The Hero's Journey is a cycle that begins and ends in an ordinary world but passes through an unfamiliar, special world. It involves a call to adventure, assistance, departure, trials, approach, crisis, treasure, result, return, new life, resolution, and status quo. Many popular books and movies follow this formula, including Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Frodo. The Hero's Journey is a myth that exists in all human cultures and keeps getting updated because humans reflect on their world through symbolic stories of their own lives. By understanding this formula, you can learn to leave your comfort zone, have an experience that transforms you, and then recover and do it again. You don't literally slay dragons or fight Voldemort, but you face problems just as scary. Joseph Campbell said, "In the cave you fear to enter lies the treasure you seek."

Poetry is not just an art form, but a powerful tool that has been used for centuries to express deep emotions, tell stories, and convey powerful messages. It can inspire, connect, and bring people together in ways that few other forms of communication can. But the power of poetry goes beyond just making people feel good. Studies have shown that reading poetry can actually have a positive impact on mental health, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. It's also been found that students who study poetry perform better in other academic subjects, like reading, writing, and critical thinking. So if you're looking for a way to boost your brain power, poetry might be the answer! So, what is it about poetry that makes it so powerful? It all comes down to the way that poets use language. Poets have a way of using figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, to create vivid images in the reader's mind. They also use rhythm and sound to create a musical quality to the words, which can make poetry sound like a song. And despite its complexity, poets are able to capture complex emotions and experiences in just a few lines, making their work relatable and accessible to anyone who reads it. Leading academics in the field of poetry, like Mary Oliver and Langston Hughes, have contributed to our understanding and appreciation of poetry. Mary Oliver's work focuses on nature and the interconnectedness of all things, while Langston Hughes used his poetry to give voice to the experiences of African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. By exploring the work of poets like Oliver and Hughes, students can gain a deeper understanding of how poetry can be used to share messages and connect with others. In conclusion, poetry is a powerful tool that can inspire and connect people in meaningful ways. By exploring poetry and other academic topics on your own, you can deepen your understanding and appreciation of the world around you.

Have you ever wondered why you have certain musical preferences? A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that personality traits are linked to musical styles, with extraversion positively correlated with contemporary music and openness associated with mellow, contemporary, intense and sophisticated music. Dr. Greenberg, a musician, neuroscientist, and psychologist, says that music could be a powerful bridge between cultures.

Do you ever wonder why you choose the clothes you wear? Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and the London College of Fashion have uncovered key factors that guide clothing choices, such as colour preferences and personality traits. By exploring fashion aesthetics, this study sheds light on the art of self-expression and its impact on well-being. Discover how understanding your aesthetic tastes can inform your clothing decisions and boost your self-confidence.

Imagine a world where creativity is not just a gift possessed by the lucky few, but a variety of distinct thought processes that we can all learn to use more effectively. Jonah Lehrer's "Imagine" shatters the myth of muses and higher powers, revealing the science of creativity. From the importance of embracing the rut to adopting an outsider's perspective, Lehrer unveils the optimal mix of old and new partners in any creative collaboration. Discover the deep inventiveness of the human mind and its essential role in our increasingly complex world. Recommended for students, professionals, and creatives across all fields, "Imagine" offers a fresh perspective on the science of creativity. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or scientist, Lehrer's insights on thought processes and creative collaboration can help you unlock your full potential. The book also explores the role of creativity in our schools, companies, and neighborhoods, making it relevant to educators, managers, and community leaders alike. With fascinating examples from Bob Dylan's writing habits to Pixar's office space design, "Imagine" is a must-read for anyone seeking to cultivate their creativity and make a meaningful impact in the world.

In her latest book, "Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Can Make Us Whole," author and researcher Susan Cain explores how embracing the melancholic side of life can lead to creativity, connection, and transcendence. Discover how listening to sad music and experiencing bittersweet states of mind can be intimately connected to the most sublime aspects of being human, including awe, wonder, and spirituality.

Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, is a tale of conspiracy, deception, and moral ambiguity. The play revolves around the protagonist, Hamlet, who is haunted by his father's death and unsure of what might be lurking in the shadows. When he's visited by a ghost that bears his father's face, he's convinced that his uncle Claudius usurped the throne and stole Queen Gertrude's heart. Hamlet's indecisiveness and endless questioning raise the question of whether his madness is part of a performance to confuse his enemies or if he's on the brink of insanity. The play highlights the consequences of human error and the ripple effect of toxic mind games. Studying Hamlet's character can help us understand the complexities of human nature and the importance of making decisions. Shakespeare's use of introspective language and melancholic monologues is breathtaking and can inspire us to explore our own existential dilemmas.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a perfect memory? In the short story "Funes, the Memorious," Jorge Luis Borges explores just that. His character, Ireneo Funes, remembers everything he has ever seen in perfect detail, rendering him unable to think beyond the overwhelming details. Borges was a master of exploring infinity, and his literary style of "lo real maravilloso," known in English as Magical Realism, is evident in his body of essays, poems, and stories. He was an avid reader, and his image of paradise was an infinite library, an idea he brought to life in "The Library of Babel." Borges' work also explores the idea of condensing all of time into a single moment, as seen in "The God's Script." Reading Borges can give you a glimpse of infinity and inspire you to explore the depths of your own imagination.

Edgar Allan Poe, an American author, is renowned for his macabre and innovative stories of gothic horror. But what makes him one of the greatest American authors? Poe's careful attention to form and style is what sets him apart. He identified two cardinal rules for the short story form: it must be short enough to read in one sitting, and every word must contribute to its purpose. By mastering these rules, Poe commands the reader's attention and rewards them with an intense and singular experience - what Poe called the unity of effect. Although he's best known for his short horror stories, Poe was actually one of the most versatile and experimental writers of the nineteenth century. An appreciation of Poe's career wouldn't be complete without his poetry: haunting and hypnotic. By exploring the paradoxes and mysteries of love, grief, and guilt, Poe's stories use violence and horror to delve into the true darkness of the human mind and its propensity for self-destruction. Reading Poe's work can help students develop their critical thinking skills and explore complex themes in literature.

Learn how to protect yourself from misinformation! A study by the University of Cambridge and Bristol showed that short animations familiarizing people with tactics behind misinformation can increase their ability to spot it and resist it.

Emily Dickinson's poetry is a true masterpiece that captures the essence of the human soul in just a few lines. With unconventional techniques, such as dashes and off rhymes, Dickinson's writing style strongly influenced modern poetry. Her reflections on life, death, love, and nature are deeply resonant, making her one of America's greatest poetic geniuses. Explore the landscape of the human soul through Dickinson's tightly controlled emotional and intellectual energy, and discover the power of her idiosyncratic style. Recommended for literature enthusiasts, aspiring poets, and anyone interested in exploring the depths of the human experience. This book is particularly relevant to those studying English or creative writing, as it showcases Dickinson's innovative use of rhythm and meter. It may also appeal to those interested in philosophy, psychology, or spirituality, as her poetry delves into themes such as life, death, and the human condition. Additionally, this book may be of interest to those who appreciate nature and its role in inspiring artistic expression.

The story of Psyche and Cupid teaches us about the power of love and the importance of facing our fears. Psyche's beauty was both a blessing and a curse, but it was her bravery that ultimately led her to true love with Cupid. Along the way, she had to complete impossible tasks and face the unknown, but she persevered with the help of the unseen voice. Through her journey, Psyche learned that love can conquer all, even when it seems impossible. As students, we can learn from Psyche's determination and courage to face our own challenges and pursue our passions. By taking risks and embracing the unknown, we can discover our own strengths and find fulfillment in our academic and personal lives.

Reading books and stories is not just a form of entertainment; it has the power to change our perspectives and shape our beliefs. Scholars in various fields have discovered that stories have a unique ability to change our point of view and shape culture. For example, Samuel Richardson's "Pamela" challenged the traditional ideas of class, marriage, and gender, which caused quite a ruckus, but it also inspired a slew of counter-novels. Today, novels continue to inspire us and teach us valuable lessons. Recent studies show that we might not be hardwired for competition and individual heroism, but instead, we might be members of a shared quest. As students, we should keep in mind that the terrain has changed, and we should explore new stories that promise to influence, create, and spark change. So, what story will you try on next?

