Stories by Sunny Sea Gold

4 Ways to Be a Better Voter

Get informed and make better choices—or maybe you shouldn’t vote at all

Seven Ways to Keep Discord off the Thanksgiving Table

How to keep your holiday dinner from turning into a partisan smackdown 

How to Be a Better News Consumer

Top tips to get the most nourishment from your media diet

New Books on Memes, Mental Time Travel, Manufactured Emotions and Tech Addiction

Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology 

How to Be a Better Organizer

How to Be a Better Spender

Four tips from experts on how to get more joy from your purchases

How to Be a Better Forgiver

Four tips from experts on letting bygones go 

New Books about Mind Control, Mental Rest and Why We Swear

Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology 

4 Ways to Be a Better Patient

Honest communication is key to making the most of your medical care

A Q&A with Charles Duhigg, Author of Smarter Faster Better

Scientific American Mind ’s “How to Be a Better...” columnist Sunny Sea Gold and best-selling author Duhigg discuss what makes some people superhumanly productive...

New Books Explore Breaking Habits, AI, Productivity and Enlightenment

Scientific American Mind considers five recent popular titles from neuroscience and psychology

4 Ways to Be a Better Arguer

Win more people over by dialing down the aggression

4 Ways to Be Better at Job Interviews

Mental preparation—and online cleanup—are key

How to Be a Better Runner

Improve your physical prowess in any athletic enterprise with these proved mental techniques

3 Ways to Be a Better Gift Giver

Some research-based tips--in time for the holiday season

How to Be a Better Listener

Check your assumptions, be curious, suspend judgment and know when you’ve had enough

How to Be a Better Parent

Let your kids get bored, don’t solve all their problems, and be sure to tend to your own basic needs first

How to Be a Better Spouse

Being nice, paying attention and praising a partner’s strengths all pay off in a long-term relationship

How to Be a Better Shopper

Research from consumer psychology and marketing hints at how to avoid unnecessary spending

How to Be a Better Digital Native

Moderation is key to getting the most out of your digital devices