The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you know the science behind how memories work? How does your brain process the memories you create every day? Dr. John Medina explains how memories work in his book Brain Rules through a process called “memory encoding.” There are two types of memory encoding (just like there are two types of memories), and each category assists in forming, storing, and retrieving memories. Here’s the specific process behind how memories work.
What is the key to mastering a skill? Should you focus on one technique or diversify your practice? According to Joshua Waitzkin, the author of The Art of Learning, real skill comes from a deep, singular focus. In terms of skill-building, he argues that you reach excellence by refining a set of fundamental skills, rather than practicing a wide range of techniques. For example, focus on learning a single style of piano, like baroque classical, rather than trying to learn classical, jazz, and ragtime piano all at once. Here’s how to master a skill, according to Waitzkin.
Do sex and gender affect the way we think? Is there evidence of differences in male and female brain structures? While most of the cognitive differences between male and female brains are shaped by social expectations, there are some differences that molecular biologist Dr. John Medina suspects have a profound impact on behavior. Medina posits that the male and female brains react differently to a number of situations. Here are the physical and psychological differences in male and female brains.
How does music affect the brain? What are the benefits of music’s impact on the brain? In his book Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina theorizes that listening to music can affect your hormones, cognition, and mental health. Medina believes that music can go so far as to improve your social and language skills. Let’s take a detailed look at how music affects the brain.
Do you often find yourself doing two or more things at once? Did you know that multitasking is actually a myth? Neuroscience proves that the brain cannot handle doing two tasks at once, hence why multitasking fails. While many people believe they have mastered handling many tasks at once, Dr. John Medina believes this is actually the myth of multitasking because you lose your focus when you redirect your attention. Here are a few reasons why multitasking is a myth, and how to stay focused.
How does stress affect the body? What important aspects of everyday life are influenced by stress? In his book Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina writes that stress can have a profound impact on the way you live your life. Not only does stress affect the body, but it can leave marks on your mental health and cognitive abilities as well. Here are the health effects that stress can create on the body and mind.
Is trial and error a good way to learn? Do you take time to reflect and extract lessons from your mistakes? Error is inherent in learning. Mistakes reveal the flaws in our skills and show us where to grow. The key to learning through trial and error is to focus on the process, not the results. If you fixate on results, you’ll get derailed by mistakes, not learn from them. Here’s why growth comes from trial and error.
What is your preferred way of learning? Why is it important to learn according to your natural, personal learning style? Your personal style is how you instinctively approach learning. When you learn in a way that aligns with your personal learning style, learning comes much easier and you encode the material much faster. Keep reading to learn how to find your personal learning style, which stems from your unique relationship to your skill.
How do you respond to your experiences? How do you respond to other people? Deepak Chopra argues that how you respond can impact your experiences, for better or worse—a positive approach can make a big improvement. Chopra advises that you align yourself with the positive flow of thought-energy. When you consider the consequences of your actions, it’s easier to choose to act in ways that bring about positive results. Continue reading to learn about manifesting positive energy.
How do role models influence child development? How can you help your child discover their natural talents and develop their ability to persevere in spite of difficulties? Adult role models shape children’s mindsets. One of the biggest influences is the feedback a child receives after attempting a difficult task. Coaching style is also important: it should be guiding (as opposed to controlling) to let the child discover their natural inclinations. Here’s how feedback influences the child mindset, and how different coaching styles either support or hinder the learning process.