The World's Best Book Summaries
How do you define quality? How does it work in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? So, how do you define quality? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Pirsig explains that there are several phases of quality, each of which can be achieved by pursuing free and original thought. Keep reading to find out the answer to the question “how do you define quality?”
What is the central premise of Essentialism by Greg McKeown? What does he mean by “the disciplined pursuit of less?” In his book Essentialism, Greg McKeown makes a compelling case for the disciplined pursuit of less (but better). It is a lifestyle philosophy that is premised on pursuing only things that are at the core of your identity (the essentials) and disregarding the rest (the nonessentials). Keep reading for more about Greg McKeown’s lifestyle philosophy of essentialism.
Do you often feel like there isn’t enough time in a day to accomplish everything you’ve planned to do? Have you tried the time blocking method? The time blocking method is a time management technique that integrates the functionality of a calendar with a to-do list. It involves chunking a period of time—typically a day or week—into smaller segments that are scheduled for specific tasks. Keep reading to learn about the time blocking method.
What is deep work vs. shallow work? How can you reduce shallow work time from your schedule? “Deep work” is focused, uninterrupted, undistracted work on a task that pushes your cognitive abilities to their limit. In contrast, “shallow work” describes tasks that aren’t cognitively demanding – like answering email, filling out paperwork, and attending unproductive meetings. Keep reading to learn how you can take steps to reduce your time spent on shallow work.
How did Lale make his concentration camp escape? How did he jump out of the pot and into the fire? In Heather Morris’ historical fiction novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale escapes a concentration camp in Vienna. He ran into Russian soldiers who he thought might help him, but quickly realized he was forced into another dangerous situation. Continue reading about Lale’s concentration camp escape.
What does getting out of your comfort zone mean? Why is this so important? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains that discomfort is relative. He says that learning to live with discomfort and getting out of your comfort zone will improve your life. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and getting out of your comfort zone.
What is digital minimalism? How can practicing digital minimalism increase your deep work? Deep work and digital minimalism go hand-in-hand. Digital minimalism is Cal Newport’s term for cutting back on screen time and optimizing you internet usage. This allows you to minimize your distractions and increase your focus at work. Keep reading for advice on how to practice digital minimalism.
What is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance quality about? Why is the idea of quality so important? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, quality is the idea that your life is what you make of it, and can be made better by pursuing your best self. Pirsig talks about cultivating and discovering quality. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, quality, and what it means.
How do you define lateral thinking? How does Robert Pirsig explain lateral thinking in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, author Robert Pirsig works to define lateral thinking. Like many other lessons in the book, he explains it using the story of Phaedrus. Keep reading to find out how to define lateral thinking according to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
What is the meaning of “less but better” and who coined the phrase? How does it apply to lifestyle? The phrase “less but better” denotes a design philosophy put forward by German industrial designer Dieter Rams. Rams firmly believed that the best design involved as little design as possible. Inspired by Rams, Greg McKeown applied this principle to the broader context of living one’s life. Keep reading to learn about the principle “less but better”, as it applies to lifestyle.