The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s the key to being your best self? How can you use an alter ego to be more confident and successful? An alter ego is a science-backed tool that lets you adopt the traits, behaviors, and demeanor of a person who excels in a particular realm of your life. In The Alter Ego Effect, Todd Herman gives a step-by-step guide to bringing out your alter ego so you can live to your fullest potential. Continue reading to learn how to be your best self.
Where is your soul on its journey toward enlightenment? How can you further your soul’s evolution? In his book The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav argues that the purpose of the soul is to evolve. This isn’t always easy, and he offers ideas on how to encourage the soul’s journey toward its goal of enlightenment. He explains how to develop your heart knowledge and seek authentic power. He also discusses how spiritual psychology could help all of us in this evolution. Keep reading for Zukav’s insights on the soul’s journey.
Does free will exist? Do you believe that your behavior is the manifestation of fate or free will? Most people believe their behavior and decisions stem from their conscious choice. The idea of free will is an attractive one, but some scientists maintain that it is an illusion. Here’s why free does not exist, according to Behave author Robert Sapolsky.
What is the function of the amygdala? What behavior does the amygdala govern? The amygdala is a little almond-shaped structure located in the brain’s medial temporal lobe. Its main function is to respond to threats, whether real or perceived. The amygdala activates very fast, often overriding logic and rationality. Here’s a look at the amygdala’s function and the psychology behind its workings.
What is Robert Sapolsky’s Behave about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Understanding people is crucial to disciplines and careers ranging from psychology to sales. While there are countless books about how to relate to people—and sometimes how to manipulate them—few try to get to the core of human behavior in the same way that Sapolsky’s Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst does. Below is a brief overview of the key themes.
What are the main causes of stress? What is the difference between acute and chronic stress? According to Dr. Gabor Maté, stress is the body’s response to a threat. There are two kinds of stress: acute and chronic stress, which have different triggers and effects on the body. Keep reading to learn about the causes of stress.
Do you know what your boss is thinking and feeling? Do your teammates really trust each other? Never underestimate the impact other people have on your life in general and your career in particular. You must have social know-how to get ahead in your field. This requires seeing people as they truly are, which can be difficult when people try to hide their true selves. You need to learn how to read a person—a skill that’s helpful in professional and personal life. Here’s why reading people is important and how to do it better.
What is the connection between evolution and behavior? What are some examples of human behaviors that have survival value? Our brains work the way they do because of evolution: Ancestors who behaved in certain ways were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on the genes that caused them to behave in those ways. So now, many generations later, those genes still survive in us and influence our behavior. Let’s examine the key categories of human behavior that are the product of evolution.
Why is the connection of mind and body important in the medical field? Why does modern medicine separate mind from body? The Western medicine treats the mind and the body as separate domains (mind-body dualism). According to Dr. Gabor Maté, the author of When the Body Says No, this mindset is holding modern medicine back because the mind can cause disease to the body. Here’s why the mind-body connection shouldn’t be overlooked when diagnosing and treating illness.
What is the kin selection theory? Why do we feel compelled to protect our family members at all costs? Kin selection is a term in evolutionary biology that means potentially sacrificing your own welfare or reproductive success in favor of your relatives’. For example, risking your life by fighting off a home intruder to protect your family. It evolved because, by definition, your relatives share many of your genes, so keeping them alive helps pass those genes on. Keep reading to learn about the psychology behind kin selection.