When neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a stroke on the left side of her brain, her life as she knew it dissolved as she lost access to basic cognitive functions. With only her right brain hemisphere functioning, she experienced a period of cosmic bliss, unburdened by her ego and past traumas. Later, when she regained her left-brain cognitive functions, she also retained a connection to the right side of her brain that brought her profound inner peace.

Taylor’s key insight from her experience is that we can choose to access different parts of our brains and interrupt automatic thought processes and emotional reactions that don’t serve us. She links four areas of the brain to the “four characters within us”—each with their own ways of perceiving and navigating the world. In this guide, we’ll explore how the four characters show up in our lives and how to achieve emotional well-being by getting to know our four characters better. We’ll also compare Taylor’s ideas to other experts’ mindfulness techniques.

Do people who turn their backs on religion leave something crucial behind? Atheist philosopher and scientist Sam Harris thinks they do. He argues that those who reject the contemplative aspects of faith traditions are missing out on the contentment that comes from seeking transcendental states of mind, which has historically been the domain of religion.

Harris is known for encouraging skeptics to confront religion. In 2017’s Waking Up, he lays out a reason-based approach to spirituality that’s rooted in what science and meditation teach about the workings of the human mind.

In this guide, we’ll explore Harris’s definition of spirituality, what neuroscience says about the nature of consciousness, and Harris’s argument that while consciousness is real, your sense of self is an illusion. We’ll examine what spiritual enlightenment looks like from a secular worldview, its implications for self-improvement, and what science and theology have to say about consciousness, the soul, and the mind.

Why do some nations develop thriving economies and stable governments while others continually struggle with poverty and instability? According to Tim Marshall in Prisoners of Geography, the answer lies in geography. Marshall argues that a nation’s geography can determine its fate—nations with bountiful natural resources and protective physical features tend to thrive and prosper while other nations struggle by comparison.

In our guide, you’ll learn how rivers, mountains, and people interact to shape a nation’s fortunes. You’ll also learn how geography shapes the way that nations interact with each other. On the international stage, Marshall argues, nations use trade, diplomacy, and military force as they vie for access to geographical bounties—troves of resources, trade routes, and defensive features. As we cover Marshall’s ideas, we’ll consider a variety of perspectives on the role of geography in politics. We’ll also contrast these views with those of historians who argue that other forces, such as economics and culture, have been more influential in shaping history.

When’s the last time you did something fun? For many of us, as we get older, fun starts to take a backseat to the neverending list of adult responsibilities. But what if it didn't have to be that way? In The Power of Fun, award-winning science writer Catherine Price uses research and personal anecdotes to explain why fun is fundamental to living a happy and healthy life and how everyone can start having more fun.

In this guide, we’ll define fun and why it matters and elaborate on how modern society has made it harder to prioritize fun. We’ll then outline Price’s step-by-step guide to invite more fun into your life. In our commentary, we’ll expand on Price’s research with insight from other writers and experts in the psychology of well-being, including Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow, Stuart Brown, founder of the Institute for Play, and Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project.

In This Is Marketing, entrepreneur and marketing expert Seth Godin challenges conventional marketing strategies. He argues that in today's media-saturated world, traditional marketing techniques are no longer effective. Instead, Godin emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with customers based on trust, authenticity, and empathy. Effective marketing, according to Godin, goes beyond mere sales and aims to bring about positive changes in people's lives.

In this guide, we’ll explain why Godin says old marketing techniques are no longer effective and outline his guiding principles for successful marketing in the modern age. We complement his suggestions with insights from his other books as well as those of other marketing experts such as Ryan Holiday (Perennial Seller), Byron Sharp (How Brands Grow), and Pat Flynn (Superfans).

Video games are meant to be fun, but making video games can be anything but. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, video game journalist Jason Schreier gives a rare look into the inner workings of the video game industry and the harsh reality of being a game developer: long hours, enormous pressure to meet deadlines, and an unpredictable, constantly changing work environment. Schreier discusses the development cycles of 10 games, ranging from indie darlings to AAA flops, as told by developers whom Schreier interviewed.

This guide organizes the themes and key ideas from the case studies in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels into four challenges that video game developers face: accounting for games’ interactivity, constantly evolving technology, the impossibility of making and adhering to a schedule during development, and interference from people outside of the development studio. Our commentary adds background information for readers less familiar with the gaming industry and further explores the human impact of industry practices.

Do you ever wonder why you feel so serene sitting at the beach, watching the waves? You’re likely experiencing Blue Mind. In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state, which he calls the Blue Mind state. He explains that we’re naturally attracted to water because of how it aided our survival in the past and that we still derive benefits from water today. Nichols is a research associate and co-director of multiple environmental organizations.

In our guide, we’ll explore why humans are so attracted to water and describe the ways it reduces stress and allows the mind to heal. We’ll also discuss why it appeals to our senses, such as sight and hearing, and look at different ways of being in or around water. We’ll conclude by exploring society’s relationship with water and how it might be improved. We’ll add scientific and social context for Nichols’s ideas and discuss alternatives to the tips he offers.

In Competitive Strategy, renowned economist, best-selling author, and Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter presents a comprehensive framework for businesses seeking to achieve a competitive advantage. Originally published in 1980, this groundbreaking book revolutionized the field of strategic management and remains an invaluable resource for business leaders operating in complex and competitive environments.

This guide explores Porter’s insights and practical advice for gaining a competitive advantage, covering:

• Five factors that influence a market’s competitiveness and profit potential
• Four research areas for understanding and anticipating competitors’ strategies
• Three strategies for managing the five factors and outperforming competitors

Additionally, we’ll complement Porter’s ideas with research from management professionals and we’ll suggest actionable strategies to help you apply his concepts to your own business.

With a vast ensemble of screens at our fingertips, technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. And although this technological boom has delivered exponentially greater access to information, this access ultimately harms our productivity and ability to fulfill our goals, according to neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley and psychologist Larry D. Rosen. In their 2017 book The Distracted Mind, Gazzaley and Rosen argue that technology has made us significantly more prone to distractions and interruptions, creating what they call “the distracted mind.”

In this guide, we’ll examine Gazzaley and Rosen’s arguments about the distracted mind and the ways that technology has exacerbated it. We’ll also discuss their proposed strategies for alleviating this condition by taking steps to improve our brain’s cognitive control and by modifying our environment. Throughout this guide, we’ll also take a deeper dive into the neuroscience that underlies Gazzaley and Rosen’s arguments, and consider actionable ways to implement their advice.

In We Should All Be Millionaires, self-made millionaire Rachel Rodgers argues that all women, especially women of color, can and should strive to become millionaires. According to Rodgers, women succumb to myths and stereotypes that prevent them from earning more. Rather than simply work harder or live more frugally, women must change how they think and feel about money, reclaim their time and energy, and stop underselling themselves. By following Rodgers’s advice, you can become more financially confident, grow your wealth, and live with more freedom and autonomy.

In this guide, we’ll discuss ways to develop a positive money mindset, manage your time and energy, and increase your wealth by recognizing the worth of your work. We’ll also compare Rodgers’s advice with that of other entrepreneurs and financial experts and provide practical tips on how to implement her strategies.