The ways in which you experience the world—all your perceptions and emotions—feel fundamentally true. But are they? After all, the human brain hasn’t evolved to understand itself perfectly. Its main function is to help you survive. In service of that, your brain isn’t above obscuring the truth, or even telling lies. Consider your emotions. When you’re […]
Is High Cholesterol Really a Worry?
Cholesterol is an essential molecule, and without it, human life would be impossible. In fact, cholesterol is so deeply necessary that it can be synthesized by almost every cell in your body. So why do physicians around the world prescribe billions of dollars’ worth of medicines to inhibit the creation of cholesterol in our bodies? […]
What Makes a Top CEO?
Since the mid-1900s, the degree to which a CEO is a key predicator of a company’s success has more than doubled. But over that same period, the job has become exponentially more difficult. Today’s CEOs must effectively manage new problems like technological change, a volatile workforce, and cybersecurity threats. On top of those challenges, more […]
The Other Pandemic
Elton John is accustomed to singing for audiences all over the world. But the scariest performances he’s ever had to put on were for the US government. Over the years, he’s made a number of nerve-wracking presentations to urge leaders to help him in the fight against HIV and AIDS. One of John’s key points […]
How to Build Out Your Professional Network
Our brains have evolved to perceive strangers as a threat. So it’s not a surprise that you start to sweat when you walk into a large room of people you don’t know. Your heart beats faster, your breathing quickens, and your palms get clammy. Your nervous system wants you to run! Reframing the situation can […]
Don’t be a Scammer
We’re living through a new age of scammers. How many influencers have tried to sell you some dubious life-changing potion on Instagram? And don’t even get us started on the recent trend of crypto scams. Charles Schwab, the American investor and entrepreneur who built a huge financial services firm from scratch, had a key insight […]
Are Carbs the New Health Craze?
Many doctors and nutritionists have villainized the starches we eat, pointing out that they turn into sugar (which then turns into fat). But if you look around the world, especially at non-Western diets, people who eat rice and vegetables tend to have health and longevity. What gives? John A. McDougall and Mary McDougall say that […]
Can a Post-it Make You Smarter?
Note-taking is an underrated skill. When you have a good system, you don’t have to worry about remembering information later. Writing stuff down frees up your mind to concentrate on the important work of having your own ideas. But notes function as more than just an external hard drive. They can also help you think […]
Let’s Avoid the Robot Uprising
If we’ve learned one thing from movies and television, it’s that the robot uprising is going to be rough for us humans. Machines made of metal tend to have an advantage over old-fashioned flesh and blood. Who among us has time to meet an army of murderous computers on some apocalyptic battlefield? Don’t we already […]
What Does Your Voice Say About You?
Have you watched Love Is Blind on Netflix? The premise is that men and women date each other through a wall, sight unseen. During the first season, Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton got engaged after just five of these dates. They had never met prior to the show, but their voices alone were enough to fall in […]
