The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s conceptual knowledge? Is it superior to the rote learning method? In Limitless Mind, math educator Jo Boaler shares the latest science about how people learn. Based on the research, she argues that flexible approaches to learning and teaching are more productive than older, more rigid practices. Continue reading to compare the two approaches of rote learning and conceptual knowledge in education.
Do you ever have sudden bursts of inspiration that lead you to a solution to a problem? What’s going on in your brain when that happens? Sometimes, ideas result from slow hunches that develop over time. Other times, they come quickly in an epiphany. In Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson explores the fascinating science of inspiration. Keep reading to discover how some good ideas just pop into your head.
How should technology make life easier? What do you need to do to understand users’ needs? When you’re creating any type of product dealing with technology, the first thing you need to consider is how it’ll make life easier for the user. In User Friendly, Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant explain in detail how this is made possible using user-friendly design. Continue reading to learn more about how you should create a product centered around a user’s needs.
What are the secrets to being successful in your career? How do you build a world-changing product-based business? Entrepreneur Tony Fadell answers these questions and more in Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making. The book is part career encyclopedia and part memoir, detailing Fadell’s journey building the iPhone and starting Nest, a smart home device company. Keep reading for an overview of this interesting and instructive book.
Do you surround yourself with people who support where you’re going in life? Are they willing to speak up when you get off track? If you want to achieve extraordinary things, you must find a group of people to support you. In Someday Is Today, Matthew Dicks explains that your own personal support group will help you progress toward your goals by holding you accountable and providing encouragement and feedback. Learn how to find your people and why it’s so important to do so.
How can leaders be more innovative at work? How does mania improve innovative thinking? Leadership and innovation go hand-in-hand, but an unexpected factor in this connection is mania. The mental illness promotes creative thinking, supporting new ideas, and solving complex problems that may go unnoticed. Here’s more on why A First-Rate Madness by Nassir Ghaemi believes mania enhances your ability to be an innovative leader.
Is it possible to live forever? How much would immortality cost? Is cell rejuvenation the answer? A growing number of billionaire entrepreneurs are investing in research to try to increase the human lifespan, some even aiming for immortality. The initiatives involve medical research, biohacking routines, and attempts to create robotic avatars into which human consciousness can be transferred. Here’s a look at cell rejuvenation research, along with some alternative lifespan-extending options.
What is the Eightfold Path of yoga? Why is it known as the foundation of any style of yoga? How can you practice the Path? The Eightfold Path of yoga consists of eight practices that help practitioners achieve physical, mental, and spiritual mastery of themselves through exercises and meditation. In Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda explains that the Path is not a checklist of tasks but rather a way of life. Keep reading to learn about each step of the Eightfold Path of yoga, according to Yogananda.
Do you often get disappointed by unexpected outcomes? How do you set realistic expectations? Having high expectations can be helpful, especially if you have big goals you want to achieve. But sometimes things don’t go as planned. That’s why it’s best to have realistic expectations to not get too excited. Here’s how to set realistic expectations to keep yourself on track, according to Steve Magness’s book Do Hard Things.
Why are the rates of diabetes and obesity increasing? What are some preventative measures you could take to reduce your chances of becoming obese or developing diabetes? Diabetes and obesity have become endemic in the developed world. Not only are these diseases dangerous in and of themselves, but they also increase your risk of other deadly maladies such as heart disease and stroke. Here’s a look at the wider health risks of diabetes and obesity and preventative measures you could take.