In order to improve your life, you don't need to place your hopes on a lottery ticket or wait for the world to grant you the perfect opportunity. There is a better way and it is condensed in the principles of rational living, principles such as "think like an entrepreneur, not like a crusader," "ignore the noise and focus on results," "stay away from high-risk situations," "find people who share your values," and "develop strong long-term passions."
This book presents the principles of rational living in great detail, with numerous examples of people who have applied them successfully. The principles of rational living are sound ideas that can dramatically improve your life. Learn all about them and start applying them today.
EXCERPT FROM THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Think like an entrepreneur, not like a crusader
A recipe for getting ahead in good and bad times
Debating and arguing are a waste of time
The true believer is the one who preaches by example
Entrepreneurs thrive on trouble and inconvenience
Unlike resources, opportunities are infinite
2. Ignore the noise and focus on results
If one road is blocked, take another
How to keep calm when you are surrounded by nonsense
The effective way to handle work overload
Learning from people who never feel discouraged
A proven strategy against career stagnation
3. Live inexpensively and invest for future income
Why the stock market offers the best opportunities
Common traits of great businessmen and investors
What kind of companies should you invest in?
A simple strategy is all you need
Adopt a realistic and practical approach
4. Choose a simple and healthy lifestyle
Don't just eat well, eat wonderfully
What is healthy, tasty, and easy to cook?
How to reduce everyday risks to your health
Eating healthily when you are travelling
Is it possible to slow down ageing?
Why it is so difficult to lead a simple life
5. Find people who share your values
Why you should ignore most of what you hear
The ugly duckling story repeats itself every day
Overcoming the resistance to changing jobs and relocating
Don't be original, be unique
Proven strategies for building great relationships
Would you recognize yourself in the crowd?
6. Listen to your emotions, but check the facts
Beware of exaggerated romantic tales
In dating and cooking, choose natural ingredients
How far are you willing to go for happiness?
Conflicting values lead to contradictory behaviour
The short distance between infatuation and obfuscation
Do not waste your best years pursuing unworkable ideals
7. Accept the inevitable hassles of life
Putting an end to exaggerated fears
Extreme reactions are foolish and wasteful
In praise of caution and circumspection
Can you remain self-confident in times of trouble?
How impatient people become stoic philosophers
Never grant problems more weight than they deserve
8. Stay away from high-risk situations
Death statistics make great bedtime reading
Tranquillity seldom comes cheap
Do not make an obsession of the perfect profession
Three situations that you should avoid like the pest
Every archer needs more than one arrow
The jungle never sleeps
9. Acquire effective habits
An hour has sixty minutes, a day twenty-four hours
In praise of staying behind
How a proactive attitude helps you overcome difficulties
Let go of the dead weight of prejudice
Smooth operators get more out of life
Personal effectiveness depends on patterns
10. Develop strong long-term passions
Comparing yourself with other people makes no sense
Don't drink the poison of contradiction
What heroes are made of
The myths of the single skill and the unique opportunity
Become tolerant of mistakes, since you will make so many
The link between integrity and passion
About the Author: JOHN VESPASIAN has lived in New York, Paris, Madrid and Munich. He is the author of the books "When everything fails, try this" (2009), "Rationality is the way to happiness" (2009), "The philosophy of builders" (2010) and "The 10 principles of rational living" (2012). His work reflects the values of self-reliance, tolerance and entrepreneurship.
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK
From Chapter 1
What happened later is what makes the story fascinating. Against all expectations, a great part of the medical profession reacted with scepticism to the discovery. Instead of honouring Semmelweis for his scientific breakthrough, they began to view him with open hostility.
To make things worse, Semmelweis himself became the object of massive attacks from his colleagues, was forced to quit his job in Vienna, and had to accept a position at a less prestigious hospital. It did not matter that he was right and that he had the facts to prove it. His ideas simply did not spread because too few people were willing to listen to him.
In those situations, a man only has two options: he can become a crusader or an entrepreneur. He can fight against the world and waste his time in bitter disputes, or he can take the entrepreneurial route, shrug his shoulders at the critics, and look for a feasible way to exploit his ideas commercially.
Unfortunately for Semmelweis, he possessed all the psychological traits of a crusader, and did what crusaders usually do. He became obsessed with his mission, adopted an antagonistic tone, wrote offensive letters to other physicians, and increased the ranks of his enemies. He also began to drink heavily and his behaviour became erratic.
What would have Semmelweis done if he had possessed an entrepreneurial mentality? On the one hand, he would have acknowledged the difficulty of convincing other doctors and would have taken their rejection philosophically. On the other hand, he would have looked for a job at another hospital, which he would have turned into a model of cleanliness, efficiency, and good health. Eventually, the benefits of his methods would have spread by word of mouth, and other hospitals would have been pressed to adopt his ideas.
If Semmelweis had taken an entrepreneurial approach, the victory of his ideas would have been irresistible. Regrettably, he decided to become a crusader instead of an entrepreneur and wasted the last years of his life in constant fights.
