The World's Best Book Summaries
What are “first principles” in philosophy? What are some things you should keep in mind when reasoning from first principles? First principles are self-evident assumptions that ground your reasoning. For example, in deciding which career path to pursue, you might follow the first principle that upward mobility is valuable. Here are some things you should watch out for when using the first-principles method of reasoning.
How does controlled breathing help you tap into your body’s latent capabilities? What are some things you can accomplish with controlled breathing? From Tibetan monks to athletes, there are those who have found ways to use controlled breathing to alter mental states and perform seemingly miraculous feats. Among other things, controlled breathwork techniques can control body temperature, regulate the nervous system, and even alter the heartbeat. Keep reading to learn about controlled breathing practices.
How does utilitarianism define happiness? What does utilitarian happiness have to do with morality? Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that prescribes actions that maximize welfare or happiness. Utilitarians argue that happiness and pain are the only ways we can measure morality—morally good things make people happy, while morally bad things cause people pain. Keep reading to learn about the utilitarian conception of happiness and how can be measured.
Are you looking for The Unplugged Alpha quotes by Richard Cooper? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In The Unplugged Alpha, Richard Cooper argues that modern men have been taught a series of lies regarding dating and society in general. He explains how men can unplug from society’s lies and embark on the path of becoming the alpha male that women desire. Below is a selection of quotes from Richard Cooper’s The Unplugged Alpha: The No Bullsh*t Guide To Winning With Women & Life.
What causes emotional suffering? How do our thoughts perpetuate unnecessary emotional negativity? According to spiritual teacher, Byron Katie, we have no real reason to feel emotional pain, regardless of what happens to us. The real cause of emotional suffering is not what happens to us, but what we think about it. Here’s why our internal thoughts—not external experiences—lie at the root of all suffering.
What causes us to make immoral decisions that hurt other human beings? How does the human tendency to seek social approval jeopardize morality? At its heart, human nature is inherently good and moral because morality has survival value. However, we often make immoral choices because we irrationally base our decisions on what other people are doing rather than on what we think is right. Keep reading to learn about the psychology behind moral decision-making.
What is Byron Katie’s Loving What Is about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In Loving What Is, Byron Katie argues that life experiences don’t cause emotional pain, only resistant thoughts that judge experiences as somehow wrong or unwanted do. Therefore, releasing resistant thoughts allows you to accept and feel at peace with life, no matter what happens. Below is a brief overview of Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life by Byron Katie.
What is Michael Sandel’s Justice about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Justice is Michael Sandel’s exploration of the philosophical perspectives on justice and morality. To this end, Sandel examines how philosophers throughout the ages have tackled political dilemmas with ethical implications, offering his own critiques along the way. Below is a brief overview of Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael Sandel.
Why do we make bad decisions? How can you increase your chances of making the right choice? When making decisions, we are often tempted to prioritize short-term results over long-term benefits. More often than not, this leads to bad decisions in the long run because those short-term benefits come at the cost of future benefits. Here’s how the failure to think long-term results in wrong decisions you’ll regret down the road.
What is overbreathing? What are the dangers of chronic overbreathing? Many people have a problem with overbreathing—breathing a greater amount of air than necessary. Overbreathing purges carbon dioxide from the body, which short-circuits the necessary chemical exchange and starves our cells of the very oxygen they need. Keep reading to learn about the effects of overbreathing and what to do about it.