The World's Best Book Summaries
Are you an illusion? In what way does Sam Harris believe you are? According to Sam Harris, the self isn’t real. In his book Waking Up, Harris argues that consciousness and feelings of individual selfhood are two separate aspects of experience. While consciousness is real, your sense of self is an illusion. Read more to understand Harris’s argument and how he arrives at this belief.
Why are you so susceptible to interference and distractions? What are activities that help improve cognitive skills? Technology and information overload cause interference in the brain because of cognitive control limitations. The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen claims that this interference can be improved with certain activities that help brain function. Keep reading to learn how to improve cognitive skills.
Is your mind always “on”? How often does it get a chance to rest and repair? How can you invite such opportunities? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols explains that water—looking at it, being near it, and being in it—reduces stress and allows the mind to heal. He discusses the theory of directed attention fatigue and shows how water can give your mind a break and a chance to rejuvenate. Keep reading to learn how to rest your mind by engaging with water.
Why do humans have stress responses? When do these responses cross the line from being helpful to being harmful? What impact does chronic stress have on our minds and bodies? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols advocates the Blue Mind state—a serene experience that we sometimes have when we’re around water. The opposite is the Red Mind state, and he explains what happens when we’re in that state on an ongoing basis. Read more to learn about the effects of chronic stress.
Why do so many women suffer from imposter syndrome? What even is imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome is the feeling of being undeserving of your success, despite working hard to achieve it. Women commonly suffer from this and experience burnout and anxiety as a result, according to Rachel Rodgers in We Should All Be Millionaires. Continue reading to find out how to overcome imposter syndrome as a woman.
Should you trust your intuition? How well has it worked for you in the past? Tim Ferriss’s Tribe of Mentors contains life advice from experts in a wide variety of fields. The book also presents an alternative to taking others’ advice: trusting your intuition. But, even that choice comes with considerations, as some say that it’s vital to continually challenge your intuitive assumptions. Read on to explore the universally relevant matter of trusting your intuition.
Do you need help retaining or recalling information? What are the best memory improvement tips that will keep your mind as sharp as ever? If you’re always using the excuse, “My memory isn’t what it used to be,” just know that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of tips and tricks to keep your memory in tip-top shape. Whether you want to memorize your credit card information or remember your doctor’s appointment, these memory improvement tips will help you out.
Do you get distracted easily? How can you become more resistant to interference? The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen has potential remedies for the detrimental effects of interference. Although there are no foolproof cures, Gazzaley and Rosen contend that we can minimize our susceptibility to interference by taking steps to improve our cognitive control and minimize potential sources of interference. Check out how to not get distracted and stay on track.
Why do humans find water appealing? How does it engage our senses? Humans are attracted to the way water looks, feels, and sounds. Wallace J. Nichols calls this the Blue Mind effect. He lays out the multifaceted appeal of water in his book Blue Mind, explaining that our attraction to water goes beyond our need to survive. Read on to learn about the fascinating phenomenon of the Blue Mind effect.
Do you blindly adopt or reject advice? What’s the best way to make the most of counsel? When Tim Ferriss wanted some advice, he sent the same list of 11 questions to scores of experts, promising to put his favorite responses into a book. The result is Tribe of Mentors. The book starts with a topic that might influence how you read the rest of it: how to take advice from others and even yourself. Keep reading for some insights on how to interpret and apply advice.