People share things that make them look good, knowledgeable, or in the know. By offering something that enhances a person's status or identity, your content or product becomes more likely to be shared.

Social Currency

Certain cues in the environment can prompt people to think about your product or idea. A strong association with a specific context or trigger ensures your idea stays top-of-mind.

Triggers

People share content that evokes strong emotions, whether it’s awe, anger, humor, or sadness. The intensity of the emotional reaction often determines its shareability.

Emotion

Ideas that are observable and visible to others spread more easily. If people see others using your product or engaging with your idea, they are more likely to follow suit.

Public

Content that is useful or solves problems tends to get shared. When people see value in the information, they’re motivated to pass it along to help others.

Practical Value

The New York Times bestseller that explains why certain products and ideas become popular. “Jonah Berger knows more about what makes information ‘go viral’ than anyone in the world.” —Daniel Gilbert, author of the bestseller Stumbling on Happiness What makes things popular? If you said advertising, think again. People don’t listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers. But why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content go viral? Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade answering these questions. He’s studied why New York Times articles make the paper’s own Most E-mailed list, why products get word of mouth, and how social influence shapes everything from the cars we buy to the clothes we wear to the names we give our children. In Contagious, Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission. Discover how six basic principles drive all sorts of things to become contagious, from consumer products and policy initiatives to workplace rumors and YouTube videos. Learn how a luxury steakhouse found popularity through the lowly cheesesteak, why anti-drug commercials might have actually increased drug use, and why more than 200 million consumers shared a video about one of the most boring products there is: a blender. Contagious provides specific, actionable techniques for helping information spread—for designing messages, advertisements, and content that people will share. Whether you’re a manager at a big company, a small business owner trying to boost awareness, a politician running for office, or a health official trying to get the word out, Contagious will show you how to make your product or idea catch on.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

writing

Reading & Writing

education

Learning & Education

entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

books

Books

Jonah Berger

Contagious

Cohen argues that acknowledging what we don't know can lead to personal growth and deeper understanding. By accepting uncertainty, we open ourselves to new possibilities and learning experiences.

Uncertainty

Recognizing our own ignorance fosters humility, which is essential for meaningful interactions and relationships. This humility allows us to listen more attentively and engage with others more authentically.

The Value of Humility

Admitting our lack of knowledge can spark curiosity and a desire to explore and learn. This inquisitiveness drives innovation and a deeper appreciation of the world around us.

Encouraging Curiosity

Openly discussing what we don't know can enhance communication by fostering honesty and transparency. This openness can lead to more productive and meaningful conversations.

Improving Communication

Accepting that it's okay not to have all the answers can reduce the fear of failure. This mindset encourages taking risks and challenges, leading to personal and professional development

Reducing Fear of Failure

A thought-provoking exploration of humility, curiosity, and the power of uncertainty, Leah Hager Cohen's I Don't Know challenges us to find strength in admitting what we don’t know and opens the door to deeper understanding and personal growth.

A short, concise book in favor of honoring doubt and admitting when the answer is: I don’t know. From the acclaimed author of No Book but the World and 2019's searing new novel Strangers and Cousins. In a tight, enlightening narrative, Leah Hager Cohen explores why, so often, we attempt to hide our ignorance, and why, in so many different areas, we would be better off coming clean. Weaving entertaining, anecdotal reporting with eye-opening research, she considers both the ramifications of and alternatives to this ubiquitous habit in arenas as varied as education, finance, medicine, politics, warfare, trial courts, and climate change. But it’s more than just encouraging readers to confess their ignorance—Cohen proposes that we have much to gain by embracing uncertainty. Three little words can in fact liberate and empower, and increase the possibilities for true communication. So much becomes possible when we honor doubt.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Leah Hager Cohen

I don't know

Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of pragmatism in leadership. A ruler must focus on results rather than moral or ethical considerations if it ensures stability and power.

Power and Pragmatism

He argues that leaders should do whatever is necessary to achieve and maintain power, even if it involves deceit or cruelty, as long as it benefits the state.

The Ends Justify the Means

Success depends on a combination of virtù (personal ability, strength, and strategy) and fortuna (luck or circumstances). A wise leader must master both to adapt to changing situations.

Virtù and Fortuna

Machiavelli advises that it is better for a ruler to be feared than loved, as fear is a stronger and more reliable motivator than affection, but a ruler should avoid being hated.

Fear vs. Love

A ruler should appear virtuous, even if they are not. The perception of qualities like generosity, compassion, and integrity can strengthen authority, even if the reality is different.

