Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Passion Paradox summary
A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success, and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life
19 mins
Brief summary
The Passion Paradox by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness explores the complexities of passion and how it can be both beneficial and detrimental. They offer insights into finding balance and avoiding burnout.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Passion Paradox
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Passion has linguistic roots in suffering, and its biological mechanism ties in with addiction.
The story of passion is one that stretches back a long way. Although nowadays we tend to view passion as a term with positive attributes, this wasn’t always the case.
Passion finds its linguistic roots in the Latin “passio,” which literally means “suffering.” For much of its history, this suffering was exclusively associated with the passion of one person – Jesus Christ.
But, as for many other words, passion’s meaning changed over time. By the Middle Ages, passion was also being used to refer to the suffering of people other than Christ. And by the Renaissance, the term slowly took on non-negative connotations. Poets like Geoffrey Chaucer began to use the word to describe surging emotions in general, and it was Shakespeare who finally used the term in a more positive light to describe the uncontrollable desire one feels for another person.
The story of the term doesn’t end there, however. It took another couple of centuries for the meaning of passion to extend beyond people to activities or career choices. By the 1970s, phrases like “follow your passion” had begun to emerge; passion-seeking had finally become an important part of the average person’s life.
And the concept has only become more important since then, with Generation X and Millennials even more enthralled by fulfilling their personal passions than their baby-boomer predecessors.
Just like the word “passion,” the biological mechanisms of passion itself have both positive and negative connotations.
That’s because passion is regulated by dopamine, a powerful neurochemical that motivates us to do things. Once released by the brain, dopamine pushes us toward our goals and makes us crave rewards. Dopamine drives passionate people in their pursuits but also motivates drug addicts to satisfy their cravings.
Only the finest of lines exists between the personalities of extremely passionate people and those of drug addicts. That’s because while dopamine motivates us to pursue rewards, the chemical dissipates once we receive them. This, of course, leaves us yearning for more.
And, as with addictive drugs, the more dopamine we experience, the higher our tolerance for it becomes. We begin to set our goals higher and place ever-increasing importance on chasing our passions. And we’re never satisfied with the reward; it’s the process of reaching the reward that releases that sweet dopamine.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Passion Paradox?
Key ideas in The Passion Paradox
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Passion Paradox about?
The Passion Paradox (2019) uncovers the biology behind passion and shows how you can harness it to help achieve your dreams. The thrill of following your passion has a more serious side, however, because it can completely consume your life. By following the authors’ advice, you can live a life full of passion while still avoiding pitfalls along the way.
The Passion Paradox Review
The Passion Paradox (2019) explores the complex relationship between passion and success, and offers valuable insights on how to find balance and fulfillment in our pursuits. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It challenges the traditional notion of passion as an all-consuming force, and offers a fresh perspective on how to cultivate a healthy, sustainable passion.
- By drawing from real-life stories and cutting-edge research, the book presents a nuanced understanding of passion's impact on our well-being, performance, and relationships.
- The authors' practical recommendations and actionable strategies empower readers to pursue their passions while avoiding burnout and finding joy in the process.
Who should read The Passion Paradox?
- Young adults beginning to follow their dreams
- Passionate people who’ve hit a roadblock on their journey toward success
- Curious minds looking to understand the mechanisms behind passion
Categories with The Passion Paradox
Book summaries like The Passion Paradox
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Passion Paradox FAQs
What is the main message of The Passion Paradox?
The main message of The Passion Paradox is to find a balance between passion and obsession for optimal performance and fulfillment.
How long does it take to read The Passion Paradox?
The reading time for The Passion Paradox varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Passion Paradox a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Passion Paradox is worth reading as it explores the complex relationship between passion and success. It offers valuable insights and practical strategies for achieving a more balanced approach to life.
Who is the author of The Passion Paradox?
The authors of The Passion Paradox are Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness.
What to read after The Passion Paradox?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Passion Paradox, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Practice of Groundedness by Brad Stulberg
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Burnout Immunity by Kandi Wiens
- Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
- Master of Change by Brad Stulberg
- How to Stop Procrastinating by Steve Scott
- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
- The Stranger by Albert Camus