Discover the essential thinking tools you’ve been missing with The Great Mental Models series by Shane Parrish, New York Times bestselling author and the mind behind the acclaimed Farnam Street blog and “The Knowledge Project” podcast. This first book in the series is your guide to learning the crucial thinking tools nobody ever taught you. Time and time again, great thinkers such as Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have credited their success to mental models–representations of how something works that can scale onto other fields. Mastering a small number of mental models enables you to rapidly grasp new information, identify patterns others miss, and avoid the common mistakes that hold people back. The Great Mental Models: Volume 1, General Thinking Concepts shows you how making a few tiny changes in the way you think can deliver big results. Drawing on examples from history, business, art, and science, this book details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making and productivity. This book will teach you how to: Avoid blind spots when looking at problems. Find non-obvious solutions. Anticipate and achieve desired outcomes. Play to your strengths, avoid your weaknesses, … and more. The Great Mental Models series demystifies once elusive concepts and illuminates rich knowledge that traditional education overlooks. This series is the most comprehensive and accessible guide on using mental models to better understand our world, solve problems, and gain an advantage.

"I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was," says Bottom. "I have had a dream, and I wrote a Big Book about it," Arno Schmidt might have said. Schmidt's rare vision is a journey into many literary worlds. First and foremost it is about Edgar Allan Poe, or perhaps it is language itself that plays that lead role; and it is certainly about sex in its many Freudian disguises, but about love as well, whether fragile and unfulfilled or crude and wedded. As befits a dream upon a heath populated by elemental spirits, the shapes and figures are protean, its protagonists suddenly transformed into trees, horses, and demigods. In a single day, from one midsummer dawn to a fiery second, Dan and Franzisca, Wilma and Paul explore the labyrinths of literary creation and of their own dreams and desires. Since its publication in 1970 Zettel's Traum/Bottom's Dream has been regarded as Arno Schimdt's magnum opus, as the definitive work of a titan of postwar German literature. Readers are now invited to explore its verbally provocative landscape in an English translation by John E. Woods.

"The Humour of America: Selected, with an Introduction and Index of American Humorists" is a delightful anthology that brings together the best examples of American wit and humor throughout history. Compiled by various authors, this collection showcases the diverse and rich tradition of humor in the United States, featuring works from some of the most beloved humorists of their time. The book spans a range of comedic styles, from sharp satire to lighthearted anecdotes, and offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of American humor. In "The Humour of America," readers are introduced to a wide array of American humorists, including Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce, and James Thurber, among others. Each selection is accompanied by an introduction that provides context for the author’s work, allowing readers to understand the cultural and historical influences that shaped these comedic voices. The book not only offers laughter but also insight into the social and political climate of the time, highlighting the role humor plays in reflecting and critiquing society. "The Humour of America" is a celebration of American humor in all its forms, from the dry, witty observations of the great literary figures to the more slapstick, absurd antics of popular humorists. The collection is designed to appeal to readers with varying tastes in comedy, offering something for everyone. Whether it’s a satirical look at politics, a funny short story, or a clever piece of social commentary, the book provides an entertaining snapshot of the humor that has defined American culture for generations. Readers are drawn to "The Humour of America" for its rich diversity and timeless appeal. The collection offers an excellent introduction to some of the most influential humorists in American literature, making it a perfect choice for anyone interested in understanding the roots and evolution of American comedy. Owning a copy of "The Humour of America" is a great way to explore the vibrant history of humor in the United States, and is an essential addition to any bookshelf for fans of literature, humor, or social commentary.

Annotation Based on more than 20 years of experience and 40 years of research, this book presents a practical, proven strategy for creating and meeting goals that has been used by more than 1 million people to achieve extraordinary things in life. Author Brian Tracy explains the seven key elements of goal setting and the 12 steps necessary to set and accomplish goals of any size. Using simple language and real-life examples, Tracy shows how to do the crucial work of determining one's strengths, values, and true goals. He explains how to build the self-esteem and confidence necessary for achievement; how to overpower every problem or obstacle; how to overcome difficulties; how to respond to challenges; and how to continue moving forward no matter what happens. The book's "Mental Fitness" program of character development shows readers how to become the kind of person on the inside who can achieve any goal on the outside