As the nights get darker, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book, and if you’re looking for inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. The Hugoversity library is full of recommendations for books that will make you think, whether you want to learn about your craft (PR and marketing) or yourself.
This review time, it’s the turn of graphic designer extraordinaire Shannon, who read 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think, by Brianna Wiest.
So, what did she think?
What’s it all about?
The book does what it says on the tin. It’s a collection of (you guessed it) 101 thought-provoking essays that help the reader to gain new perspectives on a variety of topics.
Author Brianna Wiest is an American writer and poet, whose work often focuses on themes such as mindfulness, spirituality, and emotional intelligence.
This collection of essays covers everything from work relationships, anxiety and mental health to emotional intelligence and subconscious behaviours – a fascinating mix with something for everyone.
What did we learn?
Although I enjoyed them all, there were a number of essays that really leapt out at me and made me think.
From the chapter entitled The Psychology Of Getting Unstuck And The Three Stages Of Making Habits Autonomous, I learned that “what separates experts from the rest of us is a blend of profound self-control, disciplined routine, and unwavering dedication” – good advice for anyone who wants to become well-known in their field.
In Why Logical People Lead Better Lives (In A Generation Where “Passion” Is Premium), I discovered how to distinguish the difference between passion and purpose and how those both can be used to build a better, happier, more productive, and genuine life.
And from Eight Cognitive Biases That Are Creating The Way You Experience Your Life, I began to understand how each of our perceptions and lived experience shape our reality or, as Wiest puts it: “There are psychological biases that prevent us from seeing an objective reality.
“In a sense, our collective reality is nothing but subjective experience v. subjective experience.”
The book is littered with helpful soundbites and new ways of looking at things, and was written in an easily accessible way.
Overall, I gained new perspectives, learned new ways of thinking and living, and generated a deeper understanding of topics that can help me in my relationships, work environments, mental health, and social situations.
What did we think?
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It’s a long read (of course, 101 essays are a lot!) but the perfect book to pick up and put down as you please. It was engaging, thought provoking and insightful.
If you are a right-brained, creative (and often emotional) thinker like me – I would definitely recommend giving it a read!
