The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the primary mythological archetypes? What do they have in common? What do they represent? The characters in our most primal myths represent the three broadest elements of human existence—the known world, the unknown, and the process of discovery. Jordan Peterson explores these characters in his book Maps of Meaning. Keep reading for an introduction to these archetypes and how they each represent a different facet of the world.
What are creation myths? Is there any truth to them? How do they function in society and in the human psyche? Two general storylines crop up all over the world. One is the creation myth, which, according to Jordan Peterson, provides the underlying basis for society. In Maps of Meaning, he explains why creation stories pervade and persist. Continue reading to learn about creation myths and what they provide us.
What is the Hero archetype in mythology? What does it tell us about human behavior? Jordan Peterson contends that the human capacity for learning, discovery, and exploration is embodied as the mythical Son—the Hero of the story. Like all mythical archetypes, however, the Son has a dark side. Continue reading to learn about these two aspects of the Son in myth.
Why is it important to learn to let go? How can you put the pains of the past behind you? We all carry things that weigh us down—grudges, blame, painful memories, emotional burdens, or attachments to the things that are no more. The inability to let go of the things that don’t serve us traps us in a state of stagnation and prevents us from turning the page and moving on with our lives. If this sounds like you, check out our roundup of the best books about letting go and moving on.
What’s the purpose of affirmations? How can repeating affirmations help you rewire your thinking? Repeating affirmations is a great tool to envision your ideal reality and motivate you to take action to achieve it. With regular practice, repeating positive affirmations for success can make a tremendous difference in your life by reinforcing more positive and effective ways of thinking. Here’s how repeating affirmations can help you reprogram your mind for success along with some examples of affirmations you can use for your practice.
What does the Mother archetype represent? How old are goddess-based religions? The Dragon, the Mother, the Father, and the Son are the characters in our most primal myths. They represent the broadest elements of human existence. One key aspect of these characters is that each has creative and destructive potential. Let’s take a look at the Mother archetype to understand what it represents and how it’s been reflected in society through the ages.
Are you being true to your authentic self? What does it mean to “live authentically”? Living authentically means being true to yourself no matter what. Embracing authenticity isn’t always the safe option when it comes to pleasing others. However, the negative consequences of living inauthentically are much more severe than the criticism you may face for being authentic. With this in mind, here’s why it’s important to be authentic and how you can work towards authenticity.
Do you feel like you’re drifting through life without any higher purpose or direction? How do you find meaning and purpose in a Universe that’s meaningless by design? Finding your purpose is crucial to living a fulfilled and meaningful life. If you have no purpose in life, you’ll feel empty, confused, and directionless, which can give rise to a host of psychological problems such as depression, addiction, and sensation-seeking, to name a few. Here’s why you need a sense of purpose and how you can find yours.
Are we made from stardust? What do people mean when they say that? In his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the process of the Big Bang and what followed. Our bodies contain water, made up of hydrogen atoms that were created by the Big Bang. The Big Bang, however, didn’t create the other elements. That’s where stars come in. Keep reading to learn about the link between human beings and stars, according to Tyson.
Why do some people believe that we are immortal? Should this remove any fear of death? Citing the double-slit experiment, the Big Bang theory, and the theory of relativity, Mo Gawdat argues that death isn’t the end of us. Thus, we shouldn’t let a fear of death interfere with our happiness. Continue reading for a discussion of Gawdat’s ideas about death.