The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you fall for people’s lies? How can tell when someone is lying? Patrick King says that one of the main reasons people want to learn to read others is to detect when they’re being lied to. Nobody wants to be tricked, and a person who can detect lies has an advantage when negotiating or otherwise interacting with people. Discover how to detect lies, no matter how big they are.
How long does it take to become good at something? How much practice does it take? It takes about ten years of intentional practice to become excellent at something, but you can become better at something right away. In fact, any amount of practice is beneficial. Read for more on why practice can have such an immediate impact and how long you need to stick with something to become great.
What’s wrong with focusing on goals? Are you comfortable with established ways of doing things? John C. Maxwell argues that leaders must make an active effort to grow and improve instead of just treating growth as a natural result of their experiences. You can do this by pursuing growth instead of achievement and by innovating instead of sticking to tradition. Keep reading for Maxwell’s advice on leading with a growth mindset.
To find long-lasting happiness, what should you actually do? What changes should you make in your life? Psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky asserts that positive thoughts and behaviors are the happiness factors you can control. She says that you can encourage this positivity by practicing happiness activities across three life areas: mental and physical health, relationships, and purpose. Read more to learn nine of Sonja Lyubomirsky’s happiness activities from her book The How of Happiness.
How can you develop your weaknesses into strengths? What does it take to strengthen your skills? Improving weaknesses and developing strengths requires not only seeing where you’re doing well but also being able to self-criticize and find weak points that you can develop into strengths. You can do this with a simple four-step process. Learn how to walk through this process and get better at anything.
Is it possible to control how happy you are? Can you override or offset your genetics? According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, 40% of your happiness is within your control. She identifies the factors that contribute to happiness and explains how to harness the one factor that will yield to your influence. Keep reading to discover how to control happiness with Lyubomirsky’s strategies.
What’s the importance of happiness? How can happiness change the world for the better? Tal Ben-Shahar believes happiness is a worthy cause that everyone should prioritize. Not only does it measure the quality of life, but it can also reshape society. Find out how effective happiness is in your personal life and the world.
Do your team members feel like you understand and care about where they’re coming from? Are they comfortable sharing their own ideas, or do they feel pressure to conform? In Leadershift, John C. Maxwell discusses simple but significant management changes you can make to help your team operate at its highest level. Maxwell writes that leaders must: 1) understand instead of command, and 2) encourage diversity instead of uniformity. Read more to learn how to get the best out of your team by putting Maxwell’s principles to work.
How much do our circumstances influence our happiness? How is happiness like a muscle? How important are gratitude and forgiveness? Psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky says that happiness is more than just a positive state of mind. It’s a state of being that enhances your health, strengthens your relationships, and fuels both your creativity and productivity. Keep reading for several Sonja Lyubomirsky quotes from The How of Happiness.
What’s your calling in life? Is there a job that would be fulfilling for you? Most of us will spend the majority of our lives working, and, according to Tal Ben-Shahar, work is essential for happiness. The challenge lies in finding or creating work that brings both pleasure and meaning. Discover how to find your calling in life.