The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the sunk cost effect? Why do we keep following through on projects that stop paying off? The sunk cost effect is a general tendency to continue on an endeavor once considerable resources have been invested into it—even when the costs start to outweigh the benefits. It’s human nature to respond this way—the more you invest, the harder it is to pull the plug on a commitment. Keep reading to learn about the sunk cost effect.
Do you often find yourself spending time on unproductive activities that add neither value nor enjoyment? How do you stop wasting time and start getting things done? Studies show that most people waste more valuable work time in a day than they realize. This time is wasted dealing with the various distractions thrown their way while they’re trying to work. To stop wasting time, you must learn to say “no” to distractions and “yes” to active focus. Keep reading for tips on how to stop wasting time and start getting things done.
What does getting out of your comfort zone mean? Why is this so important? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains that discomfort is relative. He says that learning to live with discomfort and getting out of your comfort zone will improve your life. Read more about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and getting out of your comfort zone.
What is the 90 percent rule of decision-making? How can it help you filter through the available options and make a decision faster? The 90 percent rule is a simple yet ruthless technique for making decisions. It involves identifying the most important criterion for deciding, rating each available option between 0 and 100 percent on that criterion, and then rejecting any option that rates lower than 90 percent. Read about the 90 percent rule of decision-making and how to implement it.
What is a mental representation? Why is creating a mental representation the key to reaching peak performance? Mental representations are templates that correspond to objects, ideas, or anything else that the brain might be thinking about. The key to peak performance is developing efficient and effective mental representations. Keep reading to learn more about mental representations and how you can use them to improve performance in almost any area of expertise.
What is The 12 Week Year book about? How do the authors challenge the annualized goal-setting approach? What alternative do they propose? In The 12 Week Year, the book’s authors challenge the conventional approach to goal setting and execution that is based on annualized thinking—where execution plans are aimed at attaining yearly results. Further, they propose an alternative approach that is based on the principle of periodization— achieving yearly results within a three-month timeframe. Keep reading to understand the premise behind Brian Moran and Michael Lennington’s book The 12 Week Year.
What is digital minimalism? How can practicing digital minimalism increase your deep work? Deep work and digital minimalism go hand-in-hand. Digital minimalism is Cal Newport’s term for cutting back on screen time and optimizing you internet usage. This allows you to minimize your distractions and increase your focus at work. Keep reading for advice on how to practice digital minimalism.
What does finding your path mean? How does Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance explain how to find your path? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, finding your path means evaluating your life and what’s ahead to find your own logical path forward. Pirsig uses a journey up a mountain to help explain his views on this concept. Read more about finding your path in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
What is your purpose in life? Have you already decided on what you want to accomplish in your lifetime? Why is finding your purpose important? A surprising number of people can’t answer the question of what their purpose is. Many don’t have the slightest idea of where they see themselves in the next five years. But finding your purpose in life is not rocket science. All you need to do is ask yourself these two questions: 1) what’s the one thing I want to be the absolute best at? and 2) what will success look like? Read about the importance
What is deliberate practice? Is there such a thing as innate talent or is talent a product of deliberate practice? Deliberate practice is about building your potential and making possible what was once impossible. So, what is deliberate practice, exactly? It is a slow, iterative process that involves precise measurement, competition, templates, coaches, and extreme effort. There are no big leaps or breakthroughs, just hard work. Continue on to learn more about “what is deliberate practice,” and how you can use deliberate practice methods to improve any skill.