Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

The Future of Democracy in the United States

What does the future hold in store for the representative government in the United States? Do you think democracy will recover or will the country inevitably slide into authoritarianism? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, there are three possible scenarios for the future of democracy in the United States: 1) recovery, 2) authoritarian takeover, and 3) worsening party polarization. In this article, we’ll explore what they believe might lie ahead for American democracy.

Ethical Wealth: Is It Good to Strive for Riches?

Is there such a thing as ethical wealth? In other words, do you think it’s moral to strive to be wealthy? Some people argue that wanting wealth and taking part in our capitalist system is immoral. According to financial educator Robert Kiyosaki, wealth is just a means to an end, the end being the freedom to do what you want with your time. While the means by which wealth is acquired can be immoral, wanting wealth in itself is not—no one can be blamed for wanting freedom. Here is why it’s good to want wealth, according to Kiyosaki.

The Peak-End Rule: What Makes a Memory

What is the peak-end rule? How does the peak-end rule determine what you remember about an experience? The peak-end rule states that when people reflect on an experience, they tend to ignore the duration of the experience. Instead, they focus on two key parts: 1) the emotional peaks—the moments of strongest positive or negative emotion, and 2) the end of the experience. Here is why the peaks always stand out in memory, blurring the rest as background.

2 Theories of Sexuality: Four-Phase and Triphasic

What does science have to say about human sexuality? What are the most notable theories of sexuality? Sex educator Emily Nagoski identifies two models that made an impact on our conceptualization of human sexual response: the four-phase model and the triphasic model. We’ll explore both of these models below.

How Democracies Die: Review and Critical Reception

Is Levitsky and Ziblatt’s book How Democracies Die worth reading? Did the success of Trump—an inexperienced outsider with possibly authoritarian instincts—suggest that democracy in the U.S. is backsliding? In How Democracies Die, authors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt set out to analyze democracy’s long-term prospects for survival in the United States. To this end, they examine the historical processes by which democratic norms and institutions came to extinction in other countries in the 20th and 21st centuries and offer a blueprint for how to save the U.S. This How Democracies Die review covers the book’s context, background, and critical reception

The Problem With Working for Money—It’s a Trap

Why Socioeconomic Status and Depression Are Linked

Why is working for money no longer secure? What are the dangers of relying on employment to generate income? According to Robert Kiyosaki, working for money is no longer a safe bet for financial security, much less financial freedom. He says that people who generate income from the work they do (employees, self-employed, and small business owners) are at a much higher risk today than they were in the past because of the economic changes that took place over the past half-century. Here is what’s wrong with working for money, according to Kiyosaki.

Goals! by Brian Tracy: Overview & Key Takeaways

What is Brian Tracy’s book Goals! about? What is the key message you can take away from the book? In his book Goals!, motivational speaker Brian Tracy shares the mindset and the steps that will help you reach your goals in the shortest amount of time. As we’ll explore, he believes that goal-setting requires changing your mindset, being clear about what you want, using visualization, and keeping track of your progress. Once you have set this foundation, you can start setting and achieving your goals. Here is a brief overview of Goals! by Brian Tracy.

Levitsky and Ziblatt: Will Democracy Survive?

Will democracy survive? What can be done to prevent America from democratic backsliding? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, American democracy is going to face strong challenges. The authors present three key factors that they believe will determine whether or not democratic norms survive in American politics: 1) the behavior of party leaders (particularly Republicans), 2) public opinion, and 3) the possibility of crises like war or terrorist attacks. We’ll discuss the implications of each below.

Robert Kiyosaki’s B Quadrant and How to Break Into It

What is the B quadrant? How does one break into Kiyosaki’s B quadrant from the E or S quadrants? According to Kiyosaki, the B quadrant (big business owner) is a far likelier path to wealth than working in the E or S quadrants because you can take advantage of other people’s time to generate wealth. Kiyosaki says you have two choices when trying to establish yourself in the B quadrant: create your own business system, or buy one that already exists. Kiyosaki offers four routes to owning your own system in the B quadrant. Here is how to break into the B

How to Commit to Your Goals: Write Them Down

Do you struggle to stick to your goals and follow through to the end? How do you commit to the goals you set for yourself? Once you have a strong conviction that you can achieve whatever you set out to do, it’s time to commit to your goals on paper. When you write down your goals, you solidify them in your mind, thereby increasing the likelihood that you’ll actually follow through with them. Here is how writing down your goals can help you increase your commitment to them and help you follow through.