The World's Best Book Summaries
What is good versus evil? Is morality relative or fixed? Good and evil are common topics found in religion, ethics, psychology, philosophy, and more. To many, good and evil define what is right and wrong in the world. But it can be hard to determine what exactly tips the scale of morality. We’ll explore the good versus evil debate below by examining their definitions and how someone becomes good or evil.
What’s the relationship between a flow state and brain waves? How do your brain waves change when you enter a flow state? According to Steven Kotler’s book The Rise of Superman, in a flow state, the brain waves you produce temporarily change, allowing you to perform at your best. He specifically describes five of the brain waves that are positively affected by entering a flow state. Read on to learn more about how achieving a flow state affects brain waves, according to Kotler.
Why are neurotransmitters important? How do they impact our abilities and daily lives? In The Rise of Superman, journalist Steven Kotler explains how athletes are able to perform seemingly superhuman feats—it all comes down to mastering flow, or a state of deep focus, he says. He further explains why neurotransmitters are important for achieving this state of flow and boosting performance. Read on to learn why neurotransmitters are important for brain performance, according to Kotler.
Did you know you can take magic mushrooms for depression? What are the benefits of using psychedelics for treating mental illness? Are there risks? For years, people have been using psychedelics to treat mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. If you think this treatment might be right for you or a loved one, check out Merlin Sheldrake’s book Entangled Life, which provides important information about using magic mushrooms for depression. Below we’ll look at the benefits of psychedelic treatment for mental illness as well as the risks.
How do you access higher levels of consciousness? What states of consciousness are the human brain capable of? In our day-to-day waking lives, we experience a very limited spectrum of consciousness in the context of what is possible. The human brain is capable of accessing states of consciousness that you wouldn’t even imagine are possible unless you experience them first-hand. Here’s a look at the methods for breaking free of the bounds of ordinary, everyday awareness and traversing into the higher planes of consciousness.
Want to know how to get your brain to focus? What is a flow state? How can it help you achieve deeper focus? According to Steven Kotler, if you want to learn how to get your brain to focus, the secret is to master a state of flow. He claims that entering a flow state allows you to achieve your most ambitious goals, and in his book The Rise of Superman, he provides four methods for achieving the flow state. Read on to learn how to get your brain to focus, according to Kotler’s four methods.
Do you tend to give a preference to the information you hear first? Do you give more weight to the ideas of people you like? Gathering information is the first step in the critical thinking process. However, you should exercise caution. Some information has baggage—biases that distort reality. Keep reading to learn about four common types of biases that can get in the way of the truth.
What are the most important emotional intelligence skills in the workplace? Why is emotional intelligence important at work? According to the authors of The School of Life, there are two common issues in the workplace that can be best dealt with by using emotional intelligence skills. By learning these two skills, you can feel more emotionally secure and satisfied in the work you do. Read on to discover which two emotional intelligence skills will serve you best in the workplace, according to the authors.
What are the common uses of fungi in daily life? How do fungi help anxiety and the environment? The role of fungi expands far wider than supporting plants, soil, and the cycle of life. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake says that fungi could solve pressing problems in everyday life if we spent more time and resources studying fungi. Here we’ll focus on fungi’s potential to address two of these problems: mental illness and environmental destruction.
Do you feel like you’re living in denial? Why do people deny what they know deep down is true? Denial is a psychological coping mechanism for protecting yourself from pain or discomfort. While being in denial about something can help you numb the negative feelings that will result from facing the truth about a situation (or yourself), it can be dangerous in the long term. Keep reading to understand the psychology of denial, why living in denial is harmful, and how to overcome it and face the truth.