The Wisdom Project

The Wisdom Project encapsulates a diverse range of ideas, aiming to simplify complex, timeless concepts into digestible insights and wisdom. It primarily focuses on personal development, productivity, mindset shifts, and interpreting key ideas from non-fiction literature, offering practical advice for intellectual and emotional growth.

Personal Development Productivity Mindset and Behavior Change Non-fiction Book Summaries Habit Formation Economics and Poverty Artificial Intelligence Philosophy and Critical Thinking Health and Wellness Career and Happiness

The hottest Substack posts of The Wisdom Project

And their main takeaways

💪 My 2025 Intentions, NOT Resolutions

1 implied HN point • 12 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Personal Growth Mental health Life Coaching Self-Improvement Mindfulness
  1. Instead of setting rigid New Year's resolutions, it's helpful to frame intentions as 'more of this, less of that.' This approach can feel more flexible and less stressful.
  2. Reflecting on personal priorities and future goals can guide you in setting meaningful intentions for the year. Ask yourself what matters most and where you want to be.
  3. Considering what your past and future selves would commend or regret can help you align your actions with what truly matters in your life.

🔑 Your Key to Wisdom is here

3 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🚌 Education Reading club
  1. The Wisdom Project offers top insights from non-fiction books as quick PDF guides.
  2. You can get the best ideas from a book in less than 5 minutes.
  3. Membership includes discounts and opportunities to vote on future book selections.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

🤔 How to schedule deep work?

1 implied HN point • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Deep Work Self-Improvement
  1. Deep work is critical in 2024.
  2. Humans need to use more of their brain for large blocks of time for creative deep work to best utilize AI.
  3. Strategies for deep work include time blocking, ritualization, eliminating distractions, setting specific goals, and making it part of your identity.

😎 Smart decisions made easy

1 implied HN point • 14 Jan 24
🚌 Education Wisdom Learning Books Nonfiction
  1. Make decisions at the right time to avoid decision fatigue.
  2. Follow the one-minute rule: if a task takes less than a minute, do it immediately.
  3. Choose to solve powerful problems that you pick, rather than being overwhelmed by painful ones forced upon you.

🤔 The Poverty Paradox

1 implied HN point • 04 Jun 23
💰 Finance Wealth Productivity Philosophy
  1. Welfare programs can sometimes perpetuate poverty instead of preventing it.
  2. Noise can significantly reduce productivity, be wary of distractions.
  3. Choosing what to focus on and what to ignore can lead to a better life.

Updated: Keys to Wisdom 🔑

1 implied HN point • 26 Mar 23
🚌 Education Books
  1. The Keys to Wisdom collection offers summaries of popular non-fiction books in a beautiful PDF format.
  2. Previous buyers get new summaries for free; discounts available based on location.
  3. The collection will be regularly updated with 3-5 new book summaries each month, so act fast to grab all future updates at the current price.

📖 Mindset: Key Ideas, Notes and Summary

1 implied HN point • 05 Feb 23
  1. Mindset can be fixed or growth-oriented, influencing how we approach challenges and opportunities.
  2. Focus on progress over perfection to achieve success and overcome obstacles.
  3. Mindset matters in various areas of life, impacting relationships, parenting, health, money, and business.

🙋 How did you increase your attention span?

0 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Development Mindfulness Habits Self-care
  1. Reducing distractions like social media and news can help improve your focus. It's easier to concentrate when you limit short videos and other time-wasting content.
  2. Practicing activities like walking, journaling, and meditation makes it easier to think deeply. These habits encourage a longer attention span by helping to clear your mind.
  3. Allowing yourself to be bored sometimes can actually boost your focus. It's okay to take breaks from screens and just enjoy moments of nothingness.

📚 My Favorite Books of 2024

0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
📚 Literature Books Reading Recommendations Genres Authors
  1. Books are a great way to learn quickly from experts. They can save you time and give you new ideas.
  2. Reading can be fun and personal. It’s okay to skip around and read only the parts that interest you.
  3. If you have specific goals or needs, asking for book recommendations can help you find the right read.

🎯 Systems vs Goals

0 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🚌 Education Self-development Life Skills Goal setting Productivity Personal Growth
  1. Goals are important because they give your life direction and purpose. Without goals, it's easy to feel lost or like you're just going in circles.
  2. Systems or habits help you achieve your goals, but they should not be the only focus. It's important to set systems that align with your goals.
  3. Take time to think about what kind of life you want to live. Once you know that, you can set goals and create systems that support that vision.

