The Jagat Seth Family: Mughal India’s Merchants & Kingmakers

Silhouette of a wealthy person standing in front of a palace in India.

Who were the Jagat Seths? How did they make their money—and how did they use it to influence Mughal India? The Jagat Seths were one of Mughal India’s wealthiest and most influential families. They used their wealth and power to shape the political scene, financially backing coups in collusion with the East India Company. Read more to learn about the powerful Jagat Seth family of financiers.

Discipline Is a Muscle: Exercising Your Brain and Willpower

An image of a brain lifting weights that symbolizes that discipline is a muscle.

How is discipline like a muscle? How can you maintain discipline through exercise? In The Science of Self-Discipline, Peter Hollins says discipline is a muscle that you can develop and strengthen over time. But like any other muscle, over-exercising discipline can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Continue reading to learn more about why discipline is similar to a muscle.

The Flaws of Efficient Market Hypothesis in Behavioral Finance

A person picking a dollar bill from a money tree

What’s the efficient market hypothesis in behavioral finance? What are the flaws of the efficient market hypothesis? While famous economist Richard H. Thaler agrees with the EMH’s claim that it’s impossible to consistently beat the market, he disagrees with the claim that securities’ prices always reflect their intrinsic value. He considers three arguments against this thesis. Take a look at the three arguments against the efficient market hypothesis below.

How to Gain Self-Discipline With Emotional & Logical Tools

A person running up a hill as they gain self-discipline.

Do you give in to impulsive behavior? Do you know how to gain self-discipline? Peter Hollins, the author of The Science of Self-Discipline, has a variety of internal strategies to improve your discipline in the long run. By becoming more self-disciplined, you’ll be able to endure the distractions life throws at you and steadily progress toward your goals. Let’s look at how to gain self-discipline with these emotional and logical tools.

AI Model Collapse: What It Is & the Risks It Poses

AI Model Collapse: What It Is & the Risks It Poses

What is AI model collapse? What are the consequences of model collapse? Is it already happening? Model collapse is the complete erosion of AI models that occurs when they’re trained on flawed content generated by other AI models. Model collapse can lead to nonsensical, inaccurate, and biased AI output. Experts say that diverse, human-curated data is key to stopping AI model collapse. Keep reading to learn about AI model collapse, and for examples of it happening today.

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Quotes From Julie Smith

A man holding and reading a book with shelves in the background.

What are emotions? What’s the difference between “confident” and “comfortable”? How are low moods part of a vicious cycle? In Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, Dr. Julie Smith shares skills you need to navigate common life challenges and take charge of your emotional and mental well-being. She covers how to identify and challenge negative thoughts, why self-compassion is essential, and how to lessen the power of strong negative emotions. Keep reading for several Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? quotes to get a good sense of the book’s ideas.

Barbra Streisand: Politics & Philanthropy Are Her Twin Passions

Barbra Streisand: Politics & Philanthropy Are Her Twin Passions

What presidential candidates received support from Barbra Streisand? What charitable causes does she give toward? According to Barbra Streisand, politics and philanthropy are her twin passions. Despite her extraordinary career, Barbra Streisand—who’s now in her 80s—doesn’t discuss her work when talking about her legacy. Instead, she emphasizes her desire to leave a kinder and fairer world for future generations. Read more to learn about the causes that Streisand holds close to her heart.

Art Perfectionism: Tips From Elizabeth Gilbert & Julia Cameron

An artist giving her paintings a thumbs up to show her pride in her art perfectionism.

Is “good enough” not good enough for you? Are your standards unrealistically high? Are you willing to produce something that’s not all that great? Whether you create paintings, blog posts, music, or hairstyles, you have a personal standard. You might also tend to set that standard too high. We’ve pulled together some advice on how to overcome art perfectionism from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. Read more to get some encouragement—and perhaps a needed adjustment in your standards.

The Importance of Purpose in Life (+ How to Find Yours)

The Importance of Purpose in Life (+ How to Find Yours)

What’s the importance of purpose in life? How does a purpose maximize human performance? In Peak Performance, Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness argue that purpose is crucial for exceeding our limits. They contend that having a purpose that goes beyond our interests is essential to maximizing performance because such purposes help us overcome our perceived psychological limitations. Let’s look at why everyone should have a purpose they strive to achieve.