The Role of Appearance

A groundbreaking treatise on political strategy and leadership, The Prince explores the ruthless pragmatism and cunning necessary for rulers to acquire, maintain, and wield power effectively in a volatile world.

The most famous book on politics ever written, The Prince remains as lively and shocking today as when it was written almost five hundred years ago. Initially denounced as a collection of sinister maxims and a recommendation of tyranny, it has more recently been defended as the first scientific treatment of politics as it is practiced rather than as it ought to be practiced. Harvey C. Mansfield's brilliant translation of this classic work, along with the new materials added for this edition, make it the definitive version of The Prince, indispensable to scholars, students, and those interested in the dark art of politics. This revised edition of Mansfield's acclaimed translation features an updated bibliography, a substantial glossary, an analytic introduction, a chronology of Machiavelli's life, and a map of Italy in Machiavelli's time. "Of the other available [translations], that of Harvey C. Mansfield makes the necessary compromises between exactness and readability, as well as providing an excellent introduction and notes."—Clifford Orwin, The Wall Street Journal "Mansfield's work . . . is worth acquiring as the best combination of accuracy and readability."—Choice "There is good reason to assert that Machiavelli has met his match in Mansfield. . . . [He] is ready to read Machiavelli as he demands to be read—plainly and boldly, but also cautiously."—John Gueguen, The Sixteenth Century Journal

politics

Politics

Niccolò Machiavelli

The Prince

The novel explores how every decision we make shapes our lives. It emphasizes that while regrets are natural, they shouldn't define us because every path has its unique value.

Every Choice Matters

Nora's journey through alternate lives shows that the seemingly perfect life may still come with its challenges. This highlights the importance of appreciating what we have.

The Grass Isn't Always Greener

True happiness comes from living a life aligned with your own values and passions, not by trying to meet societal expectations or others' standards.

Living Authentically

The story teaches us to confront and learn from regrets rather than dwelling on them. It’s a reminder that we can still shape our future regardless of our past choices.

Overcoming Regrets:

The Midnight Library encourages readers to shift their perspective on life, focusing on possibilities and self-growth instead of failures and missed opportunities.

The Power of Perspective

A despondent woman, caught between life and death, discovers a magical library filled with books that reveal the infinite lives she could have lived, leading her on a journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of true fulfillment.

The #1 New York Times bestselling WORLDWIDE phenomenon Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction | A Good Morning America Book Club Pick | Independent (London) Ten Best Books of the Year "A feel-good book guaranteed to lift your spirits."—The Washington Post The dazzling reader-favorite about the choices that go into a life well lived, from the acclaimed author of How To Stop Time and The Comfort Book. Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better? In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting blockbuster novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

Matt Haig was born in Sheffield, England. He writes books for both adults and children, often blending the worlds of domestic reality and outright fantasy, with a quirky twist.

Matt Haig

The Midnight Library

People and situations often appear perfect from the outside, but everyone has struggles and secrets hidden beneath the surface.

Perception vs. Reality

Rachel's journey shows the danger of self-doubt and the necessity of reclaiming trust in one's instincts, even after mistakes.

The Importance of Trusting Yourself

The book highlights how unresolved trauma and addiction can cloud judgment and complicate relationships.

The Impact of Trauma and Addiction

Abusive and manipulative relationships, like Rachel's with Tom, can severely damage a person’s sense of self-worth and reality.

Toxic Relationships Are Harmful

Despite her struggles, Rachel’s persistence leads her to uncover the truth, demonstrating resilience even in the face of adversity.

The Strength of Determination

"An alcoholic woman becomes entangled in a missing person investigation, uncovering shocking truths about herself and the people she thought she knew."

The #1 New York Times bestseller, USA Today Book of the Year and now a major motion picture starring Emily Blunt.   Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple having breakfast on their deck. She's even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It's only a minute until the train moves on, but it's enough. Now everything's changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train

Alice's journey begins with her curiosity, which leads her down the rabbit hole. The story highlights the importance of being open to exploring the unknown and embracing new experiences.

Curiosity and Exploration

Alice repeatedly questions who she is as she encounters various bizarre characters and situations. This reflects the theme of self-discovery and understanding one's own identity, especially during times of change.

Identity and Self-Discovery

Wonderland operates on its own unique set of rules, often defying conventional logic. This challenges readers to think about the nature of reality and how rules shape our understanding of the world.

The Absurdity of Logic

Alice experiences physical growth and shrinking throughout the story, symbolizing the emotional and intellectual growth that comes with navigating life's challenges and uncertainties.

