The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the marginal value theorem? Why is technology so distracting? To explain technology’s impact on interference and the brain, The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen looks to the marginal value theorem. The MVT is used to examine food habits in animals but can be applied to humans’ excessive use of technology. Find out more about the marginal value theorem here.
Why are humans so drawn to water? How do we benefit by looking at, being near, and being in water? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state he refers to as Blue Mind. He shares ways we can enjoy water’s benefits and discusses the challenges that some face in having access to water. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will have you thinking about water in a new way.
What does “Blue Mind” mean? How is it different from “Red Mind”? What contributes to these mental states? When you feel serene sitting at the beach, watching the waves, you’re likely experiencing Blue Mind. In his book Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state, which he calls the Blue Mind state. Read more to understand Blue Mind’s meaning and why such a phenomenon exists.
Why do we get distracted so easily? What are the limitations of cognitive control? In The Distracted Mind, Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen define the distracted mind as an ingrained vulnerability to distractions and interruptions. They then discuss how this vulnerability arose because our higher-level goals outstripped our cognitive control. Here’s why the brain can become an easy victim to distractions.
Why do you feel so serene sitting on the beach, looking out at the ocean? Why does the mere sound of waves calm you down? This is the Blue Mind experience. In the book Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state. Read on for six Blue Mind quotes that will help you appreciate this fascinating book.
What is Jill Bolte Taylor’s Whole Brain Living about? How do the different parts of our brains work together like a team? When neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a stroke on the left side of her brain, her life as she knew it dissolved as she lost access to basic cognitive functions. Taylor’s key insight from her experience is that we can choose to access different parts of our brains. Read below for an overview of Whole Brain Living and how to improve your emotional well-being.
Do you know the basic anatomy of the brain? What are the functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain? In Whole Brain Living, Jill Bolte Taylor describes four “characters” of the brain that help achieve inner peace. The physiological basis for the four characters includes the left and right hemispheres of the brain, as well as the limbic (emotional) and cortical (thinking) tissue that spans both hemispheres. Keep reading to learn more about basic brain anatomy.
What are the functions of the left and right sides of the brain? Which side houses your creative side, and which houses your logical side? Your brain is split into two teams: the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. In her book Whole Brain Living, Jill Bolte discusses the role of each side, along with common myths surrounding them. Let’s look at the left and right brain functions more closely.
Do your genes control you, or do you control them? How do your thoughts affect your cells and health? Where is the brain of a cell actually located? In The Biology of Belief, Bruce Lipton argues that you have more control over your health and genetic expression than you think. He says that your thoughts and beliefs can have a powerful impact on your body, influencing everything from your immune system to your hormones. Read below for a brief overview of The Biology of Belief.
What are the two essential types of brain tissue? What do the limbic system and cerebral cortex do? According to Jill Bolte Taylor’s book Whole Brain Living, there are two types of tissue that make up the left and right hemispheres of the brain: limbic tissue and cortical tissue. Both of these tissues serve vital functions that the brain needs to work properly. Keep reading to learn more about these types of brain tissue and why they’re so important.