5 Day Reading Challenge in December 2023 📚✨

Day 1️⃣

1. How to Get Out of a Rut by Sahil Bloom (4 mins)

• Stop Digging: Recognize and cease behaviors that are worsening your situation, like negative self-talk and avoiding necessary rest.
• Change Direction: Reflect on internal and external factors that contribute to your rut. Make necessary adjustments to mindset, actions, and environment.
• Create Movement: Initiate positive actions, no matter how small, to build momentum and motivation. Utilize the concept of "Minimum Viable Progress" to start with achievable tasks and gradually expand from there.
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2. Avoiding Bad Behavior by FS Blog (6 mins)

• Experts make better decisions than novices because they have more possible actions and mental checklists to draw from based on experience.
• The act of writing brings surprises and intrinsic rewards beyond what the end result provides.
• Approaching relationships with a long-term mindset helps avoid bad behavior in the moment and cultivate meaning over decades.
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3. Baloney Detection Kit: How to Think Sceptically and Bust Bullshit by Chris Meyer (8 mins)

• Carl Sagan's "Baloney Detection Kit" provides critical thinking tools and tips for identifying false claims and poor reasoning, bringing scientific skepticism to the general public.
• Key aspects include seeking independent confirmation, considering multiple hypotheses, avoiding logical fallacies, and not becoming overly attached to any one view.
• The kit equips people to scrutinize arguments and boost quality of reasoning; Sagan wanted to spread scientist's methods of evaluating claims to promote analysis and bust bullshit.
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Day 2️⃣

1. 6 Things The Most Productive People Do Every Day by Eric Barker (9 mins)

• Meaningful Work Enhances Motivation: Medieval monks were highly productive due to their belief in the significance of their work, implying that finding meaning in one's tasks can greatly boost motivation and productivity in modern life.
• Routine and Balance: Monks maintained a strict daily routine while balancing solitude and community life, suggesting that a structured schedule combined with periods of isolation and supportive group interactions can enhance focus and efficiency.
• Physical Activity and Mindfulness: The monks' emphasis on physical labor and mindful technology use highlights the importance of exercise for mental stability and the practice of mindfulness for managing thoughts and distractions, applicable to contemporary productivity strategies.
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2. People who read live longer than those who don’t, Yale researchers say by Laurie Vazquez (3 mins)

• Longevity Linked to Reading: Yale researchers found that people over 50 who read books regularly live significantly longer than non-readers, with an average increase in lifespan of 23 months.
• Advantages of Book Reading: The study highlighted that reading books, unlike periodicals, offers cognitive benefits due to its immersive nature, leading to a 20% reduction in mortality risk.
• Broader Benefits: These longevity benefits apply regardless of gender, wealth, education, or health, and are attributed to the cognitive engagement and stress reduction provided by reading.
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3. The science of decision-making: why smart people do dumb things by Anne-Laure Le Cunff (9 mins)

• Decision-Making Dynamics: Daily decisions are based on mental models developed from experience, where choices can range from highly rational to emotionally driven. Key brain regions like the anterior cingulate cortex are involved, with emotions significantly influencing decisions.
• Challenges in Decision-Making: Intelligent individuals often face hurdles like overthinking (analysis paralysis), overconfidence, information overload, and emotional biases, which can lead to irrational choices and the 'what the hell' effect, where a minor poor decision escalates into significant consequences.
• Strategies for Effective Decisions: The DECIDE framework offers a systematic approach for smarter decisions, emphasizing the need to understand the problem, evaluate criteria, and consider alternatives. Understanding one's decision-making style (intuitive vs. rational, maximising vs. satisficing) is crucial for improving decision quality.
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Day 3️⃣

1. 12 Short Anecdotes That Entertain and Enlighten by Chris Meyer (10 mins)

• Essence of Anecdotes: Anecdotes are brief, engaging narratives often used to add depth and interest to biographical and historical accounts, illustrating points more effectively than facts alone.
• Variety and Purpose: The twelve anecdotes cover a range of themes, showcasing the power of storytelling in contexts like diplomacy, business, and personal life, to reveal character, solve problems, and convey complex ideas.
• Universal Impact: These stories demonstrate how anecdotes can enhance understanding, communication, and decision-making across various fields, from politics and history to corporate leadership and personal development.
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2. Frugal vs. Independent by Morgan Housel (3 mins)

