The World's Best Book Summaries
What is selective attention? What would it be like if you didn’t have it? You’re walking down a city street. A pigeon flutters just ahead of your step. A taxi cab honks. A hot burst of air shoots up from a vent in the sidewalk. Someone calls your name. Thankfully, your brain has a tool to sort through all these stimuli and tell you where to focus your attention. Keep reading to understand selective attention and how it works for you.
What causes ice ages? How much of the Earth has been covered by ice? Are we in an ice age now? The geological history of the Earth indicates that ice covers much of the planet at times and, at other times, it doesn’t. Author Bill Bryson looks into the ice age cycle to understand what scientists know and how. Keep reading for a brief overview of the ice age cycle.
How does your brain keep track of your stuff? How can you work with your biology to better organize your things? In his book The Organized Mind, neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin discusses how to externalize and sort information to make various mental processes easier. Similarly, he suggests that you use the power of externalization and sorting to track your stuff. Keep reading to learn how to organize your home in a way that frees up more mental energy, allowing you to focus on other tasks and make better decisions.
How important is willpower? What difference does it actually make in our lives? Daniel Goleman emphasizes the importance of willpower in his book Focus. However, some disagree that it’s a major factor in our lives. Read more to learn both sides of this debate.
How old is the Earth? What’s below the Earth’s surface? What’s plate tectonics? In A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson provides an accessible overview of the natural sciences. In his discussion of geology, he explains the age of the Earth, the Earth’s interior structure, plate tectonics, and ice ages. Keep reading for a brief introduction to these geology basics from Bryson.
In a digital folder, how many files are “too many”? How can you separate work files from personal files? Should you use cloud or physical storage as a backup? Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin argues that you can free up mental energy by externalizing and organizing information. That applies to both physical objects and digital data. In his book The Organized Mind, he discusses how an organized computer contributes to an organized mind. Continue reading for Levitin’s practical advice on how to organize computer files.
Are there different kinds of empathy? What does empathy have to do with attention? How can you become more empathetic? According to Daniel Goleman, empathy requires attention. In Focus, he explains how empathy is a form of focusing on—turning your attention toward—others. He also describes three different kinds of empathy we can practice. Keep reading to learn about Goleman’s concept of empathy.
What is the origin of life on Earth? What can lab experiments tell us about it? The origin of life is one of the great mysteries of science. Scientists can synthesize amino acids, but not with chemicals available on the early Earth. Furthermore, no one knows how amino acids formed proteins; random chance can’t account for it. Continue reading to learn more about origin-of-life research and its findings.
What was the motive of the Osage murders? Was justice ultimately done? How did the case shape the future of law enforcement? David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon explores the Osage Reign of Terror. This was a series of organized killings of members of the Osage Indian tribe that took place in Osage County, Oklahoma, during the 1920s. Continue reading for an overview of this sad but important book.
How effectively do you keep track of all the people in your life? Do you ever lose phone numbers or forget important birthdays? In his book The Organized Mind, neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin discusses how to externalize and sort information and objects. He explains how can you use the power of externalization and organization to improve your relationships. Keep reading to learn why modern relationships can overwhelm us and how to organize contacts in a way that takes that pressure off.