The World's Best Book Summaries
What are artist blocks? Are they even real? In his book The Practice, Seth Godin disputes the claim that artists get creative blocks. He says that it’s just you holding yourself back, but you can overcome it by working every day on your creative project. Continue reading to learn Godin’s take on artist blocks.
What are some quotes from Finding the Mother Tree? What can you learn from these quotes? In Finding the Mother Tree, ecologist Suzanne Simard explains her decades-long research on the relationships among trees in the forests of British Columbia. Simard shows the major dynamic among plant life in forests is cooperation and interdependence. Let’s look at three Finding the Mother Tree quotes that support her theory.
Do you care about something that needs to be improved? How can you raise awareness for a cause? In Stolen Focus, Johann Hari explains there is an attention crisis caused by external factors outside of your control. One of his solutions is a citizen-led movement, which highlights the important steps people can take to raise awareness. Below we’ll look at how to raise awareness for a cause with the example of an attention rebellion.
What does Machiavelli mean by “virtú”? How does it differ from the modern understanding of virtue? In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli sets forth several qualities that great princes (rulers) have. According to Machiavelli, virtú is the characteristic that stands above the rest. However, it doesn’t mean exactly what its apparent modern equivalent means. Keep reading to find out what virtú is to Machiavelli.
How can you determine the true motives behind behaviors? How can you become less selfish and purer in your own motives? In The Elephant in the Brain, Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson argue that human behavior is driven by selfish motives hidden behind altruistic pretexts. They call these selfish motives the “elephant in the brain.” If we learn to recognize these “elephants,” we can improve our individual behaviors and our social institutions. Continue reading for some tips on recognizing hidden motives in yourself and others.
Is American law inherently racist? What does racism in law have to do with slavery? There are a number of racist laws in America—laws that do not just favor white people but are also unjust to Black People. This is largely due to persisting attitudes and beliefs from the era of slavery. In this article, we will discuss a few American laws and practices that fail to provide liberty and justice for Black Americans.
What are the hormones that make you happy? How do these hormones affect your wellbeing? Hormones that make you happy, or neurochemicals, dictate your overall sense of wellbeing, including how motivated you feel to complete your goals and which good (or bad) habits you adopt in daily life. The Art of Impossible author, Steven Kotler, says generating all six types of hormones that make you happy is the key to living a more fulfilling life. Read on to learn the different types of hormones that make you happy and their impact on wellbeing, according to Kotler.
Are you wondering how to break the cycle of anxiety? How does anxiety lead to other problems? In Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer gives practical advice for dealing with anxiety. Brewer’s guidelines for overcoming anxiety are based on his definition of anxiety as a habit loop. Let’s look at how to break the cycle of anxiety in three steps.
What are systemic changes? What are examples of systemic changes that will stop the attention crisis? Systemic changes are fundamental changes in a system (often education, government, etc.) that are necessary to make improvements. In Stolen Focus, Johann Hari suggests a systemic change to address people’s inability to focus. Keep reading for examples of systemic changes that are necessary to reduce stress and concentration issues.
What is the importance of play in early childhood? How does playtime affect a child’s focus? Stolen Focus by Johann Hari says that playtime is crucial for a child’s cognitive skills. How children spend their time contributes to rising levels of difficulty in paying attention. Learn how changing a child’s lifestyle and playtime can affect them.