The World's Best Book Summaries
How was Apple influenced by Steve Jobs’s innovation? What set Jobs apart from other entrepreneurs? The book Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson details how Jobs became so successful with Apple. Isaacson says that one of these reasons is because Jobs relied on innovation to create something fresh and exciting. Let’s look at how innovative thinking can get things done.
Do you need to know how to ace tests? What is the key to getting a good grade on a test? If you want to get the highest grade possible on a test, you’ll have to study for it. Having a consistent study schedule is essential for taking a test—especially if it’s a big part of your grade. Check out Cal Newport’s tips for acing tests from his book How to Become a Straight-A Student.
How are culture and depression connected? Which cultural influences predispose you to depression? According to Martin Seligman’s studies in psychology, modern culture has primed you to be at risk of developing depression. Seligman advocates for overcoming cultural pessimism and embracing optimism while keeping a balanced (realist) perspective. Read on to learn why culture and depression are so closely connected, according to Seligman.
Should the United States adopt nuclear power as a source of sustainable energy? What are the pros of nuclear energy? Nuclear energy is getting renewed attention worldwide as a potential answer to two pressing problems: energy supply disruption by Russia and worsening climate change from fossil fuels. But it remains an especially divisive topic in the United States. Let’s take a closer look at the pros of nuclear power.
Are you responsible for your own feelings? What is the scientific explanation of biology and emotions? Neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett created the new “theory of constructed emotions” after an in-depth examination of past psychological experiments. Barrett’s findings reveal that you are responsible for your own feelings because emotions are not innate—they’re constructed by you. Read on to learn why you are responsible for your own feelings, according to Barrett’s theory of emotions.
What is confirmation bias? How does confirmation bias skew your decision-making? Confirmation bias is the psychological term for our tendency to search for and favor information that underscores our existing beliefs. In decision-making, confirmation bias causes us to ignore information that supports our non-preferred options, even if those options are better. Here are some strategies for overcoming the pull of confirmation bias in decision-making.
What does psychological research say about innate emotions? Why are innate emotions now considered to be an outdated concept? Where do your emotions actually come from? In her book, How Emotions Are Made, Lisa Feldman Barrett analyzes and critiques outdated concepts of human emotions, developing a new theory based on neuroscience and her background in psychology. Barrett’s research shows that innate emotions are an outdated illusion of past experiments. Read on to learn why innate emotions don’t exist and where emotions actually come from, according to Barrett.
What are the disadvantages of entering new markets? Why is it so hard to design a new market? As great as its benefits are, market design is difficult for three reasons. However, the book Play Bigger suggests that overcoming these disadvantages is worth it for your company in the long-run Let’s look at why entering the new market has its disadvantages.
Do your perfectionist tendencies cause you to procrastinate? How does perfectionism prevent you from getting things done? Sometimes we procrastinate because we’re worried about what can go wrong with a task or project. This happens especially when we demand perfection from ourselves. But perfectionism only exacerbates procrastination by making you more stressed. Here’s how perfectionism drives procrastination and what to do about it.
Does everyone have trauma from childhood? How can suppressed emotions from your childhood affect your adult relationships? The source of your suffering may lie hidden in your unconscious, where traumas from your past—and your family’s past—are stopping you from being truly happy and free. Childhood trauma can reverberate throughout your entire life, preventing you from forming healthy relationships in adulthood. Surviving childhood trauma is a lifelong journey, but some deep traumas may never heal fully. Keep reading to learn about the roots of childhood trauma, how it manifests itself in adulthood, and the steps you can take towards healing.