The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you use fitness apps regularly? Are fitness apps worth it? Fitness tracking apps help you identify, quantify, and measure your progress toward goals in various areas of your life. Trying to reach goals isn’t inherently harmful, but Adam Alter argues that the culture around goal-setting is toxic for three reasons. Continue reading to learn what these three reasons are.
What are different mindbody syndrome symptoms? Can high blood pressure be caused by a psychological condition? The Divided Mind by John E. Sarno consists of a series of essays by other doctors about their experiences with mindbody disorders. This includes learning about their symptoms, treating them, and in some cases, recovering from such disorders themselves. Let’s look at real-life stories of mindbody syndrome to get a sense of the different kinds of symptoms patients experience.
What’s a pseudo-connection? Why is it a danger to your mental health? As humans, we care about what other people think of us because, evolutionarily speaking, their support improves our chances of survival. Adam Alter suggests that much modern technology, from social media to video games, appeals to this aspect of the human psyche because it champions pseudo-connections. Discover more about pseudo-connections and the harm they’re causing to our lives.
What’s How to Know a Person by David Brooks about? How can we rebuild connections as human beings? In How to Know a Person, New York Times columnist David Brooks argues that our ability to truly understand and connect with others is in crisis. Brooks contends that by rediscovering the lost art of “knowing” people, we can bridge divides, foster empathy, and rebuild our moral character. Read below for a brief How to Know a Person book overview.
Is stress the leading psychological cause of hypertension? How can resolving emotions help patients with high blood pressure? It’s a common belief that stress causes high blood pressure, but Samuel J. Mann doesn’t think that’s the case. In fact, he says repressed emotions are the culprit at play here. Read below to learn more about what Mann believes is the true psychological cause of high blood pressure.
Is mental energy just as important as physical energy? How can you keep yourself invigorated throughout the day? How much energy you have depends on both your body and your mind, and how you care for them. Simon Alexander Ong says you can raise and maintain your personal energy by treating your body well, feeding your mind, and letting your energy levels recharge. Keep reading to learn how to maintain energy, both physically and mentally.
What is motivated perception? Why is it perceived as a sign of addiction? Adam Alter explains that both gambling experiences and immersive technologies present a deceptively superior alternative to reality. Gamblers can easily fall victim to motivated perception, a psychological phenomenon where intense desire primes your brain to interpret the world in a way that aligns with your desires. Read more to learn how motivated perception deceives you to believe reality is different than what it truly is.
Do know someone who feels lonely and unseen? What does it mean to know someone? David Brooks says that many of us feel unacknowledged, unseen, and unloved. But he argues that we feel this way because we’ve lost the skill of getting to know one another deeply—and making each other feel known. Below, we’ll look at how you can make other people feel appreciated and acknowledged.
What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? How is ADHD diagnosed? For many people, struggling with commitments and time management rises to the level of a clinical condition that significantly impairs how they live. That’s precisely what ADHD is—a neurological condition that inhibits how your brain processes information, regulates emotions, and predicts the consequences of your actions. Let’s discuss how ADHD is defined, where it comes from, and how it’s diagnosed.
What’s Energize by Simon Alexander Ong about? What are the benefits of harnessing your energy? Our personal energy is a force that affects every aspect of our lives. It’s also infectious, influencing other people’s moods and behaviors. In Energize, Simon Alexander Ong suggests that harnessing your energy is the key to achieving your most ambitious goals. Read below for a brief overview of Energize.