyzes the roles, limitations, and social constructs faced by women.

Which book introduced the theory of ‘the survival of the fittest’?

On the Origin of Species

The Descent of Man

Principia Mathematica

The Interpretation of Dreams

On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin lays out the theory of natural selection, which is often synonymized with the phrase ‘survival of the fittest,’ although Herbert Spencer first coined this specific phrase.

What topic does “Guns, Germs, and Steel” explore?

Technological warfare

Economic strategies

Historical civilizations’ development

Psychological warfare techniques

Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs, and Steel” discusses how environmental and geographical factors have shaped the major patterns of human history, particularly the differences in development among civilizations.

“Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson focuses on the dangers of:

Global warming

Pesticides

Urbanization

Nuclear war

“Silent Spring” is credited with launching the environmental movement by highlighting the adverse environmental effects caused by indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Which work is known for popularizing behavioral economics?

Thinking, Fast and Slow

The Wealth of Nations

Das Kapital

The Prince

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman explores the dual-process model of the human mind and how it affects our decision-making, laying foundational concepts in behavioral economics.

The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon discusses:

Post-colonial studies

Quantum physics

Modern philosophy

Artificial intelligence

The Wretched of the Earth discusses the psychological and cultural impacts of colonialism, becoming a key text in post-colonial studies.

Which author wrote extensively on the injustices of the American prison system?

Michelle Alexander

Truman Capote

Angela Davis

Noam Chomsky

Michelle Alexanderâ€™s “The New Jim Crow” explores how the War on Drugs has led to mass incarceration in the United States, disproportionately affecting African American communities.

Fast Food Nation investigates the impact of fast food on:

Technological advancement

Social media trends

Health and society

International politics

Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation” delves into the health effects, economic influence, and labor practices of the fast food industry, particularly in America.

Who authored “The Souls of Black Folk,” a cornerstone in African American literature?

Toni Morrison

Maya Angelou

W.E.B. Du Bois

James Baldwin

W.E.B. Du Bois’s “The Souls of Black Folk” is an influential work in African American literature and sociology, analyzing race relations and the quest for civil rights.

The Feminine Mystique addresses which issue primarily?

Workplace inequality

Female domesticity

Educational reforms

Political corruption

Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” is credited with sparking the second wave of feminism in the United States by criticizing the idealization of female domesticity and advocating for more opportunities for women.

What does “The Power Broker” by Robert Caro discuss?

Urban planning

Military tactics

Diet trends

Medieval history

Robert Caro’s “The Power Broker” is a biography of Robert Moses, focusing on his work in urban planning in New York City, significantly impacting the city’s development in the 20th century.

Which book details the development of the atomic bomb?

The Making of the Atomic Bomb

War and Peace

The Great Gatsby

A Brief History of Time

The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes provides a comprehensive history of the scientific discoveries and political maneuvers leading to the creation and deployment of the atomic bomb.

Who wrote “The Emperor of All Maladies”?

Siddhartha Mukherjee

Stephen Hawking

Malcolm Gladwell

Ernest Hemingway

Siddhartha Mukherjeeâ€™s “The Emperor of All Maladies” is a biography of cancer, tracing its history and the evolution of treatments and understanding of the disease.

What is the main theme of “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell?

Success factors

Cooking techniques

Cosmology theories

Ancient civilizations

Outliers explores the various factors that contribute to high levels of success, arguing that opportunity and cultural legacy play significant roles in shaping personal outcomes.

What subject does “The Double Helix” by James Watson cover?

DNA structure

Global warming

Internet history

Roman law

James D. Watson’s “The Double Helix” details the discovery of DNA’s structure, a pivotal moment in genetics and biology, told from his personal perspective.

Which book examines the psychology behind decision-making?

Blink

Moby Dick

Atlas Shrugged

1984

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell explores the psychology of decision-making, emphasizing the power and pitfalls of intuitive judgment.

Who authored “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism”?

Shoshana Zuboff

George Orwell

Ray Kurzweil

John Maynard Keynes

Shoshana Zuboff’s “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism” critiques the growing power of big tech companies as they harvest and control personal data to shape economic transactions.

Which book focuses on the critique of political institutions?

The Republic

The Federalist Papers

Leviathan

The Jungle

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes examines the structure of society and legitimate government, advocating for a social contract and sovereign rule to prevent chaos and war.

What is the central topic of “Collapse” by Jared Diamond?

Societal collapse

Software development

Musical theory

Nutritional science

Collapse” investigates how historical and contemporary societies have failed or succeeded, emphasizing environmental and other pressures that can lead to societal collapse.

Who is the author of “Nickel and Dimed,” a study on poverty?

Barbara Ehrenreich

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jane Austen

Mark Twain

Barbara Ehrenreichâ€™s “Nickel and Dimed” explores the impact of the 1996 welfare reform by examining the lives of the working poor, detailing her experiences as she attempted to live on minimum wage in America.