The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you want to know how to become a good person? How can you avoid being evil? In The Lucifer Effect, psychologist Philip Zimbardo says that certain circumstances and institutions contribute to human evil. He argues that anybody could commit the worst evil imaginable if they found themselves in the wrong situation. Learn how to become a good person with Zimbardo’s helpful tips.
What is the Pareto rule? How does applying the 80/20 rule help you increase your productivity and happiness? The Pareto 80/20 rule states that 80% of your outcomes result from just 20% of the effort you put in. According to Richard Koch, this principle is at work in every aspect of your life, including your career and relationships. Let’s examine what the Pareto 80/20 rule is and why it matters.
What’s the connection between environment and behavior? Can environment override genetic influences? There’s no doubt that genes determine much of your personality and behavior. However, external influences—including how we’re raised, where we are at a given moment, and what’s happening around us—are even more important in determining how we act. Keep reading to learn how environment shapes human behavior, according to Sapolsky.
Do you struggle to stick to your trading rules because emotions get in the way? Are you haphazardly buying and selling without a trading plan in place? Trading your hard-earned money is an emotional rollercoaster. Therefore, it’s important to exercise self-discipline and keep your emotions at bay. According to author and trading consultant Mark Douglas, this requires that you simultaneously do two things: redirect negative thoughts and emotions, and execute the system you’ve established. Here’s how to develop discipline in trading, according to Douglas.
What is emotional trauma? How does trauma differ from distress? According to Oprah Winfrey and renowned psychiatrist Bruce D. Perry in their book What Happened to You?, there’s a difference between trauma and distress. The authors explain that trauma is made up of two factors: the stress response and the lasting impact. Continue reading for a discussion on emotional trauma and how it affects the brain.
How does self-esteem affect mental health? What are some things you can do to improve your self-esteem? In modern times, most of us believe that improving our self-esteem is essential to our psychological health. According to psychotherapist and self-esteem expert Nathaniel Branden, low self-esteem is the underlying reason behind many psychological issues. He posits that there are six pillars of self-esteem: Live with Awareness, Accept Yourself, Take Responsibility, Assert Yourself, Live Intentionally, and Act with Integrity. Here’s how you can improve your own self-esteem by practicing the 6 pillars of self-esteem.
Why is emotional competence so important? How can emotional competence help mitigate the effects of stress? According to Dr. Gabor Maté, the author of When the Body Says No, chronic stress can lead to a number of physical ailments. It has even been linked to cancer. He explains that developing emotional competence is the key to counteracting the negative effects of chronic stress on the body. Here’s how to develop emotional competence to keep your mind and body healthy.
What are the dangers of having blind obedience to authority? What experiments demonstrate authoritative pressure? Authoritative pressure is when an individual or group in power bids you to do something. In The Lucifer Effect, Philip Zimbardo asserts that it’s far more likely that we will commit evil if we’re “just following orders.” Continue reading to learn more about blind obedience to authority figures.
What is the Triune brain? What are the three levels of the brain, according to the Triune theory? In the Triune brain model, the brain is divided into three levels: the neocortex, the limbic system, and the reptilian complex. According to this model, each level is self-contained in the sense that it doesn’t interact with the other two. In reality, the whole brain is interconnected, so this model should be taken metaphorically, not literally. Keep reading to learn about the three levels of the brain, according to the Triune brain theory.
How does trauma affect the brain of a child? Can childhood trauma impact brain development? Childhood trauma can have serious detrimental effects on the developing brain. If you think of the brain as a growing city, imagine trying to build structures on top of a damaged foundation. Eventually, the foundation may crack. Here’s how trauma affects the developing brain.