The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the hedonic treadmill? How can you get out of the cycle of constantly chasing after more? The hedonic treadmill is a behavioral pattern where people chase after happiness but never feel content or satisfied once they get what they want. To get off the treadmill, you have to slow down and practice gratitude and appreciation for the simple things in life. Take a look at how to approach your own negative patterns.
What is the Hero archetype, and how does it relate to masculinity? What does the Hero look like in boys? The Hero archetype is an immature form of the Warrior archetype, a part of the mind responsible for taking action. Because the Hero is immature, it has the drive to accomplish things but lacks self-awareness. Here’s more on what this part of the psyche looks like and how it behaves.
How does perfectionism go against our unconscious mind? How do we innately seek safety and minimize failure? In Alchemy, Rory Sutherland suggests that to solve economic and political problems, we should leverage people’s illogical—and even magical—ways of thinking. One of these is our unconscious desire to go with whatever works rather than the best possible solution. Keep reading to learn about the satisficing model of decision-making and how to make it work for you.
What does it mean to find true belonging? What does Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness say about forcing your opinions on others? Braving the Wilderness claims that finding like-minded people can be damaging to your self-esteem and acceptance. This is because people tend to throw away their own beliefs to fit in with the crowd, losing a sense of self. Learn more about the concept of true belonging with Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness quotes.
What do the basal ganglia do? What roles do they play when it comes to your emotions, decisions, and learning? Whether you’ve ever heard of them or not, your basal ganglia make a big difference in your life. In his book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, psychiatrist and brain health expert Daniel G. Amen explains how important this system in your brain is. Read more to learn what the basal ganglia do.
What’s true belonging? What traits are necessary to exhibit true belonging? According to Brené Brown, true belonging is the ability to express yourself honestly. It embraces the idea that being true to yourself supersedes what anyone else thinks. Keep reading to learn more about this concept.
What is the Magician archetype defined by Carl Jung? What part of the psyche is the Magician? Of the Jungian archetypes, Magician is most important for developing curiosity and a love for learning. The Magician becomes empowered by learning how to learn better. Read more to learn what makes this part of the psyche unique.
Do you experience unwarranted or excessive nervousness? Do you bite your nails or have other compulsive habits? Psychiatrist and brain health expert Daniel G. Amen argues that basal ganglia dysfunction might be to blame if you’re nervous or worried much of the time. He discusses the symptoms and shares several treatments that could calm your nerves. Keep reading to learn how to stop feeling nervous by addressing basal ganglia dysfunction.
How important is it to understand how people see things? How might you shape the way people see things? In Alchemy, Rory Sutherland discusses the importance of understanding human perception and the functions that psychological biases serve. He also explains how meaning and language are vital tools for influencing perception to a positive advantage. Read more to learn why you should stop trying to change reality and instead seek to influence others’ perceptions of reality.
What are the dangers of conformity? How do people bond through hate and dehumanization? Brené Brown claims that we tend to strive for belonging by trying to fit in. However, by doing so, we find ourselves more isolated and afraid to express ourselves authentically. Find out how this process unfolds and the risks that come with trying to conform.