Group singing, dancing, and chanting have been found to have a profound effect on how people think and feel. Psychologists have discovered that collective behaviour like chanting has the remarkable effect of making us feel connected to one another. It is a way to express social identity and the values of that group. While football chants can be rude, offensive, or even racist, they can also endorse more positive values. Chanting at a football match doesn’t just bond a group together in love and harmony; there is a dark side to coordinated behaviour. Coordinated behaviours can lower people's sense of personal autonomy and make them more likely to be obedient to aggressive action. Chanting is also an ancient technology used to record knowledge. By exploring these academic concepts, you can learn how group behaviour can affect your mood and social identity, and how it has been used throughout history to encode and share cultural knowledge.

Are you feeling stuck on a problem that seems unsolvable? Well, a new study from MIT and Harvard Medical School researchers suggests that you may come up with a creative solution after a short nap - very short. During the phase when you're drifting between sleep and waking, a state known as sleep onset, the creative mind is particularly fertile, the researchers showed. They also demonstrated, for the first time, that when people are prompted to dream about a particular topic during that sleep phase, they perform much more creatively when later asked to perform three creativity tasks around that topic. Read more about this fascinating study in MIT's Scientific Reports.

As we go through life, time seems to speed up, and we wonder where the time has gone. But did you know that our perception of time is a psychological construct? Our brain edits the signals it receives from our senses before serving up a final story to our conscious perception. This means that we're all living a little bit in the past, and what we think is happening right now has already transpired some time ago, probably in the ballpark of about half a second ago. Seeking novelty is the key to slowing down time, and it can be as simple as putting your wristwatch on your other hand. By engaging your brain in new ways, you have more footage to draw upon, and it feels like your life is lasting longer. Learning more about how our brain perceives time can help us appreciate the present moment and make the most of our time.

In "The World in Six Songs", Daniel Levitin explores how music has shaped human culture and society throughout history. Levitin identifies six fundamental song types, including friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love, and shows how each has enabled social bonding necessary for human evolution. With cutting-edge scientific research, Levitin combines his experiences in the music industry, interviews with musicians like Sting and David Byrne, and work in related fields to reveal how music preserves the emotional history of our lives and species. This thought-provoking book will revolutionize your understanding of human nature and the role of music in it. Recommended for music enthusiasts, anthropologists, evolutionary biologists, and anyone interested in understanding the role of music in human culture and society. This book is also relevant to students of psychology, sociology, and history, as it provides a unique perspective on how social bonding and evolution have been influenced by music. Additionally, those interested in the music industry and the creative process will find Levitin's experiences and interviews with musicians to be insightful. Anyone looking to broaden their understanding of the human experience and the power of music should add "The World in Six Songs" to their reading list.

Have you ever wondered why music has such a powerful effect on our emotions? This Is Your Brain on Music explores the fascinating relationship between music and the human brain, revealing the secrets behind everything from our musical preferences to the way we experience pleasure. Using cutting-edge research in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology, this book offers a unique perspective on the role of music in our lives. Discover the science behind our love of music and the ways in which it shapes our understanding of human nature. Recommended for music lovers, psychology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intersection of science and culture. This Is Your Brain on Music offers a fascinating look at the ways in which our brains respond to music, exploring everything from the origins of our musical preferences to the neurological basis of musical pleasure. With insights from neuroscience, psychology, and anthropology, this book is relevant to a wide range of fields and interests. Whether you're a musician, a music lover, or simply curious about the human mind, This Is Your Brain on Music is a must-read.

Are you a fan of cute animal posts on social media? Have you ever wondered why they make you go "awwww"? A team of researchers at the University of Maryland has been studying the impact of cuteness on our emotions and behaviors, and how it can be used to manipulate us. Their findings, published in Frontiers in Psychology, offer fascinating insights into the science of cuteness, including a recipe for achieving ultimate cuteness. Read on to discover the implications of this research for society, disinformation and national security. (Source: University of Maryland)

In 'An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness,' Kay Redfield Jamison takes readers on a journey through her life as a clinical psychologist living with manic-depressive illness. From her early experiences to her eventual acceptance of her condition, Jamison's memoir is a powerful testament to the human spirit's resilience in the face of mental illness. Through love, academia, and introspection, she comes to understand herself better, and her story is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of mental health. Recommended for psychology students, mental health advocates, and anyone seeking to understand the complexities of mental illness, "An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness" offers a powerful firsthand account of living with manic-depressive illness. Kay Redfield Jamison's memoir is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and shows how love, academia, and introspection can help individuals better understand themselves and their conditions. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in mental health and the human experience.