The World's Best Book Summaries
Are you a perfectionist? How does striving for perfection hinder your progress? A perfectionist mindset eats away at your self-esteem and productivity. To combat perfectionism, focus on what you are doing well and how you’re improving over time. Keep reading to learn about the dangers of perfectionism and how you can move toward overcoming perfectionist tendencies.
Would you like to be happier, calmer, and more fulfilled? What if you lived life as a Stoic? A good life could be yours. In A Guide to the Good Life, philosophy professor William B. Irvine walks you through a set of Stoic techniques that promise happiness through counterintuitive methods such as imagining losing everything you love or deliberately exposing yourself to discomfort. Read more to learn how to practice Stoicism by following six basic techniques Irvine derives from ancient philosophy. We’ve also included an exercise to help you design your own Stoic practice.
Want to know how to increase your stress tolerance? How can you better cope with daily stressors and high-stress situations alike? As a former special agent in the U.S. Secret Service, Evy Poumpouras has extensive knowledge of controlling fear and dealing with stressful situations. In Becoming Bulletproof, she explains three ways she recommends you can increase stress tolerance in your daily life. Read on to learn three ways to increase your stress tolerance, according to Poumpouras.
What causes alcoholism? Is alcoholism psychological or genetic? Many people assume that alcoholism is a biological disease, but that’s simply not the case. As Holly Whitaker’s book Quit Like a Woman suggests, alcoholism can also stem from psychological factors such as trauma and mental health issues. Keep reading to learn what causes alcoholism and the first step to treating it.
What does it mean to be in alignment with yourself? How can you tell if you’re misaligned? How does misalignment impact your happiness? Martha Beck argues that misalignment with your true self is the source of most—if not all—chronic psychological misery in our lives. It’s very hard to find happiness if you’re not connecting and listening to your personal nature—the part of yourself that knows what would make you happy. Keep reading to understand Beck’s theory about happiness and see whether you might find joy by following her advice.
How do you maintain healthy habits? What are the main reasons people fall off track with new habits? Once you’ve formed a new habit, you may feel like the hard part is over. However, you should still be aware of factors that might tempt you to break your habit. When you recognize your personal set of challenges to your good habits, you can better address them as they appear. Here are some common circumstances that make maintaining healthy habits difficult.
What do you want out of life? What should you pursue—and how should you pursue it? These days, many people chase after fame or fortune in an effort to find joy and peace. Philosophy professor William B. Irvine issues a warning for this way of thinking and recommends that Stoicism is a better path to true happiness. Read more to learn about the benefits of Stoicism and see how this ancient philosophy can help you successfully navigate life.
What is the importance of self-care in recovery? Why should you be kind to yourself when working toward sobriety? In Quit Like a Woman, Holly Whitaker argues that one of the most important facets of your recovery journey is to learn to be kind to yourself to heal your inner wounds. Only when you’re gentle and forgiving with yourself will you be able to stop suffering permanently. Let’s look at several aspects of practicing self-care in recovery.
Looking for an overview of Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Poumpouras? What’s her advice for becoming a more resilient person? In Becoming Bulletproof, former Secret Service agent Evy Poumpouras helps you become a stronger, more resilient person. Through her time in the U.S. Secret Service, Poumpouras learned how to conquer her fears and overcome difficult physical and mental challenges. Read on for an overview of Becoming Bulletproof—Evy Poumpouras’s book on dealing effectively with fear.
What role should emotions play in decision-making? How can you mitigate their influence? In Solve for Happy, Mo Gawdat argues that emotional decision-making is dangerous. He recommends that you put your reason in the driver’s seat, and he shares advice on how you can keep your emotions from getting in the way of your decisions. Continue reading to learn Gawdat’s argument and recommendations.