The World's Best Book Summaries
What do the basal ganglia do? What roles do they play when it comes to your emotions, decisions, and learning? Whether you’ve ever heard of them or not, your basal ganglia make a big difference in your life. In his book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, psychiatrist and brain health expert Daniel G. Amen explains how important this system in your brain is. Read more to learn what the basal ganglia do.
What’s true belonging? What traits are necessary to exhibit true belonging? According to Brené Brown, true belonging is the ability to express yourself honestly. It embraces the idea that being true to yourself supersedes what anyone else thinks. Keep reading to learn more about this concept.
What is the Magician archetype defined by Carl Jung? What part of the psyche is the Magician? Of the Jungian archetypes, Magician is most important for developing curiosity and a love for learning. The Magician becomes empowered by learning how to learn better. Read more to learn what makes this part of the psyche unique.
Do you experience unwarranted or excessive nervousness? Do you bite your nails or have other compulsive habits? Psychiatrist and brain health expert Daniel G. Amen argues that basal ganglia dysfunction might be to blame if you’re nervous or worried much of the time. He discusses the symptoms and shares several treatments that could calm your nerves. Keep reading to learn how to stop feeling nervous by addressing basal ganglia dysfunction.
How important is it to understand how people see things? How might you shape the way people see things? In Alchemy, Rory Sutherland discusses the importance of understanding human perception and the functions that psychological biases serve. He also explains how meaning and language are vital tools for influencing perception to a positive advantage. Read more to learn why you should stop trying to change reality and instead seek to influence others’ perceptions of reality.
What are the dangers of conformity? How do people bond through hate and dehumanization? Brené Brown claims that we tend to strive for belonging by trying to fit in. However, by doing so, we find ourselves more isolated and afraid to express ourselves authentically. Find out how this process unfolds and the risks that come with trying to conform.
Do you feel more guilty than you probably should? Do you have trouble sleeping? Is it hard for you to concentrate? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you might suffer from limbic system dysfunction. In his book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, psychiatrist and brain health expert Daniel G. Amen lays out the common symptoms and provides several recommendations to restore your system to health. Continue reading to learn about symptoms of—and repairs for—limbic system dysfunction.
What is Carl Jung’s Lover archetype, and what does it look like? What are some examples of this part of the psyche? Examples of the Lover archetype include seeking a sense of purpose, being fueled by emotion, and in imbalanced cases, hedonism. Like all parts of the psyche, balance is key to healthy expression. See what the Lover looks like in action in healthy and unhealthy examples.
In what disciplines does logic come up short? When does unreason triumph over logic? To be clear, Rory Sutherland doesn’t attack logic as a tool for scientific understanding, but he warns against using pure rationalism as the only method for guiding policy and business decisions. Humans are illogical beings, so any solution to human-centered problems must factor unreason into the equation. Continue reading to understand the limitations of logic.
Would you like to be more organized? Are you easily distracted? How can listening to Mozart help? Your prefrontal cortex oversees your executive function. If it’s not hitting on all cylinders, you could experience difficulty with focus, directions, emotions, learning, managing daily life, and more. Dr. Daniel G. Amen discusses ways to identify and address prefrontal cortex dysfunction. Read more to learn about the symptoms of—and treatments for—prefrontal cortex dysfunction.