The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s the psychology behind following your gut? How is intuition like a muscle? We’ve all been told to “trust your gut feeling” at some point in our lives. Psychologist Richard Wiseman explains why this is important and why you should never ignore warning signals. Continue reading to learn more about following your gut, from the book The Luck Factor.
What are some of the issues with meditation research? Should we believe all the hype? Meditation research is a rapidly growing field, but it faces unique challenges. Scientists are working to understand how different forms of meditation affect the brain and behavior. They’re also trying to develop better ways to measure these effects. Let’s explore the foundations of meditation research, common misconceptions, and why it’s important to approach claims about meditation with a critical eye.
What are the characteristics of habits? How can you form good habits? You may not realize it, but approximately 95% of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors stem from habits. Therefore, understanding how to form positive habits is an important part of building a successful life. Here’s our brief overview of habit formation in psychology to help you learn how to break bad habits and embrace good ones.
Why do extroverts have more lucky moments than introverts? Why should you relax into luck? Because extroverts tend to put themselves in more new situations than introverts, they’re more likely to encounter “lucky” moments. Rather than being a form of magic, luck often comes from putting yourself into situations where positive outcomes are more likely to happen. Here’s a deeper look into extroverts and luck from the book The Luck Factor.
Is it possible to change your luck? Is there such a thing as good luck and bad luck? What can you learn from bad luck? In his book The Luck Factor, Richard Wiseman says that there’s no such thing as good or bad luck—it’s all in the way that you frame a situation. Lucky people see “bad luck” as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Here’s how you can change your perspective on luck.
Is the internet reshaping our brains? How might our digital habits affect our ability to concentrate and retain information? Nicholas Carr’s book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains explores the impact of Internet use on our cognitive functions. He argues that our online activities are altering our neural pathways, potentially diminishing our capacity for deep reading and sustained focus. Keep reading to explore Carr’s insights and their implications for our daily lives.
Is meditation really as beneficial as people claim? What specific changes can it make to your brain and overall well-being? Meditation has gained popularity in recent years, with many touting its numerous benefits. In Altered Traits, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson separate the signal from the noise to clarify what we do and don’t know about how meditation changes the brain—and, therefore, the meditator. Keep reading to learn about the science-backed effects of meditation.
Do you want a successful mindset? What’s the power of positive thinking? According to Brian Tracy, by studying the behaviors of successful individuals, you can adopt their habits and mindsets to achieve similar levels of success. Their experience provides a proven blueprint for achievement so you don’t have to figure everything out through trial and error. Discover how studying the lives of other successful people can boost your own fortune.
Is it possible to learn how to be lucky? What can you do to turn around bad luck? According to psychologist Richard Wiseman, it’s possible to manipulate luck in your favor. He shares that if you brighten your outlook, broaden your horizons, and learn to turn your luck around then better luck is more likely to find you. Here are Wiseman’s tips on how to become lucky, from his book The Luck Factor.
Is mindfulness meditation just for monks and spiritual seekers? Can everyday people benefit from this ancient practice? In Altered Traits, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson explain how mindfulness has evolved from its traditional roots to become a popular tool for self-improvement. Today, people approach meditation through various paths, ranging from deep spiritual practices to casual stress relief techniques. Keep reading to understand traditional and secular mindfulness approaches in the West.