The World's Best Book Summaries
What does Robert Greene mean by anti-seduction? What qualities does Greene describe as anti-seductive? As the name suggests, anti-seduction is the opposite of seduction—it’s behavior that people find repellent or off-putting. In other words, anti-seduction is being what people call a “turn-off.” Keep reading to learn about the major qualities of anti-seducers, according to Robert Greene.
What’s open awareness? What is it good for? Does it have a downside? When your brain isn’t using selective attention—choosing where you direct your attention—it’s using open awareness. This is a passive, rather than deliberate, state of attention. Continue reading to learn more about open awareness, including its benefits and drawbacks.
When you’re making medical decisions, what do you consider? How do you evaluate your options? Medical decisions are some of the most important decisions you make. Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin argues that you shouldn’t try to intuit such decisions because your brain just isn’t good at it. He recommends using a fourfold table to analyze the information you’re working with. Continue reading to learn how to use this process for informed decision-making in healthcare.
Is your mind overwhelmed by negativity? How can you stop negative self-talk and train yourself to think more positively? According to neuroscientist and psychologist Ethan Kross, we can’t stop negative self-talk completely, but we can quiet it and therefore reduce its power over us. In his book Chatter, he shares five research-based strategies for challenging negative self-talk. Here’s how we can prevent our negative self-talk from interfering with our success, happiness, and health.
What are some myths about abuse? Is domestic abuse intentional or are abusers victims as well? Domestic abuse is a serious issue that many people don’t know they’re a victim of. In Why Does He Do That?, Lundy Bancroft dispels common misconceptions about abuse that people should be aware of. Continue reading to learn the myths people believe about domestic abuse and why they’re not real.
What is neuroplasticity and how does it work? What processes drive neuroplastic change within the brain? In simple terms, neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to rewire itself. Your brain is your processing center, and your brain’s structure and processes can change based on external or internal triggers to improve your brain’s performance and efficiency. Keep reading to learn about the concept of neuroplasticity, how it works, and how it came about.
What is the center point of the human connection? What do all humans have in common? In Self-Compassion, Kristin Neff says that engaging in self-compassion means being aware that the pain you feel is the same pain others feel during hard times. Recognizing suffering as a connection point bonds you to all human beings. Keep reading to learn what connects human beings on a grounded level.
Do you often find yourself lost in thought, falling down the rabbit hole of past memories? Are you stuck in the past? The more you’re stuck in the past, the more you carry pain from your past moments into your present. Too much focus on the past creates guilt, regret, resentment, sadness, bitterness, and unforgiveness. Here’s how to free yourself from the burden of the past so you can turn the page and move forward with your life.
What is a culture of fear like at work? What are the problems with leading with fear? In The Fearless Organization, Amy C. Edmondson says that, despite the clear benefits of psychologically safe workplaces, many companies don’t install them. Instead, they continue to take a fear-based tactic that comes with two key problems. Continue reading to learn the problems with a culture of fear in the workplace.
What does it mean to “listen to understand”? How do you suppress the tendency to come up with a reply, and instead, channel your energy to really understand what someone is saying? As a popular adage goes, we should listen to understand, not to respond. However, most of us do the opposite: Instead of attempting to really understand the deeper meaning behind words, we try to come up with a response. With this in mind, here’s how to listen to understand, according to psychiatrist Mark Goulston.