The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you feel guilty when you practice self-care? Do you think it’s a waste of time? Grace Beverley wants you to stop seeing self-care and productivity as opposites. She discusses two common barriers to self-care and shares advice on how to overcome them so that you can take care of your health and be more productive as a result. Keep reading to learn about these barriers to self-care and the remedies.
What do you believe to be true? How sound are your beliefs? How do your beliefs impact your life? We all believe something, and we all live according to what we believe. So, what we believe matters. It’s wise to examine our beliefs to get clarity on what they are, why we hold them, and what difference they make in our lives. Continue reading for scores of belief questions that will help you move toward clarity and purpose.
Does it feel like happiness is always a step ahead of you? Have you ever tried to think positively and still felt unhappy? You’re not alone. Many people find it difficult to feel happy no matter how many positive thoughts they force themselves to think. Oliver Burkeman’s The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking sheds light on this conundrum. Continue reading for an overview of this book that might lead you to take a new approach to happiness.
How can taxation be leveraged to empower the poor? What practical action can any American take to fight poverty? To truly alleviate poverty, it’s essential to go beyond providing financial assistance, although that’s undeniably important. Matthew Desmond argues that, to eradicate poverty, we need to empower the poor, granting them economic and political agency to shape their economic futures. Keep reading to learn Desmond’s proposed solutions to poverty in the United States.
How original is the work you do? How is its value (and your enjoyment) related to its originality? In Working Hard, Hardly Working, entrepreneur and influencer Grace Beverley shares recommendations on how to be creative at work. She contends that the originality you infuse into your work will make it more valuable—and it will make you more fulfilled. Continue reading for Beverley’s practical tips that you can start using today.
How can you keep your readers from missing your message? How can you get nearly anyone interested in an essay about prairie grasses? Whether you’re writing an email or a novel, you want to compel your readers and get your message across. The following writers’ exercises will help you achieve unity in your writing, infuse your writing with humanity, find your own Paris (inspired by Ernest Hemingway), and practice using the pyramid structure. Continue reading to dive into these exercises and strengthen your writing.
What skill do you want to learn? How should you go about choosing among the countless options? Skill acquisition expert Josh Kaufman provides a step-by-step process for mastering the basics of any new skill with only 20 hours of practice. His system favors efficiency, so the first step is to choose a skill wisely and then attach a specific goal to it. Continue reading to learn how to take the first step toward learning a new skill in a way that sets you up for success.
Do you tend to fixate on your goals? What do success stories often leave out? Common self-help advice encourages you to set and relentlessly pursue goals designed to realize your ideal version of yourself. Oliver Burkeman notes that striving to achieve such goals creates five adverse effects that prevent you from attaining true happiness and success. Keep reading to learn how chasing success too often leads to failure and dissatisfaction.
Why are some people poor? Are they keeping themselves down, or are they victims of others who don’t want them to succeed? In Poverty, by America, social scientist Matthew Desmond explores how and why the commonly cited explanations for poverty fall flat. Then he turns his attention to what he believes does explain the persistence of poverty in America. Read on to learn why Desmond thinks the exploitation of the poor is a reality in the US.
Does work drain you or energize you? Do you look forward to starting your work day, or do you dread it? If all of your enjoyable moments in your day are outside of work hours, Grace Beverley has some good news for you. She says that you don’t need to quit your job or find a new one to find satisfaction throughout your day; you can simply make your current work more enjoyable. Keep reading to discover how to enjoy work by following Beverley’s recommendations.