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8 mins

15 Videos, 15 Books, 15 Ideas… in 15 Minutes

Got a minute to be inspired? Watch one of these videos to learn something cool from a bestselling nonfiction book in just about 60 seconds.
by Jennifer Duffy | Nov 26 2019

We made some videos and then wrote some articles to go with those videos. Now, we’ve pulled them all together in this handy list so that you can access those 15 videos, 15 articles, and most importantly, 15 great ideas. Why? Because knowing where to start in the vast world of nonfiction can be hard, so here’s a little head-start to make it easy on yourself. If these ideas pique your curiosity, there are thousands more to discover with the Blinkist app.

How to Make Better Decisions

Every day, we’re faced with decisions to make in our work and personal life. Understanding the process behind decision-making can be transformative. Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow is one of the bestselling nonfiction books ever. Kahneman’s ideas can be explored in detail on Blinkist, but a key insight from this text is the value of slowing down your thinking to stop your brain taking risky shortcuts. Taking a slower, more analytical thinking process can save you time in the long run. Read more here.

How to Challenge Confirmation Bias

Our impressions are influenced by underlying prejudices we aren’t even aware of. The Halo Effect by Phil Rosenzweig explores the connections our brains make to avoid cognitive dissonance – our brains don’t like holding conflicting ideas. Understanding this process of confirmation bias – your brain equating successful with happy for example – can stop you making snap judgments. Questioning your initial reactions is a way of becoming aware of these prejudices. Find out more about the halo effect on Blinkist. Read more here.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

Dr. Carol S. Dweck’s Mindset introduced the world to the idea of fixed and growth mindset and challenges the idea that a fixed mindset cannot be changed. Dweck shows how we can develop our skills, competencies, and outlook over time. It is all about recognizing your feelings and responses, and working to teach your brain new ways of reacting. Learning to have a growth mindset will help you to become more resilient and bounce back from challenges and setbacks more easily. Read more here.

How to Make—and Make the Most of—Social Connections

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People was first published in 1936, but remains a bestseller. When it comes to improving your interpersonal skills, becoming more likeable or getting people on board with your ideas, this book is a go-to. One simple change Carnegie suggests is considering your use of language–be open-minded and inclusive when approaching people. This will greatly increase your chances of success in both business and social situations. Read more here.

How to Keep Calm

Carnegie also wrote a valuable how-to guide on de-stressing and letting go of worries. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is particularly relevant in our high-stress, fast-paced world. By focusing on the now and taking decisive action, you can find peace with yourself. The emphasis Carnegie places on rest is in-keeping with the current culture of ‘self care’. Carnegie shows that rest is proven to lower anxiety and help you manage your stress levels. Read more here.

How to Turn Bad Habits into Good Ones

So often there is that one habit (or a few) we have we wish would disappear. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg reveals that habits are built on a fairly simple system of cue and reward. Because it is so simple, that also means we can take greater control of it to build habits that are more productive and don’t frustrate us. Are there any cues that you can think of off the top of your head? Read more here.

How to Catch Out Liars

Spy the Lie by Don Tennant, Philip Houston, Michael Floyd, and Susan Carnicero takes experience from US government organizations to show how you can spot people being deceitful in your everyday life. You can learn more about the different kinds of lies from this article, but a key skill you can gain from this book is spotting the physical tells of dishonesty. Read more here.

How to Speak the 5 Languages of Love

Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages has been very influential in our understanding of emotional needs and communication. Checking this book out on Blinkist can help you learn about your love language, and your partner’s as well. Understanding how to express your needs and how to show your partner love in a meaningful way can have huge benefits for your relationship. Read more here.

How to be Productive—Yes, Really

As its title suggests, David Allen’s Getting Things Done is a direct, straight-talking guide to being productive. Allen can help you organize and prioritize the tasks at hand–making your workload manageable and efficient. Allen explains how to create the most useful to-do list, but most importantly, how to actually get through it! Read more here.

How to Rationalize Irrationality

Dan Ariely’s Predictably Irrational gets to the core of our irrational habits. Learn how to predict human behavior, and understand how our irrational tendencies are exploited by freebies and sales. Ariely shows how marketers target our emotional responses, and use our brains’ response to cost and value to get sales. Read more here.

How to be Motivated

Daniel H. Pink’s Drive helps readers find the kind of motivation that leads to successful and fulfilling work. He explores what drives people in that work, and how we can find lasting and meaningful motivation within ourselves. This internal motivation is more long term than external factors, and the rewards it will reap are deeper. Read more here.

How to Hustle Every Day

Want to supplement your income with a side hustle? Look no further than Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau. This practical guide helps you lay the groundwork for a successful side hustle. Guillebeau focuses on preparation–pitch, planning, research–to ensure results. Putting this preparatory work in will help you discover which side hustle will best suit you. Read more here.

How to Sleep Better

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker gives insights into how your circadian rhythm affects your sleep. Good sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind, working with your circadian rhythm rather than fighting it will make all the difference. Checking this book out on Blinkist will help you learn more about the science of sleep, but even small changes like having a bath before bed or setting a regular sleep schedule can have significant benefits. This book can help you develop a soothing bedtime routine that will send you off to the land of nod. Read more here.

How to Protect Your Data

Internet security is a priority now more than ever, and Future Crimes by Marc Goodman can help you step up your game to protect your information. From encryption to being careful with your social media profiles, this book covers all aspects of life online. With practical tips like keeping an admin account on your computer for important tasks, this book can help keep you safe from cyber crime. Read more here.

How to be a Great Public Speaker

Are you in envy of eloquent speakers? Do you wish you could express yourself more clearly? Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo gives tips and tricks on public speaking that will have you presenting like a pro. From learning about engaging the senses, to employing humor and speaking about your passions, this book is a practical guide to getting the gift of the gab. Read more here.

Learn more about these ideas, and discover a whole range of titles from some of the leading thinkers in science, psychology, philosophy and more on Blinkist!

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