Richer, Wiser, Happier: Book Overview (William Green)

An investor looking at a giant stock graph

How do some investors consistently beat the markets, make billions, and manage to maintain a sense of calm? How can we emulate them to achieve wealth and keep our stress levels in check? In his book Richer, Wiser, Happier, journalist William Green draws on the wisdom of over 40 legendary investors—including Warren Buffett, John Templeton, and Charlie Munger—to provide insights about boosting your finances and your sense of well-being. This overview distills Green’s ideas into three strategies that will help you achieve both financial prosperity and inner peace: Expand your knowledge, master decision-making skills, and build and protect your wealth.

The Moral Animal by Robert Wright: Book Overview & Takeaways

A split screen with a prehistoric man on the left and a 21st-century man on the right

Why do we fall in love, feel jealous, compete for status, or sacrifice for family? Robert Wright’s The Moral Animal offers a theory: These behaviors are hardwired into us by evolution. Published in 1994, this book connects biology, anthropology, and psychology in an attempt to explain everything from romantic attraction to moral judgment. Keep reading to see how understanding our evolutionary programming might help us make sense of our own motivations and better understand the people around us.

The Intelligence Trap by David Robson: Book Overview

A cartoon image of a brain trapped in a bird cage

Why do brilliant people sometimes make the most foolish decisions? Despite their intellectual prowess, highly intelligent people often fall prey to conspiracy theories, financial ruin, and irrational beliefs—sometimes even more than those with average intelligence. In The Intelligence Trap, David Robson reveals how the very traits that make people smart can become their greatest weakness. Through research-backed insights, he exposes the hidden dangers of overconfidence, cognitive biases, and motivated reasoning that plague intelligent individuals, then offers practical strategies to think more wisely. Keep reading for a full overview of the book.

Ellen Langer’s The Mindful Body: Book Overview & Takeaways

A mind-body connection illustrated through a man being connected to his brain

If you’ve ever felt your stomach turn in a moment of anxiety or felt like jumping up and down with excitement, then you’ve experienced the mind-body connection firsthand. Ellen Langer’s The Mindful Body argues that you can use this connection to take control of your health. We’ll explore Langer’s assertion that the mind and body are inextricable and discuss how this link manifests in health outcomes. We’ll also examine three limiting beliefs that shape health, including the view that health is a finite resource. Finally, we’ll touch on two research-backed strategies for approaching your health mindfully. Continue reading for our

Deviate by Beau Lotto: Book Overview & Takeaways

A woman looking at a park

How do you know the world you see around you is real? It’s not, according to neuroscientist and entrepreneur Beau Lotto. In Deviate, Lotto explains that our brains don’t simply record the world as it is, but actively construct reality based on past experiences and evolutionary adaptations. Below, we’ll explain how our perceptual abilities don’t give us access to objective reality, as well as the evolutionary reasons why this is true. Then, we’ll outline how you can use this understanding of your brain’s abilities to change the way you think and foster innovation. Read more in our overview.

The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal: Overview

A cartoon image of a man and woman jogging in a park

What if the secret to lasting fitness isn’t willpower or discipline, but rediscovering the natural joy your body was designed to feel during movement? In The Joy of Movement, Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal challenges everything we think we know about exercise by revealing how our brains are evolutionarily wired to find movement rewarding—not punishing. Whether you’re someone who dreads the gym or you’re seeking a deeper understanding of why some activities feel naturally energizing while others feel like punishment, this guide will help you discover how to harness movement’s built-in rewards to create sustainable, joyful fitness habits.

The Tell by Amy Griffin—Book Overview and Takeaways

A young woman reading a book while sitting in a chair by a lamp

Can psychedelic therapy unlock buried memories of childhood trauma? According to venture capitalist Amy Griffin, the answer is a resounding yes. In her acclaimed 2025 memoir The Tell, Griffin details how MDMA-assisted therapy helped her recover repressed memories of sexual abuse by a trusted teacher during middle school. Her story offers a compelling case study of memory recovery through psychedelic intervention, though it also enters contentious scientific territory where experts debate the reliability of drug-induced recollections and the very existence of repressed memories. Her memoir, which landed on Oprah’s Book Club list and earned her a spot on Time Magazine’s

Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step

A sketch of a man with eyeglasses and a beard looking up with a thoughtful expression illustrates lateral thinking

What if the key to breakthrough thinking lies in doing the opposite of what we usually do? Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step introduces a revolutionary approach to problem-solving that challenges our conventional thought patterns. Instead of following predictable logical sequences, lateral thinking encourages us to explore unexpected connections, embrace temporary confusion, and generate multiple possibilities before settling on solutions. Continue reading to get an overview of this groundbreaking book and discover how shifting your mental approach can give you access to creative insights you never knew were possible.

Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood: Book Overview

A hand reaching for a phone or a book, trying to kick their bad habits for good habits

Have you ever wondered why your best intentions crumble? The answer isn’t a lack of willpower—it’s a misunderstanding of how your brain actually works. According to psychologist Wendy Wood’s research, roughly 43% of your daily actions are automatic habits. This means that no amount of willpower can directly override these deeply embedded behaviors. Wood’s insights in her book Good Habits, Bad Habits reveal that successful habit change requires working with your brain’s natural systems rather than fighting against them. By understanding the three key elements that create habits—context cues, repetition, and rewards—you can redesign your environment and behaviors to make

Habits of a Happy Brain: Book Overview (Loretta Breuning)

A happy woman smiling outside

How does the brain create that sweet feeling of happiness? Why is happiness defined as a survival mechanism? Loretta Breuning says that by understanding how your brain achieves happiness, you can rewire it to build positive, sustainable happiness habits. In Habits of a Happy Brain, Breuning discusses the brain chemistry of happiness, how harmful happiness-seeking patterns develop, and her methods for building and maintaining healthier happiness habits. Read more in our Habits of a Happy Brain book overview.