The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s wrong with focusing on goals? Are you comfortable with established ways of doing things? John C. Maxwell argues that leaders must make an active effort to grow and improve instead of just treating growth as a natural result of their experiences. You can do this by pursuing growth instead of achievement and by innovating instead of sticking to tradition. Keep reading for Maxwell’s advice on leading with a growth mindset.
To find long-lasting happiness, what should you actually do? What changes should you make in your life? Psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky asserts that positive thoughts and behaviors are the happiness factors you can control. She says that you can encourage this positivity by practicing happiness activities across three life areas: mental and physical health, relationships, and purpose. Read more to learn nine of Sonja Lyubomirsky’s happiness activities from her book The How of Happiness.
How does your mental health affect your thinking? What kind of friends are particularly good for your health? Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen takes a holistic approach to brain health. According to Dr. Amen, mental health—including your thought patterns, social connections, and spiritual beliefs and practices—affects your brain’s well-being. Keep reading to take a closer look at how your mental health impacts your brain health.
What does the Warrior archetype look like? What does it mean to embody the Warrior mindset? The Warrior archetype, as defined by Carl Jung, is a part of the male psyche concerned with carrying out tasks and adopting discipline and courage. While the Warrior can be a healthy expression of masculinity, it can also be negative if unbalanced or immature. Learn what it takes to develop a healthy Warrior mindset.
Is it possible to control how happy you are? Can you override or offset your genetics? According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, 40% of your happiness is within your control. She identifies the factors that contribute to happiness and explains how to harness the one factor that will yield to your influence. Keep reading to discover how to control happiness with Lyubomirsky’s strategies.
What is the role of the limbic system? What are its various components, and what does each one do? According to psychiatrist and brain health expert Daniel G. Amen, many people’s physical, mental, and cognitive problems arise from physical damage to specific regions of the brain and their associated functions. In this context, he discusses these regions in his book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. Keep reading to understand the limbic system and its functions in your brain and body.
What’s the importance of happiness? How can happiness change the world for the better? Tal Ben-Shahar believes happiness is a worthy cause that everyone should prioritize. Not only does it measure the quality of life, but it can also reshape society. Find out how effective happiness is in your personal life and the world.
How effectively does science predict human behavior? Does reason or irrationality account for the decisions people make? What’s the true secret of persuasion? Rory Sutherland’s Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life argues that contemporary economic and political theories are flawed. They hinge on reason as a predictor of human behavior, so any attempts to persuade people using reason are doomed to fail. Continue reading for an overview of this thought-provoking book that could cause you to change the way you and your business operate.
How does the placebo effect work? Are placebos limited to pharmaceuticals? How susceptible are you to them? The placebo effect is a common phenomenon in which the mind and body behave counter to reason. Rory Sutherland says you can use it in life and work. He looks at how the placebo effect works, the characteristics of effective placebos, and how the effect manifests in areas of life beyond medicine. Read more to learn about the power of the placebo effect and how to use it to an advantage.
How much do our circumstances influence our happiness? How is happiness like a muscle? How important are gratitude and forgiveness? Psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky says that happiness is more than just a positive state of mind. It’s a state of being that enhances your health, strengthens your relationships, and fuels both your creativity and productivity. Keep reading for several Sonja Lyubomirsky quotes from The How of Happiness.