Still ploughing through this gem and more thoughts will be posted as I continue along the path of the Dao. Furthermore, the clarity and accessibility of the essays make them accessible to readers of all backgrounds and levels of knowledge. I don't know if the essays in the second half of the book are less pretentious but unfortunately I will not stick around, devote moments of my day to continue reading and find out. Genuinely one of those books for the people who have been/our going through something in their life… whatever that may be if you read this and just let it sink in… you will find the answers you’re looking for (you may not like them).

A few are very well written, didactic and sharply focused, while some had me wondering 'was the initial target for this Buzzfeed? Flow” (in case you don’t know—you probably do) is essentially what happens when we become so completely engaged with what we’re doing. Bad sleeping patterns don’t necessarily mean you are growing, but maybe you need to cut back on caffeine. Once you have so deeply accepted an idea as “truth” it doesn’t register as “cultural” or “subjective” anymore.Felt like it was kind of scraping the surface of some good ideas but never explored any of them fully. I would compare it to a book version of 101 horoscopes: simple and vague enough to make you think about them for like five minutes before moving on. We kept it small and worked when we were productive and rested or did other things when we were not. Over the past few years, Brianna Wiest has gained renown for her deeply moving, philosophical writing. Essays That Will Change The Way You Think (2016) by Brianna Wiest offers a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights that inspire personal growth.

It reminded me of that quote from Ned Flanders when he's despairing about God, "I did everything in the Bible! You think that to change your beliefs, you have to adopt a new line of thinking, rather than seek experiences that make that thinking self-evident. The essays are relatable and applicable to everyday life, making it easy to incorporate the lessons learned. Didn't change the way I think but it did change the way I pick books and to not just base things off of the title. You’ve subconsciously created a baseline above which you become uncomfortable and slide back into an acceptable state of happiness.If you consciously learn to regard the “problems” in your life as opportunities to gain a better understanding and develop a better way of living, you will emerge from the labyrinth of suffering and learn what it means to thrive.

Here are some good summary quotes on the 'nutshell' of this essay here: "The objectivity required to see the effects of present monoculture is very difficult to develop.

This book touch upon various universal themes and address common challenges whether it's finding purpose, navigating relationships, or understanding the complexities of the human mind. What if, after changing the way you think, you could enhance your life experience further by controlling the way you feel? In a more cerebral context, if you consciously learn to regard the “problems” in your life as openings for you to adopt a greater understanding and then develop a better way of living, you will step out of the labyrinth of suffering and learn what it means to thrive.