The Anarchy by William Dalrymple: Book Overview

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How did a trading company, ostensibly formed for commerce, come to rule most of the Indian subcontinent and its millions of people for over 50 years? What impact did it make? The Anarchy by William Dalrymple charts the rise of the English East India Company (EIC) during the 17th and 18th centuries. Dalrymple explains how it rose from a small outfit of merchants into the imperialist superpower that established British colonial rule in India. Continue reading for an overview of this fascinating book.

How to Recover Your Lost Creativity, Ideas, Desires, & Dreams

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Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Did your creativity get squashed at some point? Julia Cameron says it’s not too late to reconnect to your inner artist and find what’s been lost—creativity, dreams, and desires. These elements are all still inside you somewhere, and she encourages you to go after them. Continue reading to learn how to reconnect to your creativity and recover what’s been lost.

Mughal Trade: When England Deferred to a Mighty Empire

Numerous ships docking near a city as part of the Mughal Trade.

How wealthy was the Mughal empire? Why were the English the deferential party in the Mughal trade relationship? In The Anarchy, William Dalrymple charts the rise of the English East India Company. He sets the stage by discussing conditions in India during the 17th century and what made it so attractive to British merchants. Read more to understand how England took notice of the wealth in India and began trading within the powerful Mughal empire.

How to Be More Motivated: 4 Techniques From Dr. Julie Smith

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Do you lack motivation to do what needs to be done every day? Are you so overwhelmed you don’t know how or where to start? Motivation is a feeling, so it naturally ebbs and flows. Dr. Julie Smith writes that it’s important to treat it as such and, therefore, not let it get the best of you. In her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, she shares four techniques that can help you overcome a lack of motivation. Keep reading for Smith’s practical advice on how to be more motivated and do what you need to do.

Barbra Streisand’s Directing: The Risk & Success of Yentl

A woman sitting in a director's chair on a film set.

How does Barbra Streisand compare directing and acting? What’s so noteworthy about her film Yentl? According to Barbra Streisand, directing isn’t easy. But, it provides more of what she looks for in creative pursuits. In her autobiography, Streisand writes about her film directing career, and it’s easy to see how her landmark project Yentl showcases so much of her one-of-a-kind style. Keep reading to learn the highlights of Streisand’s directing career.

Foster Your Creative Intuition & Emotions to Unlock Synchronicity

A woman with creative intuition painting a black and white mural of a woman in nature.

How strong is your creative intuition? Do you know how to channel your emotions into creativity? How often do you experience synchronicity? In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron shows you how to tap into your deeper creative self where your real emotions and wild ideas reside. One way to do this is to get a better handle on your creative intuition and feelings, which will also help you produce the art you’re intended to produce. Read more to learn Cameron’s advice for leveraging your creative intuition and emotions.

The Fall of the Mughal Empire: The East India Company’s Role

The fall of the Mughal Empire illustrated in a battle between soldiers.

How did the mighty Mughal empire fall? What role did the East India Company play in its demise? While not the direct cause behind the breakdown of Mughal authority, the East India Company benefited from the resulting power vacuum. William Dalrymple explains that the company’s gradual accumulation of control paved the way for the establishment of British rule across India. Keep reading to learn about the dramatic fall of the Mughal empire.

How to Silence Your Inner Critic: 4 Strategies From Julie Smith

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Do you bounce back from criticism? How much do you trust yourself? Do you laugh at (or at least learn from) failure? Dr. Julie Smith writes that your mental health will significantly improve when you silence your inner critic. To do so, she recommends you learn to tolerate negative feedback, build your confidence, become comfortable with failure, and strive to accept yourself unconditionally. Continue reading to get Smith’s four-part guidance on how to silence your inner critic.

Barbra Streisand’s Film Career: Highlights From Hollywood

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In what way does Barbra Streisand prefer her film performances to her stage performances? What insecurity did she have in relation to her first film? Perhaps movies aren’t the first thing you think of when you consider Barbra Streisand’s long career. But, she found success in Hollywood just as she did on Broadway and in the music charts. She writes about her Hollywood acting career in her memoir My Name Is Barbra. Read more to learn the highlights of Barbra Streisand’s film career.

Your Inner Artist: 5 Steps to Tap Into It (Julia Cameron)

A man surrounded by gears as he unleashes his inner artist.

How is artistry a spiritual practice? What, exactly, is art? Is there any untapped creativity inside you? In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron asserts that your inner artist is your deeper creative self that contains your seemingly crazy ideas, raw emotions, dreams, desires, and so on. This is a conduit for the creative force. The more intimate you are with this self, the more creative and artistically guided you’ll be. Keep reading to learn Cameron’s five-step process for connecting with your inner artist.