The World's Best Book Summaries
Why is multitasking bad for productivity? How does multitasking diminish your capacity to be productive? While multitasking may make you feel busy, it actually eats away at your productivity. This is because multitasking requires frequent switching between different tasks, and switching is costly in terms of cognitive resources. Here’s how multitasking hurts your productivity, according to productivity expert Chris Bailey.
When you’re writing a script, how do you come up with compelling scenes? Is there a formula to follow? In Story, Robert McKee breaks down how stories function and uses this theory to explain how you can write a gripping story—filled with compelling scenes. The book is intended for screenwriters, but its principles apply to any kind of storytelling. Continue reading to learn how to write a scene in a script, and discover why this method is so impactful.
What happens when the government meddles with the economy? What do regulated markets produce (or fail to produce)? The development of a nation’s wealth depends on competitive markets in which participants are free to act in their own self-interest. In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith identifies government policies that interfere with this process and slow down economic growth. We’ll explore two regulated market policies that Smith critiques: restricting international trade and subsidizing industries.
Do you know when an article you’re reading is sponsored by a biased advertiser? What’s the reputation of the sources you rely on? The authors of Critical Thinking, Logic & Problem Solving provide a step-by-step method for improving your ability to think critically and solve problems. They offer tips for conducting and thinking about research and information, including determining whether a source is reliable. Read more to learn how to evaluate sources for credibility.
How long was Nelson Mandela in prison? How does he recall the experience? Why did he refuse to be released in 1985? Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life behind bars in 1964. He spent 27 years in three prisons. In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela describes what life was like and shows how prison bars couldn’t stop him in his fight against apartheid. Read more to learn about Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment and ultimate release.
Are you pushing yourself too hard? How can pursuing a flow state lead to burnout? While Steven Kotler encourages setting ambitious goals, he also warns against pushing yourself too hard. Mastering a flow state allows people to achieve superhuman feats—climbers scaling harder routes or runners running faster races—but this can also lead to burnout and unmet expectations. Read on to learn about the risks of pushing yourself too hard when pursuing flow, according to Kotler.
What’s the importance of humility? What kind of life will you live if you’re arrogant? Humility is one of the Eight Pillars of Joy that Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama describe in their book The Book of Joy. The opposite of arrogance, humility has the power to put you in someone else’s shoes and build powerful bonds. Discover why humility is important in the grand scheme of things.
What exactly is productivity? What are some things you can do to become more meaningfully productive? According to productivity expert Chris Bailey, productivity isn’t just about trying to do more for the sake of doing more. Rather, productivity is the ability to identify and prioritize what matters most. In this article, we’ll explain Bailey’s definition of productivity and how it challenges a common misunderstanding about what it means to be productive.
Want to know how to expand your business for rapid growth? How can you achieve “Growth Explosion?” According to venture capitalist Andrew Chen, Growth Explosion is what happens when you build enough subnetworks to become a legitimate competitor to the current industry leader. Chen offers three methods to expand your business rapidly in his book The Cold Start Problem. Read on to learn how to expand your business rapidly, according to Chen’s three methods.
Why is Merlin Sheldrake fascinated with fungi? How do fungi expand our imaginations? According to Merlin Sheldrake, fungi push us to consider new ways of thinking about ourselves, other people, and non-human beings. It’s no wonder that Sheldrake wrote Entangled Life, a whole book about the beauty of fungi. Here, we’ll explore two concepts that fungi challenge us to question: individuality and intelligence.