The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you experience adversity often? Do your strategies for overcoming adversities fail? William B. Irvine says that the Stoics perceived adversity not as a setback, but as a training ground, an opportunity for growth. We’ll explain Irvine’s take on adversity—what it is, how we typically respond to it, and why those responses don’t work. Let’s look at how people typically handle adversity in life, and why it doesn’t work.
Do people respond negatively when you ask them to do something? Could it be because you’ve made them feel like you’re looking down on them? Perhaps you’re a parent trying to get your teenager to respect curfew, or you’re a manager pressing your employees to meet a deadline. George Thompson offers some tips on how to get people to cooperate without making them feel small. Keep reading for Thompson’s advice on how to stop being condescending when you’re communicating with others.
What are Mo Gawdat’s “programming” tips for more happiness? How can you make your brain process information better? In That Little Voice in Your Head‘s section on happiness, Mo Gawdat discusses four tips to help your brain process and respond to information in ways that lead to happiness. By thinking of your brain as a malfunctioning computer, you can logically reprogram it to be happier. Read below for Mo Gawdat’s tips for programming your brain for unlimited happiness.
What is Verbal Judo? Why should you practice it? George Thompson contends that, by using a form of “tactical communication” inspired by the Japanese martial art of judo, you can resolve stressful confrontations without losing your cool. Verbal Judo involves directing the other person’s energy toward a solution that makes everyone feel understood. Read more to learn what Verbal Judo is and how it can improve your communication and relationships.
What goals are you trying to achieve? Does your life keep getting in the way of achieving them? When you’re stuck in a rut, nothing but action will get you out—so long as that action is well-considered and productive after taking a pause to review your best options. Continually taking action toward your goal turns progress into a habit that makes future slowdowns easier to avoid. Find out how to take action on your goals with these tactics.
What is the misinformation effect? What happens when your brain takes in inaccurate information? One grave error that can cause your brain to misfire is if you feed it inaccurate information. If you want your brain to produce happiness, you must ensure that you’re feeding it the proper information to produce that result. Keep reading to learn more about how the misinformation effect works in the brain.
Do you feel uneasy stepping outside your boundaries? How can you expand your comfort zone? To use adversity as an opportunity to grow, William B. Irvine recommends that you undergo training that expands your comfort zone. It might sound scary to look for uncomfortable situations, but it’s necessary to experience delight in a wide range of situations. Discover how to expand your comfort zone below.
Is it possible for both sides to win in a negotiation? How can you discover your opponent’s ceiling? Can you make a negotiation pleasant? In You Can Negotiate Anything, Herb Cohen teaches you how to conduct the most productive kind of negotiation possible: one where both sides win. You’ll also learn how to win at competitive negotiation and the secrets to a favorable deal. Read below for a brief overview of You Can Negotiate Anything.
Are you thinking of doing something different with your life? How might you experiment with new goals and ambitions? Despite all your efforts to keep moving forward, sometimes your plans simply don’t work out and you discover that a goal isn’t as achievable as you’d originally thought. Adam Alter argues that, rather than throwing your hands up and quitting, you might need a change in direction. If you’re facing failure, here are ways you can change direction in life.
Do you know how to face difficulties in life? How would a Stoic approach failure and death? William B. Irvine says there are three key areas of life where you can apply Stoic strategies for overcoming adversity. Namely, he discusses how to approach failure, falls from high places, and death as a Stoic would. Here are the three difficult areas of life where you need to embrace your inner Stoic.