What will I learn about: how to nail your next job interview by revealing your weaknesses early and saving your positive traits for the end to naturally boost your likability?

Discover how to nail your next job interview by revealing your weaknesses early and saving your positive traits for the end to naturally boost your likability.

What will I learn about: why striving for perfection can backfire, and how making occasional mistakes actually makes highly competent individuals appear more relatable and attractive?

Understand why striving for perfection can backfire, and how making occasional mistakes actually makes highly competent individuals appear more relatable and attractive.

What will I learn about: Learn the psychological reason to avoid gossip, as listeners will unconsciously associate the negative traits you describe in others directly with you?

Learn the psychological reason to avoid gossip, as listeners will unconsciously associate the negative traits you describe in others directly with you.

What will I learn about: why popular visualization techniques fail to motivate, and how creating step-by-step plans and sharing your goals publicly actually drives real success?

Find out why popular visualization techniques fail to motivate, and how creating step-by-step plans and sharing your goals publicly actually drives real success.

What will I learn about: Boost your creativity by avoiding traditional group brainstorming, which studies show represses innovative ideas due to a psychological diffusion of responsibility?

Boost your creativity by avoiding traditional group brainstorming, which studies show represses innovative ideas due to a psychological diffusion of responsibility.

Theme Song

59 Seconds

Think a Little, Change a Lot

Richard Wiseman

★ 4.1 / 5(278 ratings)

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Categories:

Psychology Personal Development

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that popular self-help techniques like visualizing your success can actually decrease your chances of achieving your goals?
💡What if you could spot a liar instantly by ignoring their body language and focusing on one specific verbal cue instead?
💡Are you curious about which simple 59-second habit is scientifically proven to boost your mood more effectively than positive thinking?

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Key Takeaways from 59 Seconds

✓Discover how to nail your next job interview by revealing your weaknesses early and saving your positive traits for the end to naturally boost your likability.
✓Understand why striving for perfection can backfire, and how making occasional mistakes actually makes highly competent individuals appear more relatable and attractive.
✓Learn the psychological reason to avoid gossip, as listeners will unconsciously associate the negative traits you describe in others directly with you.
✓Find out why popular visualization techniques fail to motivate, and how creating step-by-step plans and sharing your goals publicly actually drives real success.
✓Boost your creativity by avoiding traditional group brainstorming, which studies show represses innovative ideas due to a psychological diffusion of responsibility.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from 59 Seconds

Mind Map

59 Seconds

Likability & Social Skills+

Motivation & Goals+

Creativity & Innovation+

Happiness & Resilience+

Romantic Relationships+

Lie Detection+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9

According to the research presented, what is the most effective way to present your strengths and weaknesses during a job interview?

A. Reveal weaknesses early and save positive aspects for the end.
B. Present positive aspects early and confess weaknesses at the end.
C. Avoid mentioning weaknesses entirely and focus only on strengths.
D. Mix strengths and weaknesses evenly throughout the conversation.

Question 2 of 9

How does making an occasional mistake affect a person's likability?

A. It makes anyone seem more relatable and significantly increases their likability.
B. It decreases likability because people prefer flawless and highly professional individuals.
C. It increases likability only if the person is already perceived as highly competent.
D. It has no effect on likability but makes the person appear more honest.

Question 3 of 9

Why does the book suggest avoiding speaking negatively about others (gossiping)?

A. It distracts from your own positive qualities during social interactions.
B. Listeners will subconsciously associate the negative traits you describe with you.
C. It increases your own stress levels and negatively impacts your mental health.
D. People generally prefer interacting with those who focus entirely on themselves.

Question 4 of 9

What did researchers discover about the popular self-help technique of visualizing success?

A. It is the most effective way to stay motivated when facing difficult setbacks.
B. It helps people achieve their goals faster by mentally preparing them for success.
C. It often causes people to put in less effort, leading to poorer actual performance.
D. It only works if combined with daily affirmations and positive thinking.

Question 5 of 9

Based on the book's findings, how does group brainstorming affect creativity?

A. It doubles the amount of creative ideas generated compared to working alone.
B. It causes individuals to repress ideas due to a diffusion of responsibility.
C. It helps individuals overcome creative blocks by building on others' thoughts.
D. It works best only when the group is given a highly specific problem to solve.

Question 6 of 9

According to the text, which simple environmental change can significantly enhance a person's creativity and problem-solving abilities?

A. Adding plants and flowers to the workspace.
B. Adding a subtle scent of cleaning spray to the air.
C. Removing all visual distractions from the room.
D. Working in a completely silent environment.

Question 7 of 9

When dealing with a hurtful event or daily stress, what is the most effective psychological strategy recommended in the text?

A. Seeking immediate distractions to take your mind off the pain.
B. Analyzing the event in detail to understand why it happened.
C. Focusing on the negative impacts so you can fully process your grief.
D. Identifying the positive aspects or benefits that emerged from the experience.

Question 8 of 9

According to psychologist John Gottman's research, what is required for a couple to stay happily together?

A. They must never criticize each other or express contempt.
B. Their positive comments must outnumber negative comments by about five to one.
C. They must spend at least 20 minutes a day writing about their feelings.
D. They must qualify every positive statement with a realistic observation.

Question 9 of 9

Contrary to popular belief, how do people typically behave when they are lying?

A. They fidget in their chairs and avoid making eye contact.
B. They make large, exaggerated gestures to seem more convincing.
C. They pause more often and gesticulate less because they are thinking hard.
D. They frequently use words like 'I' and 'me' to personalize their stories.

59 Seconds — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Ace that interview by becoming more likable.
32 — Small mistakes and avoiding gossip can make you more sympathetic.
43 — Motivate yourself without relying on empty fantasies.
54 — Boost creativity by skipping brainstorming.
65 — Spark creative thinking by priming your mind and adding greenery.
76 — Focusing on the positives can make you happier.
87 — Strengthen your relationships by choosing your words carefully.
98 — Use psychology to detect a lie.
109 — Final summary

59 Seconds Summary & Overview

59 seconds (2010) lays out some handy tips and insights backed by scientific research. Apply them today, and experience the change you want in your life.

Who Should Listen to 59 Seconds?

People sick of the same old self-help books
Creative thinkers
Psychology enthusiasts

About the Author: Richard Wiseman

Described by one of Scientific American’s columnists as “the most interesting and innovative experimental psychologist in the world today,” psychologist and professor Richard Wiseman has given keynotes for the likes of Amazon and Google, and has written several bestselling books, including The Luck Factor and Quirkology.