The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the Fogg Behavior Model? What role does motivation play in forming habits? In Tiny Habits, Stanford behavioral scientist BJ Fogg presents the Fogg Behavior Model. The model explains that habits form because of your motivation to perform the habit. Below we’ll take a look at the psychology and science behind the Fogg Behavior Model.
Which Buddhist teachings does secularist Sam Harris follow? Why? Sam Harris isn’t religious, but he’s spiritual. In his book Waking Up, he discusses how to separate spirituality from the confines of religion, and why, out of all the major faiths, Buddhism provides the most practical roadmap to having spiritual experiences without the baggage of superstition and dogma. Continue reading to understand why, for Sam Harris, Buddhism has something to offer.
Should you learn Zen? What impact can it have on your mind and, ultimately, your life? Alan Watts contends that expressing the principles of Zen benefits you by helping you break down the mental barriers that divide you from the rest of the world. Experiencing Zen lets you finally see the world and the present moment for what it is. Keep reading to learn why you should learn Zen, according to Watts’s classic book on the subject.
Are you an illusion? In what way does Sam Harris believe you are? According to Sam Harris, the self isn’t real. In his book Waking Up, Harris argues that consciousness and feelings of individual selfhood are two separate aspects of experience. While consciousness is real, your sense of self is an illusion. Read more to understand Harris’s argument and how he arrives at this belief.
Why are you so susceptible to interference and distractions? What are activities that help improve cognitive skills? Technology and information overload cause interference in the brain because of cognitive control limitations. The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen claims that this interference can be improved with certain activities that help brain function. Keep reading to learn how to improve cognitive skills.
Is your mind always “on”? How often does it get a chance to rest and repair? How can you invite such opportunities? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols explains that water—looking at it, being near it, and being in it—reduces stress and allows the mind to heal. He discusses the theory of directed attention fatigue and shows how water can give your mind a break and a chance to rejuvenate. Keep reading to learn how to rest your mind by engaging with water.
Why do humans have stress responses? When do these responses cross the line from being helpful to being harmful? What impact does chronic stress have on our minds and bodies? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols advocates the Blue Mind state—a serene experience that we sometimes have when we’re around water. The opposite is the Red Mind state, and he explains what happens when we’re in that state on an ongoing basis. Read more to learn about the effects of chronic stress.
Should you trust your intuition? How well has it worked for you in the past? Tim Ferriss’s Tribe of Mentors contains life advice from experts in a wide variety of fields. The book also presents an alternative to taking others’ advice: trusting your intuition. But, even that choice comes with considerations, as some say that it’s vital to continually challenge your intuitive assumptions. Read on to explore the universally relevant matter of trusting your intuition.
Do you need help retaining or recalling information? What are the best memory improvement tips that will keep your mind as sharp as ever? If you’re always using the excuse, “My memory isn’t what it used to be,” just know that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of tips and tricks to keep your memory in tip-top shape. Whether you want to memorize your credit card information or remember your doctor’s appointment, these memory improvement tips will help you out.
Do you get distracted easily? How can you become more resistant to interference? The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen has potential remedies for the detrimental effects of interference. Although there are no foolproof cures, Gazzaley and Rosen contend that we can minimize our susceptibility to interference by taking steps to improve our cognitive control and minimize potential sources of interference. Check out how to not get distracted and stay on track.