The World's Best Book Summaries
What is human progress? Can it be defined objectively? What’s “better”? Psychologist Steven Pinker believes that humanity is on the path of progress. But, exactly what that means can be hard to pin down. He tackles the definition in his book Enlightenment Now. Keep reading to learn what human progress is, according to Pinker.
Why does anger make us behave in such uncharacteristic ways? How can you release anger in a peaceful and non-explosive way? People generally deal with anger by either suppressing it or releasing it through explosive outbursts. Of course, neither of these approaches is healthy. Angry outbursts can cause you to lash out and say things you don’t mean, while suppressed anger can cause you to behave in a passive-aggressive way. In this article, you’ll learn how to let go of anger in a constructive and non-violent way.
Want to know how to help children with anxiety? What does the research say? What should parents know? Children today are being bombarded with worries that preceding generations didn’t face. While anxiety disorders in children and teens have been on the rise for 15 years, the Covid-19 pandemic disruption exacerbated an already alarming situation. Keep reading for five things to do if you want to help children cope with an anxiety disorder.
What is the hyperactive hive mind? What causes this mindset? Cal Newport’s book A World Without Email describes the term “hyperactive hive mind workflow” (HHMW). This is where all members of an organization are in constant, frantic, and often unnecessary communication. Let’s look at the four factors that create and drive the hyperactive hive mind workflow.
What does it mean to be the “best version of yourself”? Do you feel like you’re living up to your full potential? Everybody wants to be the best version of themselves, but few people can confidently say that they are being the best they can be given their resources, talents, and circumstances. At the heart of not living up to our “best selves” is self-sabotage—making decisions that we know, if perhaps unconsciously, have the capacity to reduce our happiness and success. Here are six pieces of advice on how to become the best version of yourself.
Wondering what causes childhood anxiety? What sources of stress do today’s children face? What behavior should parents look out for? More children are grappling with mental health issues due to factors like rising gun violence and pandemic stress, made worse by earlier puberty and 24/7 access to the internet. However, there is a lack of professional resources to identify and help children suffering from anxiety. Read on for an overview of what causes childhood anxiety in today’s society and what the symptoms are.
Can happiness be measured? If so, what do the measurements tell us about the state and trajectory of happiness in the world? Steven Pinker believes that the world is getting better, and happiness is part of that. By sharing world happiness data, he shows that happiness levels are up and that the statistics on mental illness and loneliness look better than we might imagine. Read more to learn why Pinker is optimistic when it comes to world happiness.
Do you dwell on “what might have been”? Is it possible to undo the past by rewriting painful memories? Psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky sought to understand how people deal with the past. At the root of this exploration were Kahneman’s thoughts about how people avoid feelings of regret and the mental permutations they go through in order to cope with regret in the present. Continue reading to learn about Kahneman and Tversky’s simulation heuristic.
Who are Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky? What were their interests and career paths that eventually merged into a revolutionary partnership? Over the years, there have been collaborations, such as the Wright Brothers or Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, whose combined influence far exceeded what they would have achieved on their own. In psychology, Michael Lewis suggests that the quintessential duo was Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. Continue reading to learn about these two men.
Is the world getting better or worse? Why do so many people believe it’s getting worse? Steven Pinker aims to counter the widespread belief that the world is getting worse by showing data that indicates it’s actually improving. But, why do people think things are so bad if they’re not? Pinker explains that this happens for a few intersecting reasons: media slant, cognitive biases, and ingratitude. Keep reading for Pinker’s take on declinism bias.