Growth and Change

The fantastical world of Wonderland celebrates the power of imagination. The story encourages readers to embrace creativity and see the world from different perspectives.

Imagination and Creativity

A curious young girl tumbles into a whimsical world where logic is twisted, identity is questioned, and imagination knows no bounds

Alice can't believe her eyes when a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and carrying a pocket watch dashes by her. She chases after him, down a rabbit hole to a strange land full of exotic creatures, like the Mad Hatter and March Hare, a smiling Cheshire cat, a philosophical caterpillar, and a tempermental croquet-playing queen. Alice can hardly keep track of all the curious characters, let alone herself! Lewis Carroll's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has been adapted to an easier reading level for Stepping Stones, while keeping all the fun, nonsense, and fantastic twists of the original book.

Lewis Carroll

Alice in Wonderland

Aslan’s willingness to sacrifice himself to save Edmund symbolizes profound bravery and selflessness. This act mirrors the concept of a noble leader who prioritizes the well-being of others over personal safety. The children, especially Lucy and Peter, also demonstrate courage by stepping into roles of leadership in Narnia’s darkest hour. The story encourages readers to embrace challenges and stand up for what is right, even when afraid.

Courage and Sacrifice

The stark contrast between Aslan (representing good) and the White Witch (representing evil) is central to the narrative. The White Witch’s endless winter signifies oppression and despair, while Aslan’s arrival heralds hope and renewal. This theme emphasizes the idea that good ultimately triumphs over evil, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, and that each individual’s choices can tip the balance.

Good vs. Evil

Edmund’s betrayal stems from his jealousy and desire for power, manipulated by the Witch’s false promises. His eventual remorse and redemption underline the importance of acknowledging one’s mistakes and seeking forgiveness. Aslan’s sacrifice to redeem Edmund shows unconditional love and the possibility of a fresh start, teaching readers that no one is beyond redemption.

Redemption and Forgiveness

Lucy’s unwavering belief in Narnia, despite initial skepticism from her siblings, demonstrates the importance of faith in what cannot yet be seen or understood. Aslan’s mysterious but profound presence symbolizes the power of trust and belief in higher ideals or forces. The children’s journey reflects the transition from doubt to belief, a theme that resonates with readers facing uncertainty in their own lives.

Faith and Belief

The Pevensie siblings are strongest when they work together. Each sibling brings unique strengths: Peter’s leadership, Susan’s pragmatism, Edmund’s eventual insight, and Lucy’s compassion. Their unity, despite disagreements, is what helps them triumph over the Witch and restore peace to Narnia. This reinforces the importance of collaboration and mutual respect in achieving common goals.

Unity and Teamwork

Four siblings stumble upon a magical wardrobe that leads to a snow-covered land under the grip of an evil witch, where they must join forces with a noble lion to battle darkness, fulfill an ancient prophecy, and restore hope to a broken kingdom.

Now considered a classic, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is C.S. Lewis's second book of The Chronicles of Narnia, which has captured the imaginations of children for several generations.

C. S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Even democratic societies are not immune to the rise of fascism when fear, economic instability, and propaganda dominate public discourse.

Vulnerability to Fascism

People often believe "it can't happen here," underestimating the potential for authoritarian leaders to exploit democratic systems for personal gain.

Danger of Complacency

The novel highlights how manipulative messaging and suppression of dissent can sway public opinion and consolidate power.

Power of Propaganda

Weakening institutions like the judiciary, press, and legislative systems paves the way for autocratic rule, as seen through the dismantling of checks and balances.

Erosion of Institutions

Grassroots resistance, even in the face of great danger, is essential to preserving democracy and individual freedoms. The protagonist, Doremus Jessup, demonstrates the courage to fight back.

Role of Resistance

A small-town journalist witnesses the rise of a populist dictator in America, exposing how fear and propaganda can dismantle democracy in Sinclair Lewis's simple political satire, It Can't Happen Here.

“The novel that foreshadowed Donald Trump’s authoritarian appeal.”—Salon It Can’t Happen Here is the only one of Sinclair Lewis’s later novels to match the power of Main Street, Babbitt, and Arrowsmith. A cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy, it is an alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America. Written during the Great Depression, when the country was largely oblivious to Hitler’s aggression, it juxtaposes sharp political satire with the chillingly realistic rise of a president who becomes a dictator to save the nation from welfare cheats, sex, crime, and a liberal press. Called “a message to thinking Americans” by the Springfield Republican when it was published in 1935, It Can’t Happen Here is a shockingly prescient novel that remains as fresh and contemporary as today’s news. Includes an Introduction by Michael Meyer and an Afterword by Gary Scharnhorst

Sinclair Lewis

It Can't Happen Here

The book explores how revolutionary ideologies often prioritize collective goals over individual lives. It raises questions about whether the end justifies the means, especially when ideals lead to oppression and violence.

