The World's Best Book Summaries
What is Stoicism’s adversity methodology? How do the Stoics handle adversity? In The Stoic Challenge, William B. Irvine explains the Stoics’ core strategy of treating adversities as tests of character. He details how to make use of two psychological phenomena to change your relationship to hardship. Let’s look at what the Stoics said about adversity.
Are you stuck in a rut? What are Adam Alter’s recommendations for pushing through the barriers of life? As anyone who feels like they’ve hit a wall knows, the hard part is picking yourself up and pushing on. Alter says that, when you feel like progress has ground to a halt, there are a variety of ways to kickstart it again. Check out how to get out of a slump with Alter’s recommendations.
Why should you embrace adversity? How can you expose yourself to unpredictable adversities? William B. Irvine recommends you prepare for real-world setbacks by confronting unpredictable adversities. If they come along, you have the chance to practice handling the situations as a Stoic would. Learn how to prepare for the worst by embracing it.
What are the two methods of Stoic training? What do these methods prepare you for? In The Stoic Challenge, William B. Irvine discusses two methods of training you can use to practice the Stoic strategy. Both training methods help you develop resolve and resourcefulness. Continue reading if you want to practice these methods yourself to become a modern-day Stoic.
Do you know how to cope with failure? What can you learn from failure? Handling obstacles poorly and not persevering through difficult times will set you up for failure, not success. However, certain types of “failure” that we’ve learned to stigmatize are actually crucial stepping stones along your path. Below, Adam Alter suggests some new ways to approach failure.
Are you feeling stuck in your life and career? What are the mental barriers you must overcome to reach success? A problem you’ll probably face in life is hitting a wall, whether it’s in your career, an important relationship, or a creative endeavor. Adam Alter breaks down some common characteristics of this experience, from the inevitable slowdowns in the middle of long-term projects to the traps that can sabotage progress. Let’s look at the factors that are keeping you stuck in a mental hole.
What’s Anatomy of a Breakthrough about? Do you have writer’s block or feel stuck in your personal life? We’ve all felt trapped at some point in our lives when our motivation falters and all our hard work grinds to a halt. In Anatomy of a Breakthrough, Adam Alter proposes a range of solutions that might help you find your way out of the woods. Read below for an overview of Adam Alter’s Anatomy of a Breakthrough.
Do you get distracted easily? Do you want to move closer to achieving your goals? Distractions are one of the top reasons why you’re never accomplishing your goals. Luckily, Benjamin Hardy has great advice for staying on top of your objectives. Check out his advice on how to focus on your goals and avoid distractions.
Do you feel like you’ve given everything you have at work? What are the three types of burnout? Ali Abdaal says that burnout sets in when work stops feeling good and starts to feel tedious, meaningless, or overwhelming instead. This means that your work is harming your emotional well-being instead of boosting it. Let’s go over the three types of burnout and how to overcome them.
Do you experience both anxiety and procrastination? Did you know they might be closely related to each other? Ali Abdaal says that people tend to put off doing things—even things they want to do—when they’re worried about what the outcome might be. For example, people are often hesitant about starting a new hobby because they’re worried about looking foolish in front of more experienced hobbyists. Check out how anxiety can turn into procrastination.