Emotions and the Brain: The Vital Role of the Right Hemisphere

Emotions and the Brain: The Vital Role of the Right Hemisphere

How can a brain injury impact someone’s ability to process and express emotion? How does looking at different types of art affect the brain? Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist argues that the right hemisphere is more important than the left—and that a failure to recognize this threatens to rob our lives of meaning and happiness. One reason why he believes this is that the right hemisphere is primarily responsible for processing and expressing emotions. Continue reading to learn about McGilchrist’s important research into emotions and the brain.

How to Initiate a Conversation by Leveraging Small Talk

How to Initiate a Conversation by Leveraging Small Talk

Do you avoid making the first move to talk with someone? If so, what opportunities are you missing? Social interaction specialist Patrick King argues that the oft-dreaded small talk is actually the best way to start a conversation that eventually can go in any direction and to any depth. He shares practical tips for approaching and engaging someone effectively and comfortably. Continue reading to learn how to initiate a conversation and make a good first impression in the process.

How to Develop a Plot That Satisfies the Readers’ Expectations

How to Develop a Plot That Satisfies the Readers’ Expectations

How’s a story’s plot different from what your story is about? How can understanding how the brain works help you create a compelling plot? Lisa Cron explains the formula that the human brain expects to encounter in a story. Then, she shows how you as a writer can employ that formula. She provides tips on how to develop a plot—exploring elements such as conflict, cause and effect, hooking the reader, suspense and reveals, and pacing. Continue reading to learn how to develop a plot that satisfies the expectations of your readers.

How to Live Off Your Investments: Let Your Money Do the Work

How to Live Off Your Investments: Let Your Money Do the Work

Would you like to work less and enjoy life more? How can you put your money to work for you instead of the other way around? In Early Retirement Extreme, Jacob Lund Fisker teaches you how to invest your savings and become financially self-sufficient for life. He shares two tips: Educate yourself on investing strategy, and pick investments based on the work you prefer. Read on to learn how to live off your investments and start enjoying the early retirement lifestyle.

Simon Sinek Book Club Exercises to Discuss & Put Into Practice

Simon Sinek Book Club Exercises to Discuss & Put Into Practice

Have you read Simon Sinek’s books? Are you looking for discussion questions to use individually or with a group? Author Simon Sinek gives us a lot to talk about and act upon. We’ve put together several exercises based on the content in four of Sinek’s books. The exercises include questions that will help you discuss and implement each book’s ideas. Continue reading for Simon Sinek book club questions that will allow you to get even more out of Sinek’s books.

Reasoning in the Brain: The Surprising Role of the Right Brain

Reasoning in the Brain: The Surprising Role of the Right Brain

Is reasoning in the brain strictly a function of the left hemisphere? What accounts for “aha!” moments? Iain McGilchrist thinks that pop psychology puts an unwarranted emphasis on the left brain, arguing that the right brain plays a vital role in many functions. One of these is reasoning, typically associated only with the left hemisphere. Read more to learn what contribution the right hemisphere makes to our reasoning.

How to Get Past Small Talk: 3 Tips From a Social Interaction Expert

difficult conversation

Do you ever get stuck in the shallow pool of small talk? Would you like to learn how to take conversations into deeper territory? Small talk is an excellent way to start a conversation. But, if it stays there, the conversation can feel shallow and pointless. Social interaction specialist Patrick King shares some practical tips for transitioning from small talk to meaningful conversation. Read more to learn how to get past small talk and make the most of your interactions.

The Origin of Eukaryotes: Beyond Bacteria and Archaea

The Origin of Eukaryotes: Beyond Bacteria and Archaea

How did complex life emerge? What distinguishes eukaryotic life from simpler life forms? In his quest to understand the origin of life, biochemist Nick Lane examines the transition from the simplest life forms (bacteria and archaea) to more advanced organisms (eukaryotes). He explains his research and his resulting proposal in The Vital Question. Read more to understand Lane’s ideas about the origin of eukaryotes.

How to Create Suspense in a Story: Insight From Neuroscience

How to Create Suspense in a Story: Insight From Neuroscience

Why does suspense keep people engaged in a story? Do you know how to provide useful hints without giving too much away? In Wired for Story, Lisa Cron shows writers how to create compelling narratives that satisfy our brains’ innate expectations of story. In her discussion of plot elements, she explains how suspense and reveals add excitement to a story and give readers a reason to keep reading. Read more to learn how to create suspense in a story by understanding why suspense draws people in.

The First Cells on Earth: A Biochemist Goes Back in Time

The First Cells on Earth: A Biochemist Goes Back in Time

When, where, and how did the first cells on Earth arise? How can we fill in the gaps left by the fossil record and genetics? In The Vital Question, biochemist Nick Lane explores the biochemistry of cells and speculates about how life might have developed on the very young Earth. He discusses the genetic history and what cells require. Then, he uses that information to hypothesize about the earliest cells. Continue reading to take a journey deep into prehistory—and into the ocean.