The World's Best Book Summaries
Is someone in your life a jerk? Do you wish you could neutralize the impact they have on you? When interaction with a jerk is inevitable, you can lessen the jerk’s power over your mental state by changing your mindset. Using cognitive reframing techniques, you can protect yourself from the negative effects of their behavior, even if you’re frequently exposed. Keep reading to learn these techniques and reduce people’s power over you.
Do you have a jerk at home or work? Is there a way to protect yourself from them, short of avoiding them altogether? According to Robert I. Sutton, sometimes distancing yourself from jerks isn’t possible; you might be forced to be around them for extended periods. When a lot of interaction with a jerk is unavoidable, you can lessen their power over your mental state by changing your mindset. Continue reading to learn how to protect yourself from toxic people.
Are you often inexplicably down or anxious? Are you eager for a solution that doesn’t involve therapy or medication? According to Dr. Julie Smith, one of the main reasons people go to therapy is to rid themselves of conditions such as low mood and anxiety. She argues that many people can resolve these matters on their own by understanding them and making certain adjustments. Continue reading to see whether self-care might be the right solution for you.
What was Barbra Streisand’s childhood like? What does she value more than anything else? What question did she ask Queen Elizabeth? We all know Barbra Streisand as a star of theater, movies, television, and music. But, before that, she was a child from a troubled family. In her memoir, she discusses her upbringing and how it affected her. She also shares her top value and how she sees herself—perceptions that are, in part, shaped by that difficult childhood. Read more to learn about Barbra Streisand’s childhood, self-perception, and what she values most.
Are there people who are making your work life miserable? Have you considered changing jobs just to get away from them? Your work time constitutes a big chunk of your life. The people you work with can make this time pleasant and productive or difficult and distracting. In The Asshole Survival Guide, Robert I. Sutton offers practical advice on how to avoid toxic coworkers or reduce your interactions with them. Read more for strategies that can vastly improve your work life.
When you suffer a loss, should you dive head-first into mourning or stoically carry on? At what point is professional help advised? In this world, grief isn’t an option. But, healthy mourning is. While you can’t avoid the pain that comes with loss, you can choose to take constructive steps to process the pain in a way that honors your loss and helps you go on with life in a healthy way. Read more for Dr. Julie Smith’s practical insights into self-care for grief.
How did Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould meet? How does she describe their marriage? What’s his side of the story? Barbra Streisand’s first husband was Elliott Gould. They met in 1962, married in 1963, separated in 1969, and divorced in 1971. She talks about their marriage and their relationship since their divorce in her memoir My Name Is Barbra. Keep reading to learn about Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould’s relationship.
Do you experience anxiety or low moods? Are you dealing with the pain of a loss? Emotions are great when they’re joy, contentment, or excitement. But, difficult emotions are a lot less fun. In Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, Dr. Julie Smith discusses how to understand and relate to your emotions and reduce the power they have over you—without reliance on medication or therapy. Keep reading to learn how to deal with difficult emotions such as low mood, anxiety, and grief.
Are toxic people making your workplace intolerable? Are you afraid that confronting them will make things worse? Just as there’s no one definition of what makes someone toxic, there’s no one way to deal with a toxic person. You must judge for yourself what strategies will be best depending on the situation and the people involved. Keep reading for some practical advice on how to deal with toxic people at work from organizational psychologist Robert I. Sutton.
What do Barbra Streisand and Joan Collins have in common? What actor and singer wrote a song about Streisand more than 20 years after they broke up? Although she’s played countless romantic leads on stage and screen, Barbra Streisand’s relationships in real life have been difficult, at least until her current marriage. She writes about her two marriages and a few other love interests in her memoir My Name Is Barbra. Read more to learn about husbands Elliott Gould and James Brolin and a couple of relationships in between these marriages.