Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

James Nestor: Breath (Book Overview)

What is James Nestor’s Breath about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In Breath, James Nestor argues that while the power of the breath is central to many Eastern traditions, it’s been largely ignored in the Western world. Modern medicine puts little emphasis on teaching people how to breathe correctly. However, Nestor asserts that by learning how to breathe well, we’ll improve our well-being, balance our emotions, and find more energy to live the lives we want. Below is a brief overview of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor.

Maximizing Freedom: Libertarianism Philosophy Explained

What is libertarianism in philosophy? Is there a safe limit to how much freedom individuals may have? Libertarianism states that the goal of the state is to maximize personal freedom. This goal comes from the libertarian belief that people own themselves. That said, libertarians do recognize that it’s the government’s role to prevent people from limiting the freedom of others. Keep reading to learn about the key tenets of libertarian philosophy.

Jumping to Conclusions: The Psychology of Biased Thinking

Do you jump to conclusions? Why do we have a tendency to form conclusions before giving ourselves a chance to think things through? We tend to jump to conclusions about people and situations before we have all of the facts about them. While jumping to conclusions allows us to make quick decisions, it’s not always ideal. In psychology, jumping to conclusions is considered a cognitive bias. Learn about the psychology of the human tendency to jump to conclusions.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Decision-Making 101

What is a cost-benefit analysis? How does the cost-benefit method compare to the pro-con method of decision-making? Cost-benefit analysis is a decision-making strategy intended to weigh the costs of a decision or choice against its benefits. Unlike pro-con lists, a cost-benefit analysis lists the cumulative costs that a decision will incur alongside its cumulative benefits. It thus quantifies the consequences of your decision. Here’s how to use cost-benefit analysis to analyze your decisions.

Richard Cooper: Reasons Not to Get Married—Ever!

Is it a good idea to get married and tie your life with one person in the 21st century? What are some reasons not to get married? In his book The Unplugged Alpha, Richard Cooper strongly advises men against ever getting married. As Cooper points out, even if you do get married, you’re likely to get divorced. Here’s why you should steer clear of marriage, according to Cooper.

Why the Pro-Con List Is a Flawed Decision-Making Tool

Three Keys to Making Better Decisions in Life

What is the purpose of a pro-con list? Why is it a bad idea to base your decisions on the simplistic pro-con analysis? The pro-con list is a decision-making strategy where you sort the advantages and disadvantages of a decision in parallel columns. The pro-con list is probably the most common decision-making tool, but it’s also the most flawed one. Here is a look at the disadvantages of pro-con decision-making.

How to Reframe Your Thoughts for More Positivity

Is it possible to control your thoughts? What can you do to prevent negative thoughts from taking root in your mind? Your thoughts shape your reality. Thinking negative thoughts sends you down the spiral of further negativity. However, you have some control over what you think. No matter how dire your circumstances are, you can reframe your thoughts by exploring different interpretations of the situation. With this in mind, here’s how to reframe your thoughts for more positivity.

How to Breathe Better: 3 Expert Tips

How to Visualize the Life You Want to Have in 3 Steps

Do you breathe correctly? What’s the best way to breathe from a health perspective? Most of us don’t know how to breathe properly. As a result, we unnecessarily tax our respiratory systems and suffer from avoidable breathing problems, such as chronic congestion, fatigue, and infections. Here are some tips on how to breathe better.

What Is Utilitarianism Moral Philosophy?

What is utilitarianism in philosophy? How do utilitarians define morality? Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy arguing that the morality of an action or choice depends on how much happiness or pain it creates. “Happiness” to utilitarians (which they call “utility”) means pleasure and the fulfillment of desires, while a lack of happiness means pain or deprivation of desires. Keep reading to learn about the key tenets of utilitarianism philosophy and how they apply to real-life political issues.

Logical Decision-Making: Why Are We So Bad at It?

Why do we make decisions that contradict basic logic? What are some examples of illogical decision-making? One of the most common reasons we fail at logical decision-making is that we mistake correlation for causation. If two variables are correlated, it doesn’t mean one caused the other. In fact, causation is less likely. Here’s how mistaking correlation for causation results in misguided, irrational decisions.