Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

The American Caste System: History and Structure

Does a caste system exist in the American society? What is the foundation of the American caste system? According to Isabel Wilkerson, the author of Caste, the American caste system was based on the arbitrary differences in people’s appearances, specifically skin color. The dominant caste used it as a parameter to stratify society and justify different treatment and living standards. Read about the structure and history of the American caste system.

Caste and Religion: Using Faith to Justify Discrimination

What is the connection between caste and religion? How does the dominant caste use religious belief systems to perpetuate its supremacist ideology? Caste and religion are deeply interconnected. More specifically, every caste system is built on and justified by religious beliefs. There is a reason for it—when a system is said to be the will of God, it becomes nearly impossible to argue the legitimacy of its claims. Learn about the connection between caste and religion with examples of how faith has been used to support caste systems in India and America.

Thomas Kuhn’s Philosophy of Science Explained

What is Thomas Kuhn’s philosophy of science? How did his ideas revolutionize the way scientists think about the development of science? The central tenet of Kuhn’s philosophy of science is the distinction between normal and revolutionary science. Normal science is a progressively cumulative compendium of knowledge within the established paradigms. Revolutionary science happens when there is a shift from the set paradigm. Read more to learn about Thomas Kuhn’s philosophy of science.

Observing Without Evaluating: What Does It Mean?

What does “observing without evaluating” mean? How can you apply this idea in practice? Observing without evaluating is the first step of the nonviolent communication approach. As the name suggests, it refers to communicating our observations without passing evaluative or moralistic judgment upon them. Read about observing without evaluating and how to apply it in practice.

How to Deal With Failure: Reframe It for Success

Do you have trouble moving on when life doesn’t go the way you wanted to? Do you wonder how to deal with failure more effectively? Failure will happen to each and every one of us in some form or another. When life throws curve balls at you, you may start to wonder about how to deal with failure—how to recover from it emotionally and put it behind you mentally. Read about how to deal with failure and bounce back from it better than before.

Racial Scapegoating: Blame the Minority

What is racial scapegoating? How does victim-blaming of the racial minorities contribute to reinforcement of the white supremacist ideology? Racial scapegoating is the practice of singling out a racial group for unmerited blame and the ensuing punishment. In doing so, the dominant caste feels relief that they’re not at fault, reinforcing their forged status of superiority. Keep reading for more about racial scapegoating and some of its historical examples.

3 Negotiation Exercises to Improve Your Skills

Do you want to brush up your negotiation skills? What are some negotiation exercises you can practice? These three negotiation exercises are based on the negotiation principles laid out in Never Split the Difference, a negotiation handbook written by former international FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. They will help you practice key negotiation skills such as mirroring, conducting an accusation audit, and formulating calibrated questions. Try these negotiation exercises to level up your negotiation game.

Holocaust Statues: A Reminder of Nazi Atrocities

Why did Germans keep the Holocaust statues and memorials—the legacy of Nazi Germany? What do they represent today? Germans have dedicated themselves to never forgetting the Nazis. They have kept the Holocaust statues, museums, and concentration camp memorials to educate the public and honor the memory of its victims. Read about the German Holocaust statues—a reminder of the Third Reich evil.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC): Empathy Matters

What is the NVC empathy approach? How can you apply it in practice? Nonviolent Communication provides a helpful framework for maintaining an empathic presence when people express themselves. In NVC, empathy requires focusing our full attention on the person and listening for the needs and feelings beneath their words. Read about NVC, empathy, and communication.

Ego Is the Enemy Quotes by Ryan Holiday

What are some of the key Ego Is the Enemy quotes by Ryan Holiday? What do these quotes say about the consequences of having an unchecked ego? In Ego Is the Enemy, best-selling author Ryan Holiday discusses the ways an inflated ego can keep you from achieving success, destroy the success you’ve already achieved, and prevent you from emerging from failure. The following Ego Is the Enemy quotes highlight some of the author’s key ideas about having an inflated sense of ego. Check out these five Ego Is the Enemy quotes by Ryan Holiday.