Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

Class vs Caste: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between class vs caste? Can a subordinate caste member rise above their hereditary caste by climbing the class ladder? Class vs caste comes down to a difference in social mobility. While both are distinctions of group status, they are not synonymous. Class is a socioeconomic distinction, whereas caste is usually a fixed hereditary group. Read more to learn about the differences in class vs caste and how it manifests in the American society.

Georges Cuvier: Theory of Catastrophism

Who was Georges Cuvier? What contribution did he make to evolution? How did George Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism redefine the paradigm of extinction? Georges Cuvier was a French naturalist and zoologist from the 18th century. He is also known as the “founding father of paleontology.” Georges Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism convinced the skeptical scientific community of the reality of mass species extinctions. Read about Georges Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism.

Thomas Kuhn Quotes: Ideas on Scientific Revolutions

What are some noteworthy Thomas Kuhn quotes? Which quotes and passages highlight his most influential ideas about the history and philosophy of science? Thomas Kuhn was an American physicist, historian, and philosopher of science who is best known for his groundbreaking 1962 classic The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The following Thomas Kuhn quotes encapsulate his revolutionary ideas about the history and philosophy of science. Here are four Thomas Kuhn quotes and what they mean.

Sunk Cost Bias: Know When to Cut Your Losses

What is the sunk cost bias or the sunk cost fallacy? How does it affect decision-making? The sunk cost bias or fallacy is a term that describes when someone keeps following through on an endeavor to justify previously invested resources. This tendency, which is related to loss aversion and status quo biases, is often the result of ongoing commitment and zeal towards a project. Keep reading for more about the sunk cost bias.

A Brief and Bloody History of Slavery in America

What is the history of slavery in America? What role did the institution of slavery play in the making of the American nation? The history of slavery in America dates back to 1619, when Europeans brought the first Africans onto the American soil. In 1865, slavery was officially abolished by the addition of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, but its legacy lingers to this day. Read about the history of slavery in America and how it contributed to the making of America as we know it today.

Compassion for Yourself Is Powerful and Essential

What does it mean to have compassion for yourself? How does the way you treat and talk to yourself affect your relationships with other people? The idea of having compassion for yourself may seem like a foreign concept to many people. This is especially true for those who were raised in abusive or unloving homes, where expressing care and kindness was uncommon, if not downright strange. Read about the importance of cultivating compassion for yourself and how it affects the way you relate to others.

The Dangers of Collective Narcissism

What is collective narcissism? How does it manifest in a society and what are its political implications? Collective narcissism is a belief that one’s own group is special and superior. One of the most pronounced examples of collective narcissism is how it manifested in the caste system of Nazi Germany: regular people celebrated their leader in spite of the atrocities he inflicted on Jews. Read more about collective narcissism and its social consequences.

NVC Communication: A Language of Compassion

What is NVC communication? What are the core tenets of Marshall Rosenberg’s nonviolent communication approach? Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a framework for interacting with other people and ourselves with empathy and compassion. The author, Marshall B. Rosenberg, was drawn to the idea of encouraging compassion after witnessing the deadly 1943 Detroit race riots as a child. Read about Marshall Rosenberg’s NVC communication framework and how to apply in practice.

The Mindset for Success Is Critical and Overlooked

How important is a mindset for success? How can you increase your chances of achieving success by changing the way you think about your goals? A mindset for success is a set of attitudes, beliefs, and tendencies that you have around effort, achievement, and failure. There are multiple factors at play in achieving success, but the mindset is often overlooked. Read about the importance of mindset for success.

The End of Slavery in America: The Aftermath

What marked the end of slavery in America? What happened in its aftermath? The end of the 246-year institution of slavery in America was officially marked by addition of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. But even after the abolition of slavery, its legacy continued to shape the landscape of America. Read about the end of slavery in America and what happened in its aftermath.