The World's Best Book Summaries
How can dealing with rejection be a positive thing if rejection makes you feel bad? Why does rejecting some of your options make you happier? In a culture where you’re expected to be open to all new experiences, it can be difficult to learn to say “no.” However, when you learn to reject some of your options, and deal with rejection from others, you’ll actually be happier. Keep reading to learn why dealing with rejection is beneficial.
How does your environment influence your personality? What can you do to restructure your environment for success? Your environment—the people you surround yourself with, the clothes you wear, the neighborhood you live in, and the food you eat—shapes you into the person you are. If you want to become more successful, the first thing you need to do is to change your environment on all three planes: physical, social, and internal. Here is how you can recondition yourself for success by changing your environment.
What are the main causes of unhappiness? Why do you need to understand what causes unhappiness before you can be happy? In his book Flow, Csikszentmihalyi says that there are two main causes of unhappiness. First, our universe is a harsh place to live in—we have to weather disasters, diseases, lack of resources, etc… On top of that, solving challenges doesn’t eradicate them forever—something new will always come up. Here’s what Csikszentmihalyi says we need to understand about unhappiness.
What does directing attention have to do with achieving your goals? What three factors affect how you focus your attention? Your attention is the process your consciousness uses to take in and evaluate information. Achieving your goals requires directing attention towards your goals without losing focus. However, there are three main factors that affect your ability to maintain focus. Continue below to learn why attention is crucial to achieving your goals.
How can accepting death help you focus on what matters in life? What are some things people do to compensate for the fear of death? When you accept the reality of death, you will realize that time spent feeling fear, shame, and embarrassment is time wasted. Instead, you should make decisions and choose your values with the reality of death in mind. Keep reading to learn how accepting death will enhance your life.
What is psychic entropy? How can psychic entropy sabotage your goals? When you encounter information that doesn’t fit with your goals, it can cause psychic entropy or disorder. Long-term disruptions to consciousness may cause you to abandon a goal entirely. Here is more information about psychic entropy with real-life examples.
What is an iatrogenic effect? Is this the result of fragile systems? An iatrogenic effect is when harm is caused as a result of a medical treatment or intervention. Sometimes, harm is caused because of the fragile medical system, and humans’ intense need to do something in the face of suffering. Read more about the iatrogenic effect and how human intervention can cause fragility.
Can stress be good? How can experiencing stress help us grow? According to the book Antifragile, stress can be good. We benefit from stress because it helps us perfect our systems and find better ways to live and to cope. People will naturally rise to challenges and adapt. So, can stress be good? Find out the answer below.
What is antifragile mothering? How can parents help their children become more antifragile? For antifragile mothering or parenting, Taleb discusses the idea of education. Parents need to let children guide learning and think of mistakes as investments for future success. Keep reading for antifragile mothering and parenting ideas.
Why is ending a toxic relationship so difficult? What are the best tips for breaking up with someone toxic? Even when a relationship has become toxic or abusive, it can be very difficult to end it. There are many reasons for this, including shame, the rebound effect, and our innate desire for togetherness. However, ending a toxic relationship is necessary for your health. Continue below for nine tips on how to end a toxic relationship.