The Synopsis

According to author Stephen Covey, a paradigm is the way, each one of us perceives and understands the world. In the iconic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he explains that our paradigms are at the core of our characters. And shifting these paradigms is the key to our transformation.  Distinguishing between that which is important and that which is urgent, Covey helps us find a balance that makes us more effective in our own life. 

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari is one of the most popular books of the last 10 years. It celebrates human achievement and the rapid scientific advancements we're making. But a larger question has always fascinated us: how did Homo sapiens come to dominate the planet? And what does the future hold for us? In this episode of The Synopsis, we look at Harari's main observations in Sapiens as he attempted to trace the history, and predict the future, of Homo sapiens. 

What do confirmation bias, the halo effect, heuristics, prospect theory, duration neglect have in common? Thinking Fast and Slow by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman examines our decision-making and the traps we fall into when trying to reach what we believe is a wise decision.  Kahneman says our behavior is determined by two different systems – one fast, and the other slow. The first is impulsive, automatic, intuitive and the second is thoughtful, deliberate, and calculating.  And the conflict between the two determines our decisions.

‘What can I do to turn the obstacle into an advantage?'  In the 2014 book, The Obstacle Is The Way author Ryan Holiday explains how we can use stoicism to tackle obstacles and then use them to our advantage. Holiday says obstacles can help us move ahead in our life's journey. In this episode of The Synopsis, we take a quick look at the main lessons from The Obstacle is the Way.

Okinawa in Japan has the highest number of people who live 100 years or more. Even the oldest Okinawans are considered healthy, blessed with the emotional, physical, and intellectual capacity to live and function independently. Hector Garcia and Francesc Moralles examined their way of life to glean life lessons from the people and culture of Okinawa and shared these important tips in their book Ikigai.  While factors like diet, climate, and simple outdoor lives certainly play a part in their good health, the authors found that Ikigai determines their contentment and longevity.  Check out our book summary to find out how Ikigai could change your life. 

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari explains seven virtues that we all can practice to remove negativity from our minds and accomplish our life's purpose.  Author Robin Sharma's 1996 self-help classic explains that the world teaches us to compete in an unending rat race. Sharma says we must instead turn inwards to find our unique paths towards success and fulfillment.  In this summary, we highlight the main lessons from this influential book.  

How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the most popular self-improvement books of all time.  In this timeless classic, author Dale Carnegie shares simple, practical steps that anyone can take to transform their friendships and relationships into meaningful connections that are rewarding in the long term.  Carnegie also encourages us to appreciate different perspectives and shows us how we can achieve success by winning people over.  

Rich Dad, Poor Dad came out almost 25 years ago, and it continues to inspire people to develop financial independence with its simple, tangible advice. Robert Kiyosaki's iconic book has reportedly sold over 30 million copies, and with good reason. Check out our summary of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and Kiyuosaki's tips towards creating your own wealth. 

The Subtle Art of not giving a F*ck has taken the world by storm.   Mark Manson's 2016 book, despite its provocative title, conveys an uplifting message about struggle, doubt, and success. Manson says that our struggle is what gives our life meaning. 

In this episode of The Synopsis, we look at Joel Fuhrman's popular 2011 book Super Immunity, which explains how we can strengthen our immune system, avoid illnesses, and stay healthy for the rest of our lives using superfoods.  Fuhrman also discusses the efficacy of phytochemicals, the risks of taking supplements, and what constitutes a naturally healthy diet.  

In this episode of The Synopsis, we take a quick look at James Clear's 2018 book Atomic Habits, which provides simple steps that can help you break out of your comfort zone and make deep-seated changes that will help you transform your life.  He describes a 4-step process that will help anyone cast-off ineffective habits and replace them with new habits that will take you closer to your goals.

“Doing what we already know how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But every time we create something new,  we go from  0  to  1.  The  act  of  creation  is singular, as is the moment of creation, and the result is something fresh and strange.”    Zero To One by Peter Thiel grips the reader from the very first page and doesn't let go until you've read it cover to cover. This might well be the book that launches a thousand startups, giving shape to the nascent dreams of many an entrepreneur. Having successfully navigated the testing waters of Silicon Valley, Thiel shares the ideas that have made him one of the most acclaimed investors and innovators in the world. This episode of The Synopsis distills the main lessons from Zero To One in just 10 minutes, helping you learn what goes into making a world-class startup, and what the successful ones do.