The World's Best Book Summaries
Where did life originate on Earth? How can we know? Biochemist Nick Lane’s understanding of a cell’s requirements leads him to a hypothesis of where life began. In his book The Vital Question, he discusses the type of environment that’s best suited to give rise to the first cells. Keep reading to learn what Lane believes is the most likely candidate for where life on Earth originated.
Are you a specialist in just one area? If so, are you aware of how that could be holding you back? Retired astrophysicist Jacob Lund Fisker argues in Early Retirement Extreme that it’s possible to break out of the unsatisfying cycle of consumerism. Part of the equation is increasing your financial security by diversifying your skills. Read more to discover how diverse skills can help you get the lifestyle you want.
Are you a serial procrastinator? A serial procrastinator who’s ready to turn things around and get things done? Nearly 95% of people say they procrastinate. That’s according to Piers Steel, the author of The Procrastination Equation. He defines procrastination as purposefully putting off tasks against your better judgment and contrary to your best interests. If this sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading for several procrastination questions designed to help you examine and tackle your procrastination habit.
How should the brain hemispheres work together? What’s the proper connection between the left and right brain? Popular opinion holds that the left brain does more “important” work than the right brain, so it should dominate. But, Iain McGilchrist takes the opposite view, contending that the left brain should be subservient to the right brain. Continue reading to learn what McGilchrist believes is the optimal relationship between the two brain hemispheres.
Do you want to write a sci-fi story but don’t know where to start? Is it important to you to include real science in your fiction? In A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking explains modern physics to a general audience. These ideas provide excellent jumping-off points for science fiction stories. Keep reading for five Hawking-inspired sci-fi writing prompts that will help you use real science in science fiction.
Are you a conversation monopolizer? Or, do you fall victim to this and hardly get a word in edgewise? One-sided conversations aren’t really conversations; they’re monologues. Good conversationalists give each other space to talk. This requires both skill and thoughtfulness. Social interaction specialist Patrick King shows you how to cultivate these traits in his book Better Small Talk. Continue reading to learn how to stop monopolizing conversations and keep others from doing the same.
What are the primary attachment styles? How can insecure attachment in relationships be managed? One essential element of maintaining a happy relationship is to understand both your needs and your partner’s. Specifically, relationship experts recommend understanding your attachment styles and using strategies to maintain secure attachment and negate the effects of insecure attachment. Continue reading to learn about attachment styles in romantic relationships and ways to move toward relationship health.
How is a cell made? What does this knowledge tell us about life’s origins? To deduce how life began, biologists like Nick Lane have to reverse-engineer our primordial single-celled ancestors. Working backward through time, it’s possible to hypothesize the traits of the very first microbial life. Keep reading to understand what we know about how cells are made.
What can we learn about the brain by studying history? What do the Classical period, the Renaissance, and the Romantic era have in common? Contrary to popular opinion, Iain McGilchrist contends that the left brain hemisphere should be subservient to the right. He contends that three historical eras embody the primacy of the right hemisphere: classical antiquity, the Renaissance, and Romanticism. Read on to get a new perspective on history by seeing it through the lens of right hemisphere dominance.
What love language does your partner primarily speak? How can you tell when you’ve identified it correctly? If you want to build and maintain a healthy relationship, you must understand your own needs and your partner’s needs. One way to do this is to understand the various love languages, identify which ones you and your partner speak the most, and then communicate accordingly. Read more to learn Gary Chapman’s advice on how to know your partner’s love language and use it well.