The World's Best Book Summaries
Are your reading skills lacking? How can you be a better reader? Reading is an important skill that people of all ages need. Don’t worry if your literary skills aren’t up to par—we have plenty of tips that’ll help you get the most out of your reading time. Learn how to be a better reader and why picking up a book every once in a while is worth your time.
What does it mean to have a well-rounded education? Why is it better to be a generalist than a specialist? In the context of skill sets and education, a specialist is someone proficient in one area while a generalist has a wide range of skills, which they gain from a well-rounded education. If you want to succeed in the changing workforce, it’s better to be a generalist. Below we’ll look at why a well-rounded education will help you in your life and career, and what subjects are the most useful to learn.
What should you do before you read a work of nonfiction? How can reading more content actually help you read faster? The authors of 10 Days to Faster Reading offer this surprising speed-reading strategy: Familiarize yourself with the content before you begin. It might seem like you’re taking unnecessary extra time, but you’ll be able to read faster—and with more comprehension—when you take this step. Let’s take a closer look at this reading strategy.
What’s the psychology of focus? What’s Dandapani’s theory of mind? In The Power of Unwavering Focus, Dandapani defines focus as intentionally directed awareness. You must understand what’s happening in your mind when you maintain or lose focus before you learn how to actually focus. Below we’ll explore Dandapani’s model of the mind and how it relates to focus.
Do you tend to read at the same speed that you talk? Do you lose your place or your focus when you read? The book 10 Days to Faster Reading provides several strategies for quicker, more effective reading. One way to improve your reading speed is by addressing three bad reading habits: mouthing or speaking the words, accidentally rereading what you’ve already read, and getting lost in thought. Let’s take a look at several behaviors that people commonly engage in that slow down their reading—along with some tips for breaking these habits.
Do you have a pile of reading material you’ve been meaning to read for ages? Do you feel you could learn more if only you could read faster? In 10 Days to Faster Reading, Abby Marks Beale and the Princeton Language Institute provide strategies to help you zip through web pages, books, magazines, and newspapers. Not only can you read faster, but you can understand and remember everything you read. Here’s our overview of this practical book that can propel you toward a personal reading revolution.
What if you could read faster and increase your comprehension at the same time? How would that propel your learning and productivity? In 10 Days to Faster Reading, Abby Marks Beale and the Princeton Language Institute say that speed-reading isn’t just a nifty ability. They argue that the skills entailed in speed-reading are important for focus, comprehension, productivity, expertise, and even reading enjoyment. Let’s take a look at how to improve your reading speed with their strategies.
Would others say that you’re a good conversation partner? Do you hear people out and give them space to think? Good thinking comes from good listening. That’s the view of Nancy Kline—a teacher, a researcher, and the author of Time to Think. She asserts that you can help people think through things by listening attentively for as long as they need, showing that you’re paying attention, and letting them express their emotions. Read more for Kline’s advice on how to listen to people in a way that helps them think.
Are the meetings or classes you lead designed to elicit productive thinking? What can you do to boost creativity and problem-solving? Nancy Kline has a step-by-step process for taking on the role of the listener to help someone else engage in higher-quality thinking, resulting in ideas that lead to powerful action. Her process can be adapted for group settings such as work meetings, family conferences, or classroom discussions. Continue reading to learn how to lead a thinking group that gets results.
How can you help someone overcome an assumption that limits their thought and action? What role does your silence play in the process? Nancy Kline asserts that the key to evoking high-quality thinking in others is to listen to them well. She provides a step-by-step process for conducting a productive conversation, or a thinking session, which maximizes the quality of both listening and thinking. Let’s take a close look at Step 4 in the process: Ask an incisive question.