The World's Best Book Summaries
How can you change your personality? Is personality change even possible? According to psychologist Benjamin Hardy, personality change is not easy, but it’s possible—contrary to what most people believe. The first step, he says, is to envision and decide who you want to become. Next, you must structure your life in accordance with that vision. With this in mind, here’s how to change your personality, according to Hardy.
What are the best quotes from I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)? What do these quotes tell us about shame’s influence on us? In I Thought It Was Just Me, Brené Brown discusses one of the most taboo topics of our culture: shame. She explains that shame is similar to embarrassment and triggers feelings of fear, blame, and disconnection. Check out these I Thought It Was Just Me quotes to get a better understanding of Brown’s take on shame.
What is the purpose of myth? How can we use it as a model for life? What’s so dangerous about ideologies? In the age of science, we’ve turned our backs on the myths our ancestors believed. In doing so, we’ve lost a crucial part of the human experience. Myth gives us the moral foundations of society and the tools for adapting to life’s challenges—and it teaches us to recognize our capacity for good and evil. Continue reading to learn how, beneath its fanciful trappings, myth gives us meaning.
Do you find debates on social media edifying and worthwhile? Do you recommend them to everyone? Want to have one right now? If you answered “No” to the above questions, you’re not alone. Engaging in debates on social media platforms can be painful, and they often feel like a waste of time or worse—you fail to change anyone’s mind, and you end up hating life just a smidge. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Keep reading to learn three benefits of debates on social media and four tips for getting the most out of them.
What is the Hero’s Journey? What stages does the Hero go through? What does the Journey mean in a psychological sense? Along with the Creation Myth, the Hero’s Journey crops up all over the world. Jordan Peterson examines the story’s common outline and how the story serves as a tool for interpreting the world and our actions. Continue reading to understand this fundamental story that permeates all of mythology.
Where does shame come from? How can you understand what shame is? Understanding shame is the first step in acknowledging it and overcoming it. According to Brené Brown in I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t), taking control of shame means identifying what causes it in the first place. Put shame in the past by acknowledging it with these steps.
What are the primary mythological archetypes? What do they have in common? What do they represent? The characters in our most primal myths represent the three broadest elements of human existence—the known world, the unknown, and the process of discovery. Jordan Peterson explores these characters in his book Maps of Meaning. Keep reading for an introduction to these archetypes and how they each represent a different facet of the world.
How can you overcome shame? How does society encourage shaming? In I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t), Brené Brown says that certain societal standards unfairly shame people for things beyond their control. To combat this, Brown recommends developing critical awareness of shame. Learn how to overcome shame with critical awareness below.
What are creation myths? Is there any truth to them? How do they function in society and in the human psyche? Two general storylines crop up all over the world. One is the creation myth, which, according to Jordan Peterson, provides the underlying basis for society. In Maps of Meaning, he explains why creation stories pervade and persist. Continue reading to learn about creation myths and what they provide us.
Are you unhappy in a relationship? What are some common reasons people struggle to find happiness in their romantic relationships? Relationships can be tricky when personalities and communication styles clash. However, you shouldn’t rush to end a relationship at the first sign of friction. First, identify the reason you’re unhappy with your partner and then make an effort to reclaim your love before you decide to break up. Keep reading to learn about the most common reasons for being unhappy in a relationship and what you can do about it.