The World's Best Book Summaries
What exactly are habits? How are habits formed and why are they so difficult to break? In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains why and how the brain creates habits in order to save mental energy. He details every step of habit formation, from the first time you consciously choose to take any action to how to rewire your brain to replace bad habits. Keep reading to learn how habits are formed in the brain and why they are so difficult to break.
Can you close sales without being pushy? What is the non-close close? Closing the sale is the last step in the sales process. In The Sales Bible, Jeffrey Gitomer discusses four strategies to help prospective customers make the decision to buy. Keep reading to learn how to close the sale.
What are some of the most illuminating quotes from the book Many Lives Many Masters? What succinctly captures the main points and themes? In 1981, the course of Dr. Brian Weiss’s career changed dramatically when one of his therapy patients, “Catherine,” suddenly recalled details of her past lives while under hypnosis. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, Many Lives Many Masters is a fascinating account of an experience that changed the lives of both Weiss and his patients. Continue on to read some of the best Many Lives Many Masters quotes and their context.
Do you tend to overthink things when it’s time to take action towards your goals? How do you get over this action paralysis? When faced with the need for action, we too often procrastinate and make excuses. But consistently putting in the effort is how you build the momentum necessary to reach your goals, and momentum is more important than anything else. If you don’t take action to achieve your goals, your risk becoming soft and complacent. Here is why it’s important to take consistent action towards your goals and never stop moving forward.
What is compassion in Buddhism? How do you cultivate compassion? In Buddhism, compassion—the desire to free others from suffering—is one of the highest virtues you can cultivate. According to the Dalai Lama, the best way to cultivate compassion is to develop empathy—the ability to understand others’ pain as if it was your own. Here’s what His Holiness the Dalai Lama has to say about cultivating the virtue of compassion.
Do you think your company would do well with a decentralized organizational structure? What conditions must your company meet for this structure to be successful? A decentralized organizational structure removes most rules and controls and gives employees the autonomy to act without approval. In the wrong hands, this system is risky and possibly costly. But, under the right conditions, this system can promote accountability and innovation. Here’s how to successfully decentralize power, using Netflix as an example.
How do you chart a blue ocean strategy graph? How do you determine whether your product is unique enough to classify as a “blue ocean”? Kim and Mauborgne present a graphic tool to help you visualize how your product (and the strategy behind it) differs from others in the market. If your curve has a completely different shape from other curves, this implies a unique combination of value, consistent with the blue ocean strategy. Here is how to use the blue ocean strategy chart to gauge where your business stands against competitors.
How do you make a decision when everything is uncertain? Is there a way to predict the most likely outcome of a decision? One of the biggest obstacles preventing us from making good decisions is our inability to reliably predict the future. For example, it’s easy to decide whether or not to quit your job if you know you’ll get a raise within the next three months. As it is, the uncertain world prevents us from making decisions with confidence. Here is how to make good decisions in the face of uncertainty.
Do you want to know how to create a new habit? Why are rewards so crucial in making new habits stick? In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg says that the key to creating new habits is to put a reward system in place. You need your brain to crave that reward, otherwise, the habit won’t stick. Here’s how to create new habits, according to Charles Duhigg.
What is the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler’s book The Art of Happiness about? What’s the key message to take away from the book? The Art of Happiness presents the Dalai Lama’s Buddhist approach to achieving greater happiness in life. Happiness, he says, isn’t something that happens to lucky people and eludes the unlucky: It’s something you can—and should—actively work to increase in your life. Here’s our review of The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler.