Description

King Solomon was famous for his wisdom. People traveled from all over the ancient world to seek his judgment on their most difficult problems. Yet, his own life was a disaster of uncontrolled spending, hundreds of wives, and poor parenting that eventually tore his kingdom apart. This phenomenon—being wise for others but a fool for oneself—is known by psychologists as "The Solomon Paradox."

This book explores the cognitive science behind why our brains are excellent at solving other people's problems but terrible at solving our own. When we look at a friend's situation, we see the big picture; when we look at our own, we are blinded by microscopic emotions.

Crucially, the book offers a solution: "Self-Distancing." You will learn techniques to trick your brain into treating your own life as a third-party case study. By talking to yourself in the third person or journaling as an observer, you can access the wisdom you already possess but usually reserve for your friends. Stop being the smart friend with the messy life.