The World's Best Book Summaries
Do negative patterns and habits have control of your life? How should you manifest your desires? Some desires are difficult to accept, especially if there’s a stigma around them. But, Carolyn Elliott’s book Existential Kink says that you should consciously enjoy them to regain agency in your life. Continue reading to learn how to manifest your desires.
Do you ever confuse correlation with causation? How can you accurately determine the cause of something? In Rationality, Steven Pinker examines why people make irrational decisions. Often, people run into problems when considering causation and correlation. He explains how to avoid the trap of linking them when they’re not connected and offers some tips on how to determine actual causes. Continue reading to understand why correlation doesn’t equal causation.
How does empathy impact the way you view others in relation to yourself? What are the two different types of empathy? According to psychologist Paul Bloom, empathy is “the act of coming to experience the world as you think someone else does.” He makes an important distinction between two kinds of empathy: emotional empathy and cognitive empathy. Keep reading to learn about this perspective on empathy.
How does meditation tap into your unconscious mind? How can you use meditation for manifesting desires that you have? Carolyn Elliott explains that meditation is the primary method of employing what she calls “existential kink” to manifest your desires. Her book Existential Kink describes a six-step process for meditation, and we’ve condensed it into four steps. Let’s look at Elliott’s practice of meditation for manifesting desires.
What does “tragedy of the commons” mean? How do you participate in it, and how does it affect you? In his book Rationality, Steven Pinker explores why people make irrational decisions. He discusses game theory, which seeks to explain how rational thinking can go out the window when an individual’s needs are in competition with others’ needs. The tragedy of the commons is an example of this. Keep reading to learn about this fascinating—and sometimes devastating—dynamic.
What is an abundance mentality? How can you combat a scarcity mindset? The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership says that you must adopt a mindset of abundance if you want to be the best leader for your organization. In other words, believe that there are enough external resources (jobs, money, and so on) to make everyone happy. Discover how to embrace an abundance mentality below.
How can empathy get in the way of treating others well? What truly motivates us to care for people? In Against Empathy, psychologist Paul Bloom asserts that we don’t have to empathize with someone to treat them kindly. In fact, we often shouldn’t empathize. He discusses several other emotions and desires that should be at work instead. Read more to learn how to be kind to others—without employing empathy.
What’s the difference between the conscious and unconscious mind? Can they be united? Your conscious mind comprises the feelings, thoughts, and memories that you’re aware of. Your unconscious mind is everything that you’re currently unaware of. Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott says that, to become a whole being, you need to unite both the conscious and unconscious mind. Keep reading to learn how to be in touch with your whole self and take control of your life.
When is it rational to act irrationally? How might irrational thinking devastate an entire community? Steven Pinker examines how people make rational decisions as part of a group. He discusses game theory, which looks at how rational thinking is affected when the needs of an individual are pitted against the needs of others. In this context, he explains the zero-sum game, the volunteer’s dilemma, and the tragedy of the commons. Continue reading to understand rationality in game theory with examples from Pinker.
What causes cruelty? What role does empathy play? Does empathy have a dark side that we must avoid? There’s a common perception that cruelty is rooted in a lack of empathy. However, psychologist Paul Bloom argues that the real culprit is misused or misplaced empathy. He believes that empathy can motivate us to behave in ways that are unjust, irrational, violent, and cruel. Keep reading to understand Bloom’s argument that violence and cruelty don’t result from a lack of empathy.