What's it about? Stop Checking Your Likes (2020) is a practical guidebook focused on liberating individuals from the constraints of external approval. It offers actionable advice and mindset shifts to foster a life filled with confidence, joy, and ease, encouraging readers to pursue their desires without hesitation, regardless of their current struggles with self-doubt. Introduction What’s in it for me? Learn the art of self-approval. In today’s digital age, it’s all too common to find ourselves obsessively checking our phones, craving that next notification – a like, a comment, or a share – that signals approval and acceptance from others. This relentless pursuit of validation can become a significant source of anxiety, as our self-worth becomes increasingly tied to algorithmic whims. But the quest for likes and comments speaks to a larger issue: our growing dependence on others’ approval. That’s the problem at the heart of Stop Checking Your Likes. Turning off notifications or...

What's it about? How to Think Like a Woman (2023) is an exploration of one woman’s journey to reclaim her love of philosophy in the face of a male-dominated canon. Interweaving memoir with the biographies of four extraordinary seventeenth- and eighteenth-century women philosophers, this inventive meditation challenges the foundations of traditional philosophical thought and envisions a more inclusive future for the discipline. Introduction What’s in it for me? A personal and historical journey through philosophy’s gender problem. The world of academic philosophy has a woman problem. Despite lofty ideals of pursuing universal truths, the field has long devalued and excluded women’s voices. This Blink to How to Think Like a Woman is a powerful blend of memoir, biography, and philosophical inquiry that recounts author Regan Penaluna’s own journey – from her disillusionment with the discipline to her discovery of a hidden tradition of feminist philosophy dating back centuries. By we...

What's it about? Stress Resets (2024) offers a plethora of quick and scientifically validated methods for managing stress. It introduces you to effective exercises that promise to ease your stress quickly without intensive meditation, medications, or alcohol. Through practical tips and exercises, it teaches you to regulate your emotions and build resilience, fundamentally changing how you perceive and handle stress. Introduction What’s in it for me? Turn your stress into opportunities for growth. Picture yourself in this scenario. You start the day tired and in a hurry, after working late the night before. While making coffee, you accidentally drop a full carton of milk. Your cleanup efforts, done in frustration, only heighten your stress. This culminates in a minor cut from the refrigerator’s kick plate and a trip to the drugstore to buy bandages. Agitated and replaying the morning’s chaos in your mind, you have a minor car accident on the way to the office. You’re overwrought an...

What's it about? A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916) explores the maturation of Stephen Dedalus, an introspective and artistically inclined young man grappling with personal and national identity, religion, and aesthetic philosophy. It frames the universally relatable struggle of growing up and self-discovery. Introduction What’s in it for me? Experience the artistic growth of Stephen Dedalus. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man takes you on a deeply personal and introspective journey of a young man's growth and conflict. This coming-of-age novel invites you to explore life through the eyes of Stephen Dedalus, an introspective student who refuses to succumb to societal and religious norms. Each step of his journey presents an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of youth, the dramatic influences of cultural and familial expectations, and the radical yet empowering shift to self-determined identity. Moreover, the book presents a compelling study of an arti...

What's it about? Get the Picture (2024) turns an investigative lens on the complex and often insular world of contemporary art along with its quirks and contradictions. It explores the obsessions that drive artists and collectors, sheds light on the personal and sometimes irrational reasons that art becomes meaningful, and unravels the motivations and passions of artists and collectors to uncover how deeper engagement with art can be achieved. Introduction What’s in it for me? Uncover the secrets of the art world. Have you ever stepped into an art gallery and felt like you were on the outside looking in? As if everyone around you was fluent in a secret visual language that you just couldn’t grasp? You're not alone, and it’s this very feeling that kicks off the journey in this Blink to Get the Picture. Here, the complex world of contemporary art is unraveled, revealing not only those who create art but also those who assign its value – gallerists, collectors, curators, and art...

What's it about? 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged (2004) aims to deepen the understanding between partners contemplating marriage through a series of insightful questions. It covers a wide range of topics, from personal values and life goals to opinions on finance, parenting, and handling conflicts, encouraging couples to explore their compatibility and future expectations together. Introduction What’s in it for me? Discover the secret to a deeper connection and a stronger future together before saying “I do.” Setting off on a lifelong journey without a map or a clear destination in mind can lead to unexpected challenges, detours, and sometimes, a road to nowhere. Similarly, venturing into marriage without a deep understanding of your partner is like setting sail without a compass. Such a significant journey requires more than love; it demands a comprehensive exploration of the person you’re planning to share your life with. Preparing for this journey means navigating l...

What's it about? Move by Move (2024) explores the profound lessons learned from over four decades playing chess, illustrating how the game fosters critical thinking, resilience, and strategic acumen. It reveals how chess transcends mere gameplay, offering invaluable wisdom applicable to navigating life's challenges and pursuing success. Introduction What’s in it for me? Learn how the wisdom of a chess master can apply to your own life. Even if you’re a novice at chess, you probably know that it’s not the easiest game to master. There’s a reason that gaining the title of “grandmaster” is such a widely respected honor. The title proves that the person has mastered such techniques as analytical and strategic thinking, abstract reasoning, concentration, patience, grit, determination, memory, creativity, and self-awareness. All of these attributes play a large role in mastering the game of chess. And so it’s no wonder that July 20 has been designated as World Chess Day by the Unit...