The World's Best Book Summaries
Is it possible to predict divorce? What are the most telling signs the relationship won’t last? The signs of an impending divorce are often evident from casual interactions of partners, even at the beginning of a relationship. Psychologist John Gottman has identified these signs by conducting observations of interactions of couples, predicting divorce with impressive accuracy. Here’s what he found.
What are microexpressions? Can facial microexpressions be detected by the naked eye? We can get better at understanding others, and consequently make more accurate judgments about them, by practicing reading people’s microexpressions—facial expressions that last for only a fraction of a second. Microexpressions are almost imperceptible to an untrained, naked eye, but with training, you can become better at detecting them. Let’s take a closer look at how we “thin-slice” people, or make judgments about them by reading (or failing to read) their microexpressions.
What is great customer service? What should you do to encourage effective customer service in your business? A customer’s emotional experience can determine whether or not they will return to your business. In Delivering Happiness, Zappos’s former CEO Tony Hsieh describes the importance of great customer service and how his employees achieved it. Learn more about what great customer service is and the steps you can take to ensure your customer will have a positive experience.
Do you want to achieve clarity in your writing? What is the key to writing clearly? Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, politics or humor, sportswriting or essays, clarity in writing is extremely important. If your writing isn’t clear, you won’t be able to properly convey your point. Here’s how to write more clearly.
Do people find your writing too complex or cluttered? Why is simplicity important in writing? Simple writing is easy for anybody to understand. There’s no need to use a thesaurus to find bigger words, to fluff up your language, or to beat around the bush. The best way to convey your message in writing is to use simple language. Here are some tips for writing simply and clearly.
What makes a good critique? What things should avoid when criticizing a creative work? In his book On Writing Well, American writer, journalist, and teacher William Zinsser shares his tips on how to write a good critique. He lists five things you should keep in mind when criticizing someone’s work. Here are some tips on how to write a good critique.
Do you want to discover your unique writing style? What sets your writing apart from everybody else’s? You may be tempted to tailor your writing style to match what you often read online or in books, but that won’t gain you any popularity. Every good writer has their own personality and style, and it’s those differences that set them above the rest, not conformity. Here is how to develop a writing style that’s uniquely yours.
Do you want to know how to use humor in writing? How do you make your humor sound natural rather than forced? The rule of thumb is that if you find something funny, include it. Just make sure you’re not trying to force humor into your writing because the readers will be able to tell. Here are some tips on how to add humor to your writing, from On Writing Well by William Zinsser.
Are friendships at work a bad thing? Will they distract you from your job? In Delivering Happiness, former CEO of Zappos, Tony Hsieh, says that friendship at work should be encouraged. He further explains that he implemented friendship in his company culture to create a happy environment for his employees. Here’s how Zappos motivates friendships at work, and why some people may be against developing a friendly relationship with their co-workers.
Do you want to be a travel writer? What can you do to set yourself apart? The travel writing industry is booming. However, there are five common traps that travel writers fall into. If you avoid these traps, you will set your writing apart from the rest. Here are some tips to set yourself apart.