The Reading Brain: How Neuroplasticity Makes Reading Possible

A cartoon drawing of a brain reading a book illustrates the reading brain

What happens in our brains when we learn to read? How do different writing systems shape our neural pathways? In her book Proust and the Squid, Maryanne Wolf explains how the reading brain is made possible through neuroplasticity. Despite having no dedicated reading center, our brains rewire themselves in three profound ways. Read on to explore how this remarkable adaptation changed human history and continues to shape our minds today.

3 Types of Strategic Partnerships & How to Leverage Them

A professional woman and man meeting in a conference room illustrates various types of strategic partnerships

How can you expand your business without spending money on new resources? What if you could accelerate your growth by capitalizing on what others have already built? Executive coach Jay Abraham explores three types of strategic partnerships that can fuel business growth. He shows how forming the right connections allows you to access established customer bases, exchange valuable resources, and secure better supplier terms without starting from scratch. Keep reading to discover practical ways to implement these partnership strategies and multiply your business potential with less risk and investment.

The Importance of a Routine (The Secret to Productivity)

The Importance of a Routine (The Secret to Productivity)

How can a routine help you be more productive? Why is mechanical attention important for those who get easily overwhelmed? The difference between Gloria Mark’s views on attention and those of traditional productivity experts is her emphasis on the value of mechanical attention. Mark’s book, Attention Span, shows that routine tasks requiring only mechanical attention are key to bolstering your mental reserves and, by extension, your productivity. Below, we’ll look at the importance of a routine in your daily life.

Gary Klein’s Seeing What Others Don’t: Book Overview

A smiling woman with gray hair and an orange sweater reading a book while sitting in a chair in front of a bookshelf

What makes breakthroughs happen more often for some people than others? How can we better understand the process of insight and use it to our advantage? Gary Klein’s Seeing What Others Don’t: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights lays out the mechanics of insight, revealing that breakthrough ideas arrive through three distinct paths. Klein’s research shows that most people and organizations inadvertently create conditions that suppress insights. Keep reading to discover practical strategies that can help you become more receptive to breakthrough moments and learn how to capitalize on them when they arrive.

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz: Happiness Data Helps Us Find Joy

A smiley-face pie chart illustrates happiness data

Can data science actually reveal what makes us happy? Have you been looking for joy in all the wrong places? According to Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, happiness data can lead you to find joy in your own life. In Don’t Trust Your Gut, he reveals that objective information from millions of people can map out which activities truly bring joy and which ones leave us miserable—challenging our intuitions about happiness. Keep reading to discover the science-backed path to a happier life.

The Origin of Written Language: From Symbols to the Alphabet

Hieroglyphs illustrate the origin of written language

How did the earliest humans begin to record their thoughts and transactions? What impact did the Greek alphabet have on literacy and the spread of knowledge? The origin of written language dates back thousands of years. In her book Proust and the Squid, Maryanne Wolf traces this remarkable journey from primitive counting symbols to the revolutionary Greek alphabet that changed the course of human communication. Keep reading to discover how our ancestors transformed symbols into the powerful writing systems we use today.

Why Is It So Hard to Focus? It’s Not Just Technology’s Fault

A woman finding it hard to focus and looking out the window during work

Why is it so hard to focus these days? Do we have an unlimited amount of mental energy to use? The biggest problem we face when trying to be productive is that the things that distract us seem limitless, especially now that the digital world has infiltrated every aspect of life. However, Gloria Mark’s book Attention Span says our devices aren’t entirely to blame. Let’s look at the real reason why you and so many others may find it hard to concentrate on simple tasks.

How Do Children Learn to Read? Maryanne Wolf Explains

A child reading a book illustrates the question, "How do children learn to read?"

How do children learn to read? Why does the journey to becoming a fluent reader take years? Cognitive neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf explores how children learn to read by tracing development from infancy through adolescence. From recognizing speech sounds as babies to mastering complex metaphors as teenagers, children build reading skills through distinct phases. Read more to explore the fascinating science behind how a child transforms from a babbling toddler into a capable reader.

Why Good Ideas Fail: 2 Reasons We Resist or Reject Insights

Smoke rising from an extinguished candle illustrates why good ideas fail

Why do some revolutionary ideas take years or even decades to gain traction in society? Why do some good ideas fail? What forces stand between a brilliant insight and its widespread acceptance? New ideas often face significant barriers to implementation and adoption. In his book, Seeing What Others Don’t, Gary Klein explains why good ideas fail by identifying two critical challenges: the difficulty of taking action on insights and the resistance we encounter when sharing them with others. Keep reading to explore how these barriers operate and what we can learn from historical examples that illustrate idea failures.

What Are Internal Distractions? Your Mind’s Fallacies

A woman holding her head from the internal distractions

What are internal distractions? How does your personality determine how often you get distracted? When your mental reserves run low, you’re vulnerable to attention-sapping pitfalls, some of which are internal and some beyond your control. According to Attention Span by Gloria Mark, your personality can make you more susceptible to getting distracted easily. Continue reading to learn about the internal distractions that are ruining your ability to focus.