⏪︎ 2024 Recap

0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🚌 Education Learning Techniques Self-Improvement Mental models Personal Growth Decision-making
  1. First principles thinking helps you break down complex problems into basic elements. It makes finding solutions easier.
  2. Slow productivity encourages focusing on important tasks without rushing. This approach helps you work more effectively and avoid burnout.
  3. Using a decision matrix can help you make better choices. It organizes your options and clarifies which path to take.

⛔ My Beliefs Holding Me Back!

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Freelancing Startups Personal Development Business strategy
  1. Beliefs can limit your potential and hold you back from progress. It's important to question these beliefs and change them if necessary.
  2. Working alone can seem appealing, but partnering with others can lead to greater success and reduce the challenges of running a business.
  3. Asking for help and collaborating with talented people can open up new opportunities and make achieving goals much easier.

My Highlights - Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

0 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity Burnout Work-life balance Mental health Self-Improvement
  1. Doing fewer things helps you focus on quality over quantity. It's better to fully embrace fewer projects that truly matter to you.
  2. Working at a natural pace is important for sustainability. Rushing can lead to burnout, so take your time and plan things over a longer timeline.
  3. It's okay to have slower seasons in your work year. Taking breaks or working less doesn't mean you're lazy; it can actually improve your overall productivity.

😫 How do you cope with THIS?

0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Productivity Mindfulness Personal Development
  1. Your to-do list can feel never-ending, like a river of tasks. It's okay to not finish everything and prioritize your peace of mind.
  2. It's helpful to accept that you will always have more work than you can handle. This realization can reduce anxiety and improve your mindset.
  3. Reading books and reflecting on your thoughts can help you come to terms with a busy life and find balance.

📝 Billion Dollar Problem in education

0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🚌 Education Standardized Testing Creativity
  1. Standardized testing in education stifles creativity and has long-lasting effects on students and society.
  2. Education is often seen as a crucial investment that impacts one's future choices and opportunities.
  3. Key insights from nonfiction books can be condensed into a few ideas to save time and still learn the main points.

Intention & Reflection

0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🚌 Education Personal Development Productivity Self-reflection Goal setting
  1. Knowing what you want is key to productivity. Take time to plan your goals for health, career, and relationships.
  2. After taking action, it's important to reflect on whether you achieved what you set out to do. This helps you understand your progress.
  3. Combining intention and reflection is the essence of productivity. Every productivity method is trying to teach you this simple truth.

🔎 Magnification - A Cognitive Distortion

0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Science Mindfulness Self-Improvement Mental health Ethics
  1. Our minds often make small problems feel much bigger than they really are. We can trick ourselves into thinking these issues are more serious than what's actually happening.
  2. It's important to remember what we take for granted. Many people have it much harder, and recognizing our privilege can help shift our perspective.
  3. Practicing mindfulness can help change how we think. Activities like journaling or meditation can help us see things more clearly and reduce unnecessary stress.

🏆 Win the Inside Game - Steve Magness

0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Performance Coaching Personal Development Motivation
  1. Success relies more on your mindset than just skills. Many people can perform well but struggle because of their thoughts and doubts.
  2. Focus on what you can control and keep things simple. Stress comes from overthinking and distractions.
  3. Being motivated by your own passion is crucial. When you enjoy what you do, you're more likely to succeed in the long run.

💰5 Types of Wealth

0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🚌 Education Personal Growth Self-help Financial Literacy Productivity Mental health
  1. Don't assume that reaching a goal will make you happy. True satisfaction comes from the journey, not just the destination.
  2. Time is your most valuable asset. Spend it wisely and focus on activities that truly matter to you.
  3. Build strong relationships and regularly check in with people who matter most in your life. Connections are a vital part of your overall wealth.

🛌 The Comfort Crisis - Michael Easter

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
📚 Literature Book Reviews Personal Development Self-help Author insights Reading Lists
  1. Embracing discomfort can lead to personal growth. Taking on challenges instead of seeking comfort helps us become stronger.
  2. We often prefer staying in our comfort zones, but this can limit our potential. Stepping outside of that zone can reveal new opportunities and skills.
  3. The book encourages readers to intentionally seek out hard experiences. This can improve mental resilience and foster a better appreciation for life's joys.

✋If you want to avoid costly mistakes

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Mental models Decision-making Personal Growth Wisdom Self-Improvement
  1. To make better choices in life, focus on avoiding mistakes instead of just trying to achieve goals. This means thinking about what to stay away from.
  2. Instead of asking how to be fitter, richer, or happier, ask what habits or choices can lead you to be unfit, poor, or sad.
  3. Use the idea of 'inversion' to guide your decisions. If you know what leads to negative outcomes, you can avoid those paths to improve your life.