The Conflict Between Ideals and Humanity

Through the character of Rubashov, a former revolutionary, the novel critiques totalitarian regimes, showing how they manipulate truth and morality to justify their actions. This highlights the dangers of absolute power.

Moral Relativism and Totalitarianism

Darkness at Noon examines how revolutions can betray their original ideals. Rubashov reflects on how the movement he helped build has devolved into tyranny, suggesting that the pursuit of power often corrupts noble intentions.

The Betrayal of Revolutionary Principles

The novel delves into the struggle between loyalty to the party and personal conscience. Rubashov's internal conflict represents the broader dilemma faced by individuals in oppressive systems: to conform or to stand by their moral beliefs.

The Role of Individual Conscience

The use of psychological tactics in Rubashov’s imprisonment demonstrates how authoritarian regimes crush dissent. The novel portrays the devastating effects of isolation and constant surveillance on the human spirit.

Psychological Manipulation and Isolation

"A former revolutionary grapples with his conscience and the betrayal of his ideals while facing the ruthless machinery of a totalitarian regime."

Fictional portrayal of the nightmare politics of our time. Its hero is an aging revolutionary, imprisoned and psychologically tortured by the Party to which he has dedicated his life. As the pressure to confess preposterous crimes increases, he re-lives a career that embodies the terrible ironies and human betrayals of a totalitarian movement masking itself as an instrument of deliverance.

Arthur Koestler

Darkness at Noon

The Power Hour: Use the first hour of your day wisely. Split it into three 20-minute segments: Movement: Exercise to energize your body. Reflection: Meditate, journal, or plan your day. Learning: Read or listen to educational content to feed your mind.

20/20/20

Set clear goals and priorities for the day during early hours. A focused morning leads to a productive day.

Win the Morning, Win the Day

Dedicate time to learning something new daily. For example, read a book, explore new skills, or practice creative thinking.

Build a Growth Habit

Combine physical wellness (workouts, yoga) with mental clarity (gratitude, mindfulness) to maintain holistic health.

Mind-Body Balance

Waking up at 5:00 AM daily creates a sense of discipline. Over time, this habit will transform your productivity and mindset.

Consistency is Key

"Transform the life before sunrise: The 5:00 AM Club is the gateway to mastering productivity, mindset, and personal growth through the power of early mornings."

Legendary leadership and elite performance expert Robin Sharma introduced The 5am Club concept over twenty years ago, based on a revolutionary morning routine that has helped his clients maximize their productivity, activate their best health and bulletproof their serenity in this age of overwhelming complexity.      Now, in this life-changing book, handcrafted by the author over a rigorous four-year period, you will discover the early-rising habit that has helped so many accomplish epic results while upgrading their happiness, helpfulness and feelings of aliveness.      Through an enchanting—and often amusing—story about two struggling strangers who meet an eccentric tycoon who becomes their secret mentor, The 5am Club will walk you through:<ul><li>How great geniuses, business titans and the world’s wisest people start their mornings to produce astonishing achievements</li><li>A little-known formula you can use instantly to wake up early feeling inspired, focused and flooded with a fiery drive to get the most out of each day</li><li>A step-by-step method to protect the quietest hours of daybreak so you have time for exercise, self-renewal and personal growth</li><li>A neuroscience-based practice proven to help make it easy to rise while most people are sleeping, giving you precious time for yourself to think, express your creativity and begin the day peacefully instead of being rushed</li><li>“Insider-only” tactics to defend your gifts, talents and dreams against digital distraction and trivial diversions so you enjoy fortune, influence and a magnificent impact on the world</li></ul>Part manifesto for mastery, part playbook for genius-grade productivity and part companion for a life lived beautifully, The 5am Club is a work that will transform your life. Forever.

Robin Sharma is one of the world’s premier thinkers on leadership, personal growth and life management. The bestselling author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Who Will Cry When You Die? and The Saint, the Surfer, and the CEO and four other books on self-transformation. Robin Sharma is in constant demand internationally as keynote speaker at the conferences of many of the most powerful companies on the planet including Microsoft, Nortel Networks, General Motors, FedEx and IBM. He is a resident of Ontario, Canada. (Barnes and Noble)

Contagious

I don't know

The Prince

The Midnight Library

The Girl on the Train

PURANA PEN