The World's Best Book Summaries
What exactly is a habit? Why are habits important? A habit is an action repeated over time until it becomes automatic. Habits influence everything—from our purchasing decisions to social movements. Continue reading to learn why habits are so important and influential.
Why is the book Many Lives Many Masters controversial? Are its claims true? In 1981, the course of Dr. Brian Weiss’s career changed dramatically when one of his therapy patients, “Catherine,” suddenly recalled details of her past lives while under hypnosis. Weiss wrote about his experience with Catherine in his book Many Lives Many Masters. In the decades since the book’s publication, many have grappled with its claims. Continue reading for our Many Lives Many Masters review.
How do you set goals for ACT? How do goals relate to values? Goals are the actionable components of values in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Knowing your values isn’t sufficient for you to live a fulfilled life—you also have to take effective action, or action aligned with your values. In order to take effective action, you have to translate your values into achievable goals. In this article, you’ll learn how to translate your values into action via goal-setting and action plans.
How do advertisers manipulate customers into buying their products? How do they use cues to trigger purchasing habits in your subconscious? In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains how advertisers influence customers to buy their products by learning about and manipulating their purchasing habits. They achieve this through sales promotions, rearranging shelves, or tracking your habits online. Continue reading to learn how advertisers use the psychology of habit to sell more products.
Is Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths’ Algorithms to Live By worth reading? What is the key message to take away from the book? In their book Algorithms to Live By, Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths make the case that computer science, a field that’s typically seen as highly specialized, actually contains a wealth of practical knowledge we can use to improve our lives. The authors argue that by utilizing the same strategies as computers, we can process tasks with blinding efficiency and quickly come up with creative solutions to complex problems. Here is our review of Algorithms to Live By:
What is committed action in ACT? What does it mean to act with commitment? Committed action is the final principle in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Committed action happens when we consistently take actions that align with our values—even when we fail. This final principle will give you all the tools you need to achieve psychological flexibility, enabling you to adapt to difficult situations and take effective action to build a rich and meaningful life. Keep reading to learn about the two components of committed action: fortitude and commitment.
What is Brian Christian’s and Tom Griffith’s book Algorithms to Live By about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Algorithms to Live By is an instruction manual for life: a collection of unconventional wisdom drawn from the field of computer science. Computers and humans share many of the same problems, and the same solutions that have allowed us to optimize the field of computing may be the ticket to optimizing our own lives. Below is a brief overview of Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions.
What are values in ACT? How do values differ from goals? In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (aka ACT), values are the principles that govern how you want to act. Unlike goals, values are never accomplished. Rather, values involve continuous behavior—they guide your choices and decisions according to the kind of person you strive to be. Keep reading to learn about the ACT method for clarifying your values.
Are you looking for Algorithms to Live By quotes by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In Algorithms to Live By, bestselling author Brian Christian and cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths team up to create a library of “algorithms to live by”—a set of instructions to help you make smarter decisions, organize your life, and get the most out of your day. Here is a selection of quotes highlighting some of the key themes explored in the book.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? How can practicing ACT help you avoid falling into the “happiness trap”? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is a psychological discipline developed by Steven C. Hayes in 1982. Hayes developed ACT in the context of evolutionary psychology, which holds that our early survival instincts influence our modern brains—and that failing to recognize this connection undermines our happiness. Here is how ACT can help you stop struggling and start living, according to Russ Harriss.