How to Avoid Motivated Reasoning: Tips From Leonard Mlodinow

A woman looking up with colorful fiery swirls around her head illustrates how to avoid motivated reasoning

Is your mind playing tricks on you without your awareness? Why do we cling to beliefs despite contradicting evidence? In Subliminal, Leonard Mlodinow reveals how our unconscious mind shapes our judgments before conscious analysis begins. He explains motivated reasoning—our tendency to process information in ways that support existing beliefs—and offers practical strategies to overcome this natural bias. Keep reading to discover how to avoid motivated reasoning and make more objective decisions in everyday life.

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord by Daniel J. Levitin: Overview

A woman reading a book in front of a fireplace while wearing headphones

What effects does music have on the brain? How can music be used as a form of medicine? In I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, award-winning neuroscientist and musician Daniel J. Levitin discusses music’s history and potential as a form of medicine. Drawing from scientific research, he demonstrates how music therapy can effectively treat conditions ranging from Parkinson’s to chronic pain. Continue reading for a fascinating deep dive into the neuroscience of music.

How to Be Insightful: Cultivating Ground for New Ideas to Sprout

A light bulb growing out of the ground illustrates how to be insightful

Can insights be cultivated through deliberate practice? What specific paths lead to those “aha” moments that change everything? In Seeing What Others Don’t, Gary Klein reveals that insights aren’t random strokes of genius but natural outcomes of staying curious and open-minded. He outlines distinct ways to become more insightful, sharing practical methods anyone can use to create conditions where insights flourish. Keep reading to discover how to be insightful through simple mindset shifts and systematic practices that will transform the way you solve problems and generate new ideas.

How to Use Your Unconscious Mind: 5 Practical Tips + Exercise

A woman smiling and pointing toward her head with both hands illustrates how to use your unconscious mind

What hidden forces shape our decisions without our awareness? How can we harness the power of our unconscious mind rather than being controlled by it? Leonard Mlodinow reveals how our unconscious mind constantly processes information beneath our awareness. Learning how to use your unconscious mind effectively means recognizing gut feelings, questioning automatic judgments, and developing greater self-awareness of these hidden processes. Keep reading to discover practical strategies that will help you work with your unconscious mind rather than against it.

Music and Memory: How It Can Improve Cognitive Decline

An old record player on a table near a window because music is good for memory decline

What effects can music have on those with cognitive decline? Why is music processed differently than other memories? According to Daniel J. Levitin in I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, music and memory are closely linked. This is because the brain processes music memories differently than typical memories. Here’s why music can be helpful for those with cognitive decline, such as dementia.

Examples of Insights: How Some People Saw What Others Didn’t

A cartoon depiction of Isaac Newton under the apple tree illustrates examples of insights

What patterns do breakthrough thinkers notice that others miss? How do some people make connections that revolutionize entire fields of knowledge? In his book, Seeing What Others Don’t, Gary Klein explores what causes breakthroughs in thinking. His research reveals fascinating examples of insights in science, medicine, engineering, architecture, literature, and more. Keep reading to discover how these examples of insight demonstrate what sets breakthrough thinking apart.

Internet Distractions: Why Is Going Online So Addictive?

A woman looking at a computer screen, pulled in by internet distractions

Why are internet distractions so alluring? How are algorithms created to keep us distracted? In Attention Span, Gloria Mark says we wouldn’t be drawn to electronic distractions if not for the internet. Digital connectivity makes more information readily available than ever before, but this comes with some unanticipated costs. Keep reading to learn how the internet plays a big part in our subconscious psychological desire to lose focus.

How Consciousness and Language Are Intertwined (Julian Jaynes)

A person with a thought bubble with the word "ideas" over their head depicts the link between consciousness and language

What role did language play in the emergence of human consciousness? How did metaphorical thinking transform our ancestors’ cognitive abilities? Julian Jaynes proposes that consciousness developed not through biological evolution but through cultural changes driven by language. He argues that consciousness and language are deeply intertwined, with metaphors allowing humans to express abstract concepts and develop self-awareness. Read on to explore Jaynes’s theory about how our minds evolved from hearing divine voices to developing rich inner lives.

Sigmund Freud & the Unconscious Mind: Did He Get It Right?

A photograph of Sigmund Freud by Max Halberstadt illustrates Sigmund Freud's unconscious mind theories

How much of your thinking happens without your awareness? What invisible forces might be guiding your decisions and perceptions right now? The human brain processes information in ways that largely escape our conscious notice. Science writer Leonard Mlodinow explains how modern neuroscience has confirmed Sigmund Freud’s core insight that unconscious processes shape our experiences and behaviors. Keep reading to learn about Sigmund Freud’s unconscious mind theories and the developments scientists have made since Freud.

How Does Music Work in the Brain? (Daniel J. Levitin)

Musical notes around a brain, showing how music works

When you listen to music, what happens in your brain? What’s the difference between focused listening and experiential fusion? In his book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, neuroscientist and musician Daniel J. Levitin explains how the human brain experiences music. He details why two people experience music differently and why everyone has different tastes. Continue reading to understand how music works in the brain.