The World's Best Book Summaries
What are some of the most common logical fallacies? Why do these fallacies occur? There are two main kinds of thinking: fast and instinctive, and slow and logical. Both play important roles, but both cause logical fallacies when used in the wrong situation. Here are some of the most common logical fallacies that come from using the wrong kind of thinking.
What are some practical ways to study more efficiently? What study habits can help your brain perform better? Authors Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski explain how neurons work in your brain and how stronger synapses make it easier to recall information. Then they discuss four study habits you can use to promote neuron growth: exercising between study sessions, testing yourself with active recall, practicing spaced repetition, and getting enough sleep. Keep reading for details on how to study efficiently.
What does it mean to lead courageously? Where is the fine line between courageous and reckless leadership? Leadership requires striking a balance between action and risk management. In other words, you must find a way to rush toward your goal as ruthlessly as possible while maintaining the presence of mind to guard against careless mistakes. To do so, you need to find the right amount of courage. Here’s how to embrace courageous leadership while erring on the side of caution.
Would you like to learn more, faster? How can you make the best use of your brain’s memory capacity when you study? Your memory capacity is limited. It takes up mental space and energy. Learning How to Learn authors Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski share two study tips that help you leverage your memory capacity. Keep reading for two learning strategies for students.
What is Learning How to Learn about? Can it help you learn anything effectively? In Learning How to Learn, Barbara Oakley asserts that anyone can master any subject by applying good study techniques. You don’t have to be gifted or have natural abilities in a particular subject to excel at it. And Oakley should know: She failed math in high school, but later overcame her fear of numbers and eventually earned a doctorate degree in engineering. Keep reading to learn more about this best-selling book.
Do you ever make purchases even though you know they will put you in debt? Do you know how spending more than you earn can affect you for years to come? In his book The Millionaire Fastlane, MJ DeMarco discusses insatiable consumption, or the never-ending desire to spend money. While spending money isn’t fundamentally a bad thing, if you spend more than you earn, you are dooming yourself to a lifetime of poverty. Here’s why you should think twice before buying things you don’t need.
What is hyperbolic discounting bias? Why is the brain so prone to seeking immediate gratification? Hyperbolic discounting bias is the tendency to crave immediate gratification and the willingness to sacrifice an unreasonable amount of money, time, or effort for that immediacy. According to Rolf Dobelli, the author of The Art of Thinking Clearly, humans are hardwired to opt for immediate reward (in the past, it helped us survive), but more often than not, it inspires bad decisions, like paying a high amount to get something quicker. Keep reading to learn about hyperbolic discounting bias, why it happens, and how to
What is interleaving? How can it help you learn? Introducing variety into your studies helps you leverage your brain’s information storage processes. Interleaving is an effective way to diversify your studies. It’s basically using an assortment of problem-solving techniques rather than sticking with the same one all of the time. Keep reading to learn more about interleaving and how it can boost your learning.
What is Rolf Dobelli’s The Art of Thinking Clearly about? What logical fallacies does Dobelli explore in the book? The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli is an introduction to the most common logical biases and thinking errors. Logical fallacies affect everyone and are extremely difficult to avoid. Rolf Dobelli encourages readers to improve their decisions by learning how to recognize the fallacies and how to work around them. Below is a brief overview of the key themes.
What are cognitive errors? Why does the brain make these errors, and how can you override them? Humans have evolved to pay attention to the most memorable or flashy information that comes up, rather than the most pertinent or helpful. The more conspicuous and repeated a piece of information is, the more you’ll believe it. Although it saves the brain’s resources (it takes less time and energy to accept the flashiest information), it results in cognitive errors—faulty ways of thinking that are often inaccurate and/or irrational. Here are some of the most common cognitive errors that result from the brain’s