Teju Cole Reads Anne Carson

Everyone gets only 24 hours in a day. But how much more could you get done—and how much more life could you experience—if you could slow those hours down and ensure you’re getting the most out of every moment? Organizational psychologist Benjamin Hardy writes in Slipstream Time Hacking (2015) that you can do exactly that, moving more quickly to make time run more slowly.

In this guide, we’ll explore Hardy’s theory that you can increase the speed you’re traveling toward your goals while simultaneously decreasing the rate at which time seems to pass—effectively buying yourself more time to enjoy the ride. Along the way, we’ll look at how other psychology, physics, and even science fiction experts have explored the principles that Hardy incorporates into his method.

Do you want to learn to get more out of the novels you read? Are you interested in learning how authors communicate through literary devices like symbols, archetypes, and allusions?

How to Read Literature Like a Professor is a crash course in the art of reading intelligently. In this book, you’ll learn how to identify common literary conventions and gain the skills necessary to analyze them like a professor would. You’ll discover why Goose had to die in Top Gun and why sex scenes aren’t always about sex in literature.

In Ego Is the Enemy, bestselling author and marketer Ryan Holiday defines ego as an unhealthy belief in one’s own importance. He notes that many successful people are famously egotistical, and he contends that as a result, society tends to think that ego is an important ingredient in success, as if ego leads to accomplishment. However, Holiday argues that ego leads far more often to failure, and that people find success only when they’re able to control their egotistical impulses.

To make his arguments, Holiday draws on the philosophies of Stoic thinkers, advising us to resist the urges of our emotions in order to maintain clarity of thinking. In our guide to his book, we’ll examine his theories through the lens of Stoicism, and we’ll compare them to other management theories that similarly aim to help you find success.

Beyond Order is Jordan B. Peterson’s hard-hitting, no-nonsense guide to navigating the chaos of our difficult world and living a life of excellence. In it, Peterson offers 12 rules to help you reduce the chaos in your life, create order, and live responsibly.

Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist and emeritus professor at the University of Toronto who rose to fame in 2016 for his controversial critique of identity politics. Peterson is also known for his YouTube-based lecture series on mythology, religion, and psychology, as well as for staunchly supporting free speech, monogamous marriage, and the importance of the Bible to Western culture.

Our guide discusses Peterson’s perspectives on how and why to listen to your conscience, how to find the courage to take responsibility for yourself and your loved ones, and how to show up for life as fully as you can. In commentary, we both challenge and support his ideas, and we explore alternatives as well as specific how-tos for his more abstract suggestions.

Although we live longer today and have more material wealth than ever, many people feel anxious rather than happy. In Flow, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi offers an antidote. People are happiest when they feel in control of their inner thoughts and feelings and experience a “flow state”: a sense of enjoyment, purpose, and meaning.

Csikszentmihalyi explains: how controlling and ordering your consciousness brings flow and enjoyment, which personality characteristics produce flow, and how to find flow in your work and relationships.

The Beginning of Infinity is a counterargument to the belief—advanced by numerous scientists and philosophers throughout history—that there is a finite amount of knowledge in the universe. Theoretical physicist David Deutsch rejects the idea that humanity will someday know everything there is to know, and he explains why this belief is not only wrong, but harmful.

Deutsch argues instead that there’s no limit to knowledge, because rather than simply “finding” it, we constantly create it through questions, studies, and calculations. And because there’s no limit to the knowledge we can create, there’s no limit to how much we can improve the world.

In this guide, we’ll provide background information and real-world applications to support Deutsch’s more complicated ideas, and we’ll compare his theories to those of other scientists and disciplines.

In Lex Fridman's podcast, he welcomes guest Yuval Noah Harari for a deep dive into the comparison and contrast between human nature and artificial intelligence (AI). Examining the interdependence and harmony of intelligence and consciousness in humans, Harari contemplates whether such elements could be refashioned within artificial beings. Additionally, he reflects on the ethical considerations of AI and its potential to influence human emotions, advocating for stringent regulations to ensure transparency.

Harari also discusses the uniqueness of human cooperation in comparison to other species which he ascribes to shared beliefs rather than individual skills. He highlights the role of collective narratives in fostering unity and instigating change in the global social landscape. Lastly, Harari shares his personal journey of self-acceptance amid societal norms and religious narratives and deconstructs the universal fear of death. This enlightening discussion underscores the importance of evolving narratives and societal cooperation mechanisms for human progression.

Do you want to learn to get more out of the novels you read? Are you interested in learning how authors communicate through literary devices like symbols, archetypes, and allusions?

How to Read Literature Like a Professor is a crash course in the art of reading intelligently. In this book, you’ll learn how to identify common literary conventions and gain the skills necessary to analyze them like a professor would. You’ll discover why Goose had to die in Top Gun and why sex scenes aren’t always about sex in literature.

In When Things Fall Apart, Buddhist nun and teacher Pema Chödrön provides guidance on how to find courage and compassion amid pain, loss, and uncertainty. She writes that pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life but that these experiences can also be opportunities for growth and transformation. Drawing on ancient Buddhist wisdom and practices, Chödrön shows us how to cultivate self-awareness and acceptance and face life's challenges with grace and resilience.

In this guide, we explore Chödrön’s views on why we suffer—what causes emotional pain and perpetuates it during challenging times—and outline what you can do to turn these experiences into opportunities for growth and healing. We also compare Chödrön’s teachings to insights from other Buddhist teachers and mental health experts and provide additional context about Buddhism so you can better understand and apply these concepts to real-world challenges.

Get set for an engaging, intimate conversation in the podcast 'Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus'. Dive deep into this episode as Julia invites her mother, Judith Bowles, and acclaimed author, Amy Tan, to share candid conversations and sincere insights. Starting with a mutual memory from a momentous White House event, they traverse through multi-faceted dialogues about family connections, societal expectations around aging, personal trauma, and the journey of personal development.

In their shared exploration, the world of renowned author Amy Tan unfolds before the listeners' eyes. The acclaimed creator of 'The Joy Luck Club' opens up herself to the sensitivity of Louis-Dreyfus’s audience, sharing her life’s highs and lows, personal trauma, the solace she finds in writing, and the wisdom she would advise her younger self. Wrapped in conversational humor and the genuine warmth of mother-daughter bonds, this podcast discusses everything from literature to family secrets, providing an engaging rapport that leaves the listener eager for more.

Immerse yourself in the colourful kaleidoscope of art, popular culture, and personal trials as you journey through 'The Broski Report with Brittany Broski.' Brittany artfully navigates life's hurdles, using disruptions as metaphors for the inevitable challenges of life. She maintains an undeterred spirit, exploring the nature of art in society amidst economic and environmental struggles.

Doubling down, Brittany doesn’t shy away from delving into intense and personal subject matter. From examining the tragic trajectories of artists and drawing valuable insights into the impact of societal pressure on mental health, to dissecting modern trends in popular culture and offering personal reviews of music, Brittany invites her audience on an enlightening exploration that toes the line between whimsy, solemnity and humor. Join Brittany in her exploration of the inextricable ties between art, mental health, popular culture and the hurdles that life invariably presents.