The World's Best Book Summaries
What does it mean to “find yourself”? Is there such a thing as a true, immutable self? As your life unfolds, you remain the same person, yet you also change in response to your life experiences. Therefore, the journey of finding yourself is lifelong. To help you navigate this journey, we’ve compiled a roundup of the top 10 must-read books about finding yourself.
Are you a perfectionist? How does striving for perfection hinder your progress? A perfectionist mindset eats away at your self-esteem and productivity. To combat perfectionism, focus on what you are doing well and how you’re improving over time. Keep reading to learn about the dangers of perfectionism and how you can move toward overcoming perfectionist tendencies.
How do astronomers see exploding stars and black holes? How do they observe pulsars and the birth of stars? Astronomers figured out over time that various frequencies of light make it possible to observe space. The full spectrum of light allows them to study the universe in more and more ways. Keep reading for an explanation by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Would you like to be happier, calmer, and more fulfilled? What if you lived life as a Stoic? A good life could be yours. In A Guide to the Good Life, philosophy professor William B. Irvine walks you through a set of Stoic techniques that promise happiness through counterintuitive methods such as imagining losing everything you love or deliberately exposing yourself to discomfort. Read more to learn how to practice Stoicism by following six basic techniques Irvine derives from ancient philosophy. We’ve also included an exercise to help you design your own Stoic practice.
What are scientific controls? Why are they instrumental in experiments? In Bad Science, Ben Goldacre explains that scientific studies are designed to test one treatment at a time, without any influence from other factors. To do this, good researchers make use of scientific controls. Let’s go into more detail on a scientific control’s role in studies.
How did Warren Buffett get rich? What’s the secret to his success? Warren Buffett is one of the richest people in the world, but that wasn’t always the case. The Snowball by Alice Schroeder details Buffet’s childhood love of finance all the way up to when his success started taking off. Continue reading to learn how Warren Buffett got rich from investing.
Want to know how to increase your stress tolerance? How can you better cope with daily stressors and high-stress situations alike? As a former special agent in the U.S. Secret Service, Evy Poumpouras has extensive knowledge of controlling fear and dealing with stressful situations. In Becoming Bulletproof, she explains three ways she recommends you can increase stress tolerance in your daily life. Read on to learn three ways to increase your stress tolerance, according to Poumpouras.
Want to know how to save money during the holidays? How can you stop overspending on gifts? With inflation cutting into Christmas budgets and a recession possible next year, shoppers in many countries are checking their Christmas lists twice—and crossing off a few things. But rather than ruining the holiday, experts say saving money during the holidays can be good for you. Keep reading to learn how to save money during the holidays and avoid overspending.
What causes alcoholism? Is alcoholism psychological or genetic? Many people assume that alcoholism is a biological disease, but that’s simply not the case. As Holly Whitaker’s book Quit Like a Woman suggests, alcoholism can also stem from psychological factors such as trauma and mental health issues. Keep reading to learn what causes alcoholism and the first step to treating it.
How can exaggerations keep you from being happy? How can you bring your perceptions into better alignment with reality? An exaggeration is a distorted perception of reality. This distortion causes you to have unrealistic expectations. When those expectations aren’t met, you suffer. Keep reading to discover how exaggerating interferes with your happiness.