Group Consensus & the Social Pressure to Believe (Even Wrongly)

a cartoon of a group of people all sharing only one thought bubble over their heads illustrates group consensus

How does social pressure influence our beliefs and decision-making? Can large groups of people all be wrong together? In her book Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explores the concept of group consensus and its impact on our thinking. She discusses the challenges of independent thought and the power that social influence wields over what we believe. Read on to discover how group dynamics shape our beliefs and why thinking for ourselves might be harder than we imagined.

Procrastination & Emotional Regulation: The Unexpected Link

A stressed person ignoring work and experiencing the connection between procrastination and emotional regulation.

How do your emotions cause you to procrastinate? What happens when you avoid negative emotions, rather than confront them? Timothy A. Pychyl says that procrastination results from a failure of the cognitive capacity psychologists call emotion regulation. This is the ability to manage your emotions, attention, and behavior so you can work toward your goals or act according to your values. Continue reading to learn why procrastination and emotional regulation are more commonly related than you might think.

How Howard Schultz’s Leadership Style Saved Starbucks

Former CEO of Starbucks Howard Schultz smiling

What is Howard Schultz like as a leader? How did Schultz help Starbucks out of a rut? In 2008, Howard Schultz made his official return to Starbucks. In his first few months as CEO, he used two strategies to project a reassuring image to both internal and external stakeholders: strong communication and timely action. Let’s look at these two elements of Howard Schultz’s leadership style.

Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt: Book Overview

a young dark-haired man wearing a plaid shirt thoughtfully reads a book he's holding

What drives ordinary people to commit extraordinary evil? Can the most horrific acts stem from mundane motivations? The groundbreaking book Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt challenges our understanding of evil. The book examines Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Holocaust, through a surprising lens. Arendt’s analysis reveals unexpected insights about the nature of evil itself. Read on for an overview of this work that lays out Arendt’s controversial perspective on one of history’s most infamous criminals.

No Self, No Problem: Book Overview (Chris Niebauer)

a woman standing outside of a building in a city is looking up from an open book in a thoughtful manner

Have you ever questioned the nature of your own identity? What if everything you believe about yourself is just an illusion? No Self, No Problem, a book by neuroscientist Chris Niebauer, challenges our understanding of self-identity. He argues that our sense of self is merely a construct created by our brain’s left hemisphere. This concept aligns with ancient Eastern philosophies that have long questioned the existence of a fixed self. Prepare to explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and spirituality as we delve into an overview of this thought-provoking book.

How to Develop Mental Flexibility While You Sleep

A bearded man sleeping in a bed, improving his mental flexibility through lucid dreaming

How can practicing lucid dreaming help you develop mental flexibility? Why is mental flexibility valuable? Believe it or not, learning how to lucid dream can improve your life and your future prospects. If you dedicate time to practicing lucid dreaming, then you can literally improve your life in your sleep. Here’s how to develop mental flexibility through lucid dreaming.

Identity and Leadership: Discovering Your Core Beliefs at Work

A woman in business attire conflicted about identity and leadership, looking at a wall that reads "Who am I?"

Do people look up to you at work? What type of identity do you have as a leader? To be a role model to others, you need to have a firm grasp of what your own beliefs and values are. Clay Scroggins says that understanding this connection between identity and leadership can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Continue reading to discover what your leadership identity is.

Howard Schultz: Starbucks’s Savior During Financial Trouble

Howard Schultz, Starbucks's former CEO, smiling on stage

Why did Howard Schultz return to Starbucks in the mid-2000s? How did Schultz make a smooth transition back into the CEO role? During a grave position at Starbucks, Schultz stepped in as CEO for the second time in 2008 to steer the company in a better direction. In his book Onward, he discusses his motivation for reprising his role as CEO and the leadership strategies he used to restore stakeholders’ trust in Starbucks. Discover more about the process behind Schultz’s return to Starbucks.

What Did Adolf Eichmann Do? His Role in the Nazis’ “Solutions”

a Nazi officer from behind working at a desk in an office that has maps, books, papers, and a lamp

What did Adolf Eichmann do during the Holocaust? How did his role evolve as Nazi policies changed? Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem explores Adolf Eichmann’s involvement in the Nazi regime’s “Jewish question.” The book examines his progression from an advisor on Jewish emigration to a key figure in the transportation of Jews to concentration camps. Continue reading for Arendt’s analysis of Eichmann’s role in the Holocaust to discover how his actions shaped the course of history.