The World's Best Book Summaries
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.
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.
What is mimetic desire? Where did the theory originate? What are some examples of mimetic desire? In Wanting, Luke Burgis explores the ideas of René Girard, an academic whose theory of “mimetic desire” seeks to explain where our desires originate. According to Girard’s theory, we don’t form our own desires—rather, we imitate what other people want or have. Read on to learn more about what mimetic desire is, its origins, and examples in our daily lives.
Are you looking for The Brain That Changes Itself quotes by Norman Doidge? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge explains that the brain is plastic, meaning it can change its own structure and connections in response to stimuli. His book conveys complex ideas in a way that a layperson can understand and illustrates them through stories of real people whose lives have improved thanks to the power of neuroplasticity. Below is a selection of passages with explanations.
Do you consider yourself a good judge of character? How reliable are our social judgements? When we judge other people, we inadvertently but inevitably do that through the lens of personal biases. This results in generalizations and inaccurate judgments about people that can cause us to overlook the true reasons for their behavior. Keep reading to learn how to be a good judge of character.
How do you make someone obsessed with you? What are some psychological tactics you can use to make all their attention fixated on you alone? According to Robert Greene, the author of The Art of Seduction, the key to making someone invested in you to the point of obsession is to create a hook. You create a hook by crafting an illusion that you’ll lure the target into. With this in mind, here’s how to make someone obsessed with you, according to Robert Greene.
How is attention like a muscle? How is it like a camera? Daniel Goleman argues that attention is a complex and underappreciated cognitive resource in our modern society overrun with distractions. He shares three characteristics of attention: it’s indivisible, it’s like a muscle, and it’s like a camera. Keep reading to learn what Goleman means and to understand attention better.
Do you struggle with negative self-talk? How can you stop talking negatively to yourself? Negative self-talk or inner voice can severely affect your self-esteem and close you off from the joys life has to offer. This can, in turn, reinforce your negative state, pulling you further and further into the rabbit hole of negative thinking. Psychologist Ethan Kross explains how to quiet your negative inner voice by redirecting your attention.
How should you deal with our modern influx of information? Are there efficient ways to keep, process, and use information? Your brain can handle only so much. To compensate for this limitation, neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin recommends that you create systems to categorize information and store it outside of your brain. That frees up your brain to be more creative and productive. Here’s Levitin’s advice on how to deal with information overload.