14.  BEHAVIOUR & PHILOSOPHY

A delineation of the two tools of the short-term and the long-term as used for evaluation and direction on how to live. Included are the much used OCEAN Personality Traits and similar discussions, including the Dark Triad.

Why do we think and act the way we do? It's complex but overall, it is about deciphering the following concepts:

Is and ought. Descriptive and prescriptive. Informative and normative. Instincts and ideology. Nature and nurture. Innate and learned. Unconscious and conscious. Biological and cultural. Passion and planning. Feeling and reason. 

Behaviour & Traits (OCEAN):

• Openness per curiosity and creativity

• Conscientiousness per dependability and discipline.

• Extravertedness per boldness and, confidence.

• Agreeableness per affection and consideration.

• Neurosis per patience and self-control.

Philosophy: 

• Epistemology (knowledge and reasoning) - How to think.

• Metaphysics (existence and the supernatural) - What is real.

• Ethics (rights, values and purpose) - How to live.

16.  EMOTIONS

Know thy real self . . .

• Emotions and Happiness - the introduction.

• Categorization of Emotions - identifying the differences.

• Emotion review - Fortunes, Actions and Aspect.

• Sensory Awareness - per sentiments and contentment.

• Discipline - appropriate use of our emotions.

• Living the Moment - letting your emotions enjoy life. 

• Microexpressions.

• Masking and Hiding.

• LSAG formula for happiness.

Categorization of Emotions

FORTUNES of Ourselves

• Happiness & Hope

• Sadness & Fear

FORTUNES of Others 

• Happy-for (others)

• Gloating (happy-that others are not doing well)

• Envy (sorry-that another is doing well)

• Pity (sorry-for the condition of another)

ACTIONS of Ourselves

• Pride

• Guilt & Regret

ACTIONS of Others

• Gratitude & Anger

ASPECT of Ourselves

• Self-love & Shame

ASPECT of Others

• Love & Lust

• Hate & Disgust

18.  PURPOSE

Fear purpose without thought. 

You are not the property of others. Neither is your purpose. 

Three methods used to find one’s purpose:

(2 of them not so great)

•  Religious Purpose

• Archetypical Purpose

• Practical Secular Purpose 

PAW Diagram (combining the following:)

• Passion                                                           

• Ability

• World 

20.  GROUPS

"Can we all — get along?" - Rodney King. 

The longest chapter — mostly in the form of essays of varying lengths.

Essays: 

• Trust Rule Strategies

• Trust and the Prisoner’s Dilemma

• Proportionality and Bullying

• Freedoms and Conflicts

• Non-Zero-Sum Activities

• Group Sanctioning

• Civility

• Leadership

• Dictatorships

• Political Differences

• Trends Toward Peace

• Causes of Violence

• Motivators of Peace

• Population Management

• The MAC Progression

• We Can Do Better

• Practical Things to Consider 

22.  LIVING WELL

Basically the author's final rant . . .

• Think Well - Believe Well - Live Well

Including a list of . . .

(17 Good Things to Consider Doing)

There — you have now basically read the book.

But there is lots more. It is after all — well over 300 pages.

So consider a purchase. Then do some writing in the margins per what you agree or disagree with — or for what you want to ponder more about.

Recommendation:

The paperback is significantly easier to read than the ebook imo. It is just that the pages (LHS - RHS) have been carefully tailored to be read contiguously.

Understanding Life was written to scratch notes inside of — and paper is better for doing that. 

Or consider it as a great resource for generating and fleshing out a multitude of presentations and discussions ideas. Also see the topics listed on this website for same.

Again, I strongly prefer the paper version. It just gives a better reading experience.

But your choice. I know, I know — paper does take up space.