The World's Best Book Summaries
Can optimism be learned? How can you learn to be optimistic? What is Martin Seligman’s advice? According to Martin Seligman, optimism means having an empowered and confident mindset. Seligman says you can learn to be optimistic just like you learn a new skill—through practice and dedication. Keep reading to find out how you can learn to be optimistic, according to Seligman’s advice.
Why should you stop seeking reassurance? Do you need confidence to be creative? In The Practice, Seth Godin asserts that you don’t need confidence to be creative. In fact, you should stop seeking reassurance because it only slows the creative process. Continue reading to learn why confidence and reassurance aren’t important for creative projects.
What’s fortuna? How does a successful leader keep it at bay? According to Niccolò Machiavelli, fortuna (fate) affects us all. But, great princes don’t let it get the best of them. They have qualities that help them beat the odds. Read more to learn how to keep fate from ruling your life.
Do you have an artistic voice? How can you find your artistic voice? An artistic voice can make your creative work better, according to Seth Godin in The Practice. If you trust your own voice, you’ll be able to create something unique that will stand out. Read below to learn how to find your artistic voice.
What is creative time management? How much time should you spend on a creative project? In The Practice, Seth Godin says that time management is extremely important for creative people. By setting aside a specific time of day for your project, obstacles won’t slow you down. Let’s look at creative time management in practice.
What are artist blocks? Are they even real? In his book The Practice, Seth Godin disputes the claim that artists get creative blocks. He says that it’s just you holding yourself back, but you can overcome it by working every day on your creative project. Continue reading to learn Godin’s take on artist blocks.
Do you care about something that needs to be improved? How can you raise awareness for a cause? In Stolen Focus, Johann Hari explains there is an attention crisis caused by external factors outside of your control. One of his solutions is a citizen-led movement, which highlights the important steps people can take to raise awareness. Below we’ll look at how to raise awareness for a cause with the example of an attention rebellion.
Are you wondering how to break the cycle of anxiety? How does anxiety lead to other problems? In Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer gives practical advice for dealing with anxiety. Brewer’s guidelines for overcoming anxiety are based on his definition of anxiety as a habit loop. Let’s look at how to break the cycle of anxiety in three steps.
What are systemic changes? What are examples of systemic changes that will stop the attention crisis? Systemic changes are fundamental changes in a system (often education, government, etc.) that are necessary to make improvements. In Stolen Focus, Johann Hari suggests a systemic change to address people’s inability to focus. Keep reading for examples of systemic changes that are necessary to reduce stress and concentration issues.
How can you define your goals to make them actionable? After defining your goals, what next step should you take to achieve them? Goals feel impossible when you see no discernible way to get from where you are to where you want to be. In The Art of Impossible, Steven Kotler draws on extensive neurobiological research to demystify how to define your goals and achieve breakthrough success. Keep reading to learn Kotler’s advice on how to define your goals when you don’t know where to begin.