The World's Best Book Summaries
Why is it hard to make decisions? Why is it harder now than it’s ever been? The modern world overwhelms us, and this hampers our ability to make decisions. Our brains expend a lot of energy on decisions that must be made—even ones that aren’t important. That energy drain makes decision-making difficult. Read more to understand why it’s hard to make decisions, especially these days.
Does anxiety control your life? How does the 5 Second Rule regulate anxiety? In The 5 Second Rule, Mel Robbins explains that the Rule (when combined with other methods of coping) can help you calm yourself when you feel fearful and anxious. She provides a few methods for managing anxiety that are useful for anybody. Below we’ll explore the 5 Second Rule’s anxiety strategies to calm your mind.
Have you made a big mistake? How do you take accountability for your actions? We’re all human, so we make mistakes from time to time. But it’s important that we take accountability, rather than shifting the blame elsewhere. Learn how to take accountability for your actions, according to Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson’s book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me).
Are you a good listener? Or do you, like most people, listen to respond instead of to understand? Listening is one of the most important yet overlooked communication skills you can develop. Most people aren’t very good at listening because they listen with the intention to respond, not to understand. Keep reading to learn about the major psychological barriers to listening well, according to psychiatrist Mark Goulston.
How does attention work? How does your brain know what to focus on? Can you pay attention to more than one thing at a time? Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains the two modes of attention and how the brain chooses between them. He also argues that multitasking is impossible. Continue reading to learn how attention works.
What impression do you make on other people? Do you think people see you the same way you see yourself? Sometimes, our judgments about how we come off to other people are far from how they actually perceive us. When there’s a dissonance between how you see yourself and how others see you, misunderstandings can arise. Here’s how you can minimize dissonance in interactions with others.
How do you get someone to like you? What are some manipulative tactics you can use to get someone to fall for you? In his book The Art of Seduction, Robert Greene explains how to intentionally manipulate someone’s emotions to get them to like you. To that end, he provides several manipulative tactics to make someone totally fixated on wanting to be with you. With this in mind, here’s how to manipulate someone into liking you, according to Robert Greene.
Do you talk negatively to yourself? How can you silence your negative self-talk and rumination? In his book Chatter, neuroscientist and experimental psychologist Ethan Kross says that you can stop negative self-talk by engaging in rituals. Kross explains that rituals combine the benefits of multiple other strategies that also reduce negative self-talk. Let’s explore three reasons why rituals are effective at silencing negative self-talk.
How does memory work in the brain? How does recall involve risk? The brain uses associative access and the altering of memories to recall something. Together, these properties of memory reinforce Daniel Levitin’s view that keeping and processing complicated information in your head is risky. Read more to understand how memory works and why we should be cautious.
Why did Prince Harry struggle with his mental health? What did Harry do for treatment? A clear theme in Prince Harry’s book Spare is his lifelong struggle with anxiety and trauma. Though his poor mental health tinges on many of the experiences he shares in the book, he focuses specifically on the period from 2013 to 2015, when his mental health was at its worst. Continue reading for deeper insight into Prince Harry’s mental health struggles.