Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

The Role of Human Capital in Economic Development

What exactly is human capital? What is the role of human capital in economic development? Human capital is the sum of what makes an individual valuable and marketable (e.g. intelligence, athletic ability, education, and work experience, etc). Economies with higher levels of human capital are stronger than those with lower levels for a number of reasons: 1) it increases wealth; 2) it controls population growth, 3) it drives productivity, and 4) it explains inequality. We’ll explore each of these below.

Good Strategy, Bad Strategy: Quotes by Richard Rumelt

Are you looking for Good Strategy, Bad Strategy quotes by Richard Rumelt? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? Richard Rumelt is one of the world’s foremost thinkers on strategy, having guided organizations ranging from small, entrepreneurial start-ups to large, multinational conglomerates, as well as several governments and the U.S. Department of Defense. In Good Strategy Bad Strategy, he lays out the essential components of good strategy and the faulty thinking behind bad strategy. The following Good Strategy, Bad Strategy quotes highlight his key points.

How Not to Die: Book Overview

What is Michael Greger’s How Not to Die about? What one factor, according to the author, can help prevent and reverse most of the modern killer diseases? In his book How Not to Die, Michael Greger argues that a plant-based, whole-food diet has been scientifically shown to reduce the most common diseases leading to death. Citing thousands of references from scientific literature, Greger covers the top 15 causes of death (from heart disease to Parkinson’s) and describes how diet can reduce each cause of death. Here is a brief overview of the main points from Michael Greger’s book How Not to Die: Discover the

Esther Perel: Violent Sexual Fantasies Are Normal

Is it common to fantasize about violent sex? What do violent sexual fantasies tell us about ourselves? Sexual fantasies are a natural, healthy part of adult sexuality. And it’s not actually uncommon to fantasize about sexual aggression. Yet, we feel like there’s something wrong with us for coming up with (and enjoying) these scenarios. Here is what aggressive sexual fantasies tell us about ourselves, according to couples therapist Esther Perel.

How to Interpret Feedback: Drop Your Ego

Are you sensitive to feedback? What do you think is behind your reaction? According to communication experts Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen, how we think about and interpret feedback has a lot to do with the stories we tell ourselves. If the feedback challenges their story, people tend to become defensive or reject the insight. In this article, we’ll discuss why some people find it difficult to receive feedback, and how to interpret feedback more objectively.

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science

What is Charles Wheelan’s Naked Economics about? What are the key takeaways? In Naked Economics, bestselling author Charles Wheelan strips away the complexity from some of the most powerful theories in economics, allowing readers with little or no background in the subject to understand many of the field’s most fundamental concepts. He skips over the more technical, mathematics-based aspects of the discipline and concentrates instead on the logical pieces of how and why people behave in certain ways, how markets function, and how governments can design incentive systems that encourage healthy economies. Below is a brief overview of the key

Ryan Holiday: How to Let Go of Ego

The 25 Cognitive Biases: The Kruger Effect

What exactly is an ego? How does having an inflated ego distort your perception of yourself and others? According to Ryan Holiday, the author of Ego Is the Enemy, ego is an unhealthy belief in one’s own importance that distorts our perception of the world so that we see ourselves as central figures and see everyone else as either subservient or oppositional. Further, he argues that seeing the world this way causes a host of adverse consequences such as difficulty accomplishing things (because ego causes us to overestimate our abilities) and connecting with people. In this article, we’ll discuss Holiday’s advice

Healthy Nuts and Seeds You Should Include in Your Diet

What are the main nutrients contained in nuts and seeds? Why do nutritionists recommend eating them despite their high-calorie content? What health benefits do they provide? Nuts and seeds are both nutritional powerhouses chock full of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Many studies have shown nuts and seeds have some remarkable health properties such as the reduced risk of heart disease, lowering of blood pressure, and prevention of cancer proliferation. In their book How Not to Die, Gene Stone and Michael Greger hail healthy nuts and seeds for their disease-fighting benefits. Here are the key recommendations.

How to Recognize a Bad Strategy in Business

How does one tell a bad strategy from a good one? What are the signs that your business is operating under a misguided strategy? According to author and UCLA management professor Richard Rumelt, there are four elements that can signal a misguided strategy: 1) fluff, 2) failure to identify the challenge, 3) conflation of goals with strategy, and 4) misguided strategic objectives. The effects of bad strategy can be seen in everything from the failures of corporations to the poor performance of our educational system. Keep reading to examine four elements that can create a misguided strategy.

The Role of Attitude in Conflict Resolution

How do you approach conflict? Are you the kind of person who resolves conflicts peacefully or drags them out? Your attitude in conflictual situations plays a crucial role in the final outcomes. According to the Arbinger Institute—a leading consultant in conflict resolution, mindset change, and leadership training since 1979—a person who finds themselves in constant conflict embodies what they call a “combative mindset”—a conflict attitude characterized by self-focused viewpoints that lead them to worsen conflict instead of cooperating to resolve it. In this article, we’ll examine the combative mindset, how it makes conflict worse, and the biases that lead people