The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the placebo effect in psychology? How can you make the placebo effect work for you, rather than against you? Perhaps the most well-known expectation effect is the placebo effect. While some people are against the placebo effect, David Robson’s book The Expectation Effect asserts that it can actually be used to improve your health and life. Check out how the placebo effect can create a positive impact on you.
How do you focus on the positives when you’re constantly exposed to negativity? How can a positive outlook on life help you cope with trauma? It may feel hard to get rid of negative thoughts when you’ve been exposed to secondary trauma as a caretaker. With the help of Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, you can shift your focus to the positive things in life, even if they’re small. Find out how to focus on the positive and get rid of the negativity that’s dampening your mood.
Have you ever made a prediction that turned out to be wrong? What mental errors thwart accurate forecasting? In The Signal and the Noise, Nate Silver examines mental errors that make your predictions inaccurate. These include making faulty assumptions, being overconfident, trusting data and technology too readily, seeing what you want to see, and following the wrong incentives. Keep reading to learn how these mental errors cause inaccurate predictions.
How does someone manipulate you in a con game? How do they ensure your silence afterward? In The Confidence Game, Maria Konnikova explains that one of the most important parts of a game is ensuring that the victim won’t rat them out. They do this by emotionally manipulating the victim to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their gullibility. Let’s look at how easy it is to become manipulated by others.
Do you grow more bitter the older you get? Do you justify bad behavior because life’s been hard on you? According to Jordan Peterson, resentment, deceit, and arrogance can easily develop when you travel through life and face its hardships. However, he urges you to resist them and maintain your character as you deal with life’s challenges. Read more to learn how to rise above suffering instead of letting it get the best of you.
How often does your brain get to rest? Do you have near-constant stimuli from technology and other inputs? Modern society seems to shun boredom. You probably sense a need to stay occupied, busy, and productive. The problem is that this doesn’t give your brain a break. Michael Easter contends that this is one of the problems of the modern world that you should fight back against. Keep reading to learn several benefits of boredom.
Do you tend to self-sabotage? Is it possible to overcome destructive thinking patterns? Shirzad Chamine’s book, Positive Intelligence, reveals that your stress and unhappiness stem from destructive patterns of thinking known as Saboteurs. In his book, Chamine offers guidance on engaging with your higher self, the Sage, to overcome these adversaries and enhance various aspects of your life. Read on for a brief overview of Shirzad Chamine’s book Positive Intelligence.
What is the nocebo effect? How can innocent expectations increase your risk of death? Whereas the placebo effect might make you feel better, the nocebo effect does the opposite. The Expectation Effect by David Robson warns that thinking too much about a potential side effect or never-ending pain can manifest in real life. Find out how to prevent the nocebo effect from taking over your mind.
Has a deal ever seemed too good to be true? How can you avoid being scammed? In one of the last phases of their game, con artists will try to get you to double down on the deal you’re making with them. This is probably the point that you’ve suspected something’s a little fishy, so they’ll do everything in their power to keep you on board. Here’s how to avoid being scammed and manipulated.
What are you learning these days? Are you discouraged by the challenge? What if you saw mistakes as progress? One of the hallmarks of learning is that you don’t get something right the first time. True learning is a process that takes time, and it often requires baby steps and even missteps. Incremental progress is progress all the same, and it can be an incredibly effective way to learn. Read on for advice and encouragement to learn by making mistakes.