The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s the theoretical basis for the big bang? What’s a supernova? Why is Earth’s moon important? Consider the matter, energy, stars, and planets that make up our universe. At some point, they came into existence. Scientists have developed certain understandings about the big bang, the life cycle of stars, and the formation of the solar system. Continue reading for a brief history of the cosmos.
How can we live less stressfully in the modern world, where we have more demands on our attention than ever before? How should we organize information, our physical spaces, and even our relationships? In his book The Organized Mind, Daniel Levitin explains how our attention and memory work and shows how we can leverage them to make better decisions. He argues that we can give our brains a break by physically or digitally sorting and storing both information and objects. Keep reading for an overview of this book that can help you feel less overwhelmed and more relaxed and in
Are there multiple realities? If so, how many? How can we access them? In Reality Transurfing Steps I–V, Vadim Zeland redefines reality, arguing that we live in a world of consciousness in which infinite versions of reality exist simultaneously. He believes that what we identify as reality is just one version of it. Read more for an intriguing exploration of Zeland’s thoughts on the nature of reality.
Do you feel stuck in life? Do you wish your reality were different? In Reality Transurfing Steps I–V, Vadim Zeland argues that infinite versions of reality simultaneously exist—and what you identify as reality is just one version of it. The way you think and feel about your experiences determines which one of the infinite versions of reality exists for you. Read more to learn about Zeland’s explanation for why you’re stuck in a reality you don’t want.
What is the life cycle of stars? How do stars burn? How many stars are in the Milky Way? If you’ve always wanted to understand the natural world but found science classes tedious and science textbooks difficult to understand, author Bill Bryson can relate. A Short History of Nearly Everything is an accessible overview of the natural sciences. Keep reading for Bryson’s explanation of the life cycle of stars.
Why is it hard to make decisions? Why is it harder now than it’s ever been? The modern world overwhelms us, and this hampers our ability to make decisions. Our brains expend a lot of energy on decisions that must be made—even ones that aren’t important. That energy drain makes decision-making difficult. Read more to understand why it’s hard to make decisions, especially these days.
How was our solar system formed? What were the conditions on and around Earth? Our sun formed a few billion years ago after the universe was set in motion with the big bang. Planets and moons formed out of the gas and dust that swirled around it. Read more to learn about the formation of our solar system.
How does attention work? How does your brain know what to focus on? Can you pay attention to more than one thing at a time? Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains the two modes of attention and how the brain chooses between them. He also argues that multitasking is impossible. Continue reading to learn how attention works.
Why is the cosmos fine-tuned for life? Where is the universe’s missing mass? Why is the expansion of the cosmos speeding up? In a discussion of the origin and history of the universe, Bill Bryson brings up several questions that scientists have yet to answer conclusively. He also shares what some of the answers might be. Keep reading to learn about three intriguing mysteries of the cosmos.
How is attention like a muscle? How is it like a camera? Daniel Goleman argues that attention is a complex and underappreciated cognitive resource in our modern society overrun with distractions. He shares three characteristics of attention: it’s indivisible, it’s like a muscle, and it’s like a camera. Keep reading to learn what Goleman means and to understand attention better.