Wisereads Vol. 64 — Erica Rooney's Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, the University of Chicago on effective writing, and more

Last week, we shared a preview of The 5 Hidden Love Questions by Dr. Ali Binazir and Dr. Victor Frank. This week, we're sharing a preview of Erica Rooney's upcoming Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, a guide to breaking free from limiting beliefs and habits.

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Recent studies reveal that flame retardants—endocrine disruptors found in recycled black plastic—can leach into hot cooking oils and enter our bodies. "Replacing a black plastic spatula with a steel or silicone option is an easy way to cut down on at least part of one's daily dose of hormone disruptors. I've also taken this news as a reason to coax myself into carrying a reusable coffee mug more often, if only to avoid the black plastic lids on disposable cups—heat plus plastic equals chemical migration, after all."

In anticipation of his upcoming book, The 5 Types of Wealth, Sahil Bloom takes a critical look at the hidden challenges of chasing traditional success. "I've asked several billionaires about their experience with imposter syndrome and self-doubt in the early years of their careers. All of them said the same thing: It never went away. You just get a little bit better at moving forward in spite of it."

Kyle Chayka observes that in response to an influx of algorithmic recommendations, personal curation and taste have become increasingly important. "Given that the Internet offers us so many options, the choice of what to pay attention to, what to consume, or even what to create matters most. By sharing your taste online, you can develop cultural capital."

Larry McEnerney, former director of the University of Chicago's writing program, offers valuable advice to academics on getting their papers published: write for your readers, not for yourself. "If you do not know [your readers], you are very unlikely to create value and you are very unlikely to be persuasive because persuasion depends on what they doubt. If you don't know what they doubt, how on earth are you gonna overcome those doubts? You must know them. It's not enough to know your subject matter. You gotta know your readers."

After reviewing 3,000 pitch decks, VC Julian Shapiro found that successful startups share two key strengths: distribution and storytelling. "The skill of growth doesn't just consist of getting the word out, but also in presenting your value in a way that *resonates.* That means distribution is (1) growth engines and (2) great storytelling."

An anonymous creator compiled a book of 1,000 do-it-yourself projects, complete with illustrations and links to detailed guides. Covering everything from keyboards and mice to greenhouses, valve caps, and string instruments, the book aims "to demonstrate just what is possible when you make things yourself."

What if what's holding you back from advancing your career isn't the glass ceiling, but a "sticky floor"? Drawing on neuroscience and her experience as a mother, wife, and C-level leader, Erica Rooney shares tools for high-achieving women who feel held back by sticky floors—internal barriers like impostor syndrome, perfectionism, fear, burnout, or addiction. 

"When you understand how the brain works, you are opening your mind up to consider that what you think you know may not be true. You can allow the space in your life for a different, more productive way of thinking that will eventually translate to new actions which beget new results. The people who say, 'Well, that’s just the way I am,' or 'It's just how I was made,' aren’t correct. Our brains have the power to change and adapt. It is up to us to do the hard work of change."

We're thrilled that Erica is sharing an exclusive excerpt of Chapter 3: Your Beautiful, Malleable Brain with Wisereads readers. If you enjoy the preview, we invite you to support Erica by pre-ordering a full copy ahead of its Tuesday release here. 🙏

In Depths of Repair, Patrick Maguire and Jessi Moore transform their struggles with loneliness and addiction into essays on vulnerability and connection. From Do Hard Things Carefully: "Practicing tracking your edge allows you to engage in rubber-banding—stretching yourself while still being able to snap back. Without keeping your edge in mind, you may stretch yourself to the point of breaking. Or you may stretch yourself so little that you never grow."