• Frugality vs. Independence: The article distinguishes between frugality (self-deprivation despite affordability) and independence (finding joy in non-materialistic sources), challenging traditional views on wealth and happiness.
• Examples of Unconventional Wealth Management: It discusses the lives of Geoffrey Holt, Ronald Read, and Chuck Feeney, who amassed significant wealth but chose modest lifestyles, highlighting behavior over intelligence or education in financial success.
• Personal Fulfillment Over Societal Norms: The text emphasizes the importance of personal fulfillment and happiness over societal norms and expectations, using Feeney's life as an example of someone who found joy in giving away wealth rather than accumulating material possessions.
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3. Retaining and Applying What You Read by FS Blog (7 mins)

• Selective Reading: Skim many books, read a few in-depth, and re-read the best ones for deeper understanding.
• Four Reading Levels: Tailor reading approach based on material, ranging from entertainment to mastering a subject.
• Book Selection and Note-Taking: Choose time-tested books and use the 'blank sheet method' for effective note-taking and recall.
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Day 4️⃣

1. I am an introvert, and this is how I network. by Dioselin Gonzalez (9 mins)

• Introversion vs. Shyness: Highlights the difference between introversion (preference for minimal social interaction) and shyness (anxiety in social situations).
• Networking for Introverts: Offers strategies for introverts to network effectively, such as seeking quiet spaces and focusing on meaningful conversations.
• Authenticity and Adaptability: Discusses balancing true introverted nature with strategic extroverted behavior for meaningful networking, emphasizing genuine connections.
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2. The Gift of Clarity by Deb Liu (8 mins)

• Learning from Rejection: The author's repeated denial for a promotion at Facebook brought clarity and focus, guiding them to create a fulfilling job role.
• Value of Clear Communication: Emphasizing clear communication and documentation, the author shares how these practices aided in their career progression.
• Clarity in Life and Work: The author advises applying clarity in personal and professional settings to achieve success and alignment in goals and expectations.
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3. How to Create a Chain Reaction of Good Habits by James Clear (4 mins)

• Domino Effect in Habits: Changing one small habit can lead to a cascade of changes in related behaviors, as shown by Jennifer Dukes Lee's story and supported by scientific studies.
• Underlying Reasons: This effect is rooted in the interconnectedness of our habits and the human desire for consistency, aligning behaviors with our self-image.
• Practical Use: To apply this effect, start with a small, motivating habit and maintain momentum, focusing on manageable changes to foster a positive shift in personal habits and identity.
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Day 5️⃣

1. How Experts Figure What to Focus On by James Clear (4 mins)

• Discovery through Exploration: To identify a focus area, one should experiment with various options, finding what comes naturally and simplifying the decision-making process.
• Decision and Commitment: It's vital to measure progress, make a decisive choice on what to focus on, and commit to it, despite uncertainties about the 'right' time or option.
• Mastery and Simplification: Success requires consistent effort and repetition in the chosen focus area, leading to mastery of fundamentals and the ability to simplify by concentrating on essential aspects.
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2. Why People Fail to Make Important Choices by Casey Rosengren (8 mins)

• Elle AI's Role: Introduces Elle, an AI tool aiding in decision-making, highlighting its necessity for business leaders facing tough choices.
• Decision-Making Barriers: Discusses psychological obstacles like existential anxiety and fear of loss that lead to decision-making avoidance in business.
• Improving Decision Skills: Recommends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques to better confront and make impactful decisions by understanding personal desires and fears.
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3. The Beginner's Mind, How to Fail, & More by Sahil Bloom (2 mins)

• Rich Text Formatting and Content Creation: Highlights the ease of creating and formatting a wide range of content, from headings to videos, in a single rich text element, emphasizing the simplicity and efficiency in content creation.
• The Hidden Artist and Value of Friendship: Discusses the concept of an inner artist in everyone, encouraging its discovery and expression, and underscores the importance of friendship, likening its significance to art and philosophy, as essential for enriching life.
• Embracing 'Shoshin' and Learning from Failure: Advocates for adopting the Zen Buddhist concept of 'Shoshin' (beginner's mind) for personal transformation, and portrays failure as a valuable learning experience, urging a positive reframe of failures as growth opportunities.
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