Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

—Aristotle

The tools in this chapter are intended to help enhance your mind. One feature of a high-functioning mind is the capacity to store and access memories, so you’ll discover tools to augment your natural recall, thus helping you remember what you’ve read, connect with people you’ve met, and understand why you want to remember these things in the first place.

But minds are more than simple memory receptors. Healthy minds think clearly and seek to understand the world in ways that lead to happier.. Read More

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

—Aristotle

The tools in this chapter are intended to help enhance your mind. One feature of a high-functioning mind is the capacity to store and access memories, so you’ll discover tools to augment your natural recall, thus helping you remember what you’ve read, connect with people you’ve met, and understand why you want to remember these things in the first place.

But minds are more than simple memory receptors. Healthy minds think clearly and seek to understand the world in ways that lead to happier and fuller lives. To that end, there are tools here to assist you in questioning your belief systems and, just as importantly, the belief systems others may try to thrust on you. You will examine habitual thought patterns, learn to make new ones, and discover how to face your fears so you can prevent them from inhibiting you.

Another aspect of developing a resilient mind is taking care of it. That requires adequate sleep and giving your brain a chance to periodically empty itself, refresh, and recharge so that you are prepared to take on new thoughts. On top of all this, there are tools to support you in controlling your thoughts and retaining what you learn, beginning with writing book reviews, which can help you find clarity about what you’ve read and remember the information better.