The World's Best Book Summaries
What should you take away from Amy Cuddy’s body language advice? What type of body language should you avoid using in stressful situations? In her book Presence, Amy Cuddy recommends avoiding overtly powerful body language while interacting with others. Instead, you should adopt subtle and friendly body language that makes everyone comfortable. Discover more about body language that you should use in social situations.
Do you ever feel guilty after eating? Why do diets trigger self-judgment? Diets often cause weight gain by triggering cravings for forbidden foods. If you fail to control your weight through dieting, you’re more likely to judge and blame yourself rather than question the effectiveness of diets or the societal ideals of the perfect body. Let’s look at the root cause of feeling guilty after eating.
How do you choose between options? What is rational choice theory, and what does it have to do with the way you make decisions? Rationality by Steven Pinker is both a call to action and a how-to manual for thinking and acting more rationally. Pinker explains that economists, philosophers, and others have defined rationality using rational choice theory. Continue reading to learn what this theory is and how it applies to your everyday life.
Why are social connections especially important for people with ADHD? What are some practical things that people can do to enjoy more connection? Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell and professor of psychiatry John Ratey say that people with ADHD have a deep-seated need for interpersonal connection—in other words, for love. They recommend that people with ADHD nurture close friendships, socialize with acquaintances, and perhaps get a pet for companionship. Continue reading to learn about ADHD and socializing.
What is the relationship between resilience and well-being? How can you strengthen your resilience? Resilience is one of the few positive psychology principles that you should strengthen in order to increase personal well-being. According to Flourish by Martin E. P. Seligman, you can do so by developing several vital aspects of your life. Continue reading to learn how resilience will improve your lifestyle.
How can you gain a confident body posture? Why does technology make your posture worse? In Presence, Amy Cuddy says that you can enhance your presence by making powerful postures habitual in your daily life. Being intentional about small adjustments to your posture can build over time into drastic improvements in your confidence and ability to express yourself. Continue reading if you want to feel self-assured through your posture all the time.
What is a formal fallacy? How often do you perpetrate them? Can you detect them in the arguments of other people? According to psychologist Steven Pinker, one of the main reasons people think irrationally is that they use logic and critical thinking incorrectly. They engage in fallacious arguments that lead to irrational conclusions. Formal fallacies are one common type of fallacy that people commit. Read more to learn about a couple of common formal fallacies and the psychological bias that’s behind them.
What’s the best way to introduce more structure into your life? What physical activities help relieve psychological symptoms? Psychiatrists Edward Hallowell and John Ratey have good news: People with ADHD can adjust their lifestyles to minimize the downsides of ADHD and harness their own natural strengths. The authors recommend establishing structure, prioritizing health, and taking medication to relieve negative symptoms. Keep reading to learn about three ADHD lifestyle changes that can contribute to a fulfilling life.
How does optimism affect your physical health? Can a positive attitude protect you from illnesses? Flourish by Martin E. P. Seligman writes that optimism not only mentally makes you feel better, but it can also improve your physical health. Research shows that people with high well-being have a lower risk of premature death and are less vulnerable to diseases. Discover more about how physical health and optimism affect each other.
What is the importance of presence? How does presence strengthen your creative and communication skills? Social psychologist Amy Cuddy asserts that presence has numerous benefits. These include proactivity and taking on challenges, improving your ability to build trust, enabling you to think creatively, and increasing your resilience even when things don’t go your way. Continue reading for in-depth reasons why you’ll benefit from having presence.