51 pages • 1 hour read
Arianna HuffingtonThrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder
Arianna HuffingtonNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Section 3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Section 3 Summary: “Wonder”
Section 3, Subsection 1 Summary: “Blast-off on a Journey to Inner Space”
Huffington notes that wonder does not come from what we see in the world around us; instead, wonder is a “product of our state of mind, our being, the perspective from which we are looking at the world” (174). She quotes the astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who describes wonder as a “sensation of physically and mentally extending out into the cosmos” (177) and the Tesla founder Elon Musk, who frames wonder as a sense of yearning for increasing the “scope and scale of human consciousness” (178). To access this personal enlightenment, Huffington points to nature, art, music, and literature as “oases” that can promote wonder by disconnecting from the hyperconnected world. Huffington cautions again against technology, calling it a disruption to living in the moment: “by so-obsessively documenting our experiences, we never truly have them” (180). For Huffington, freeing oneself from the myriad stimuli in the world unlocks wonder.
Section 3, Subsection 2 Summary: “Hello, Silence, My Old Friend”
Huffington addresses the hyperconnectivity of the modern world and emphasizes the need to disconnect from distractions, leaning instead into caring for others, loving, and slowing down. She laments that holidays are no longer times of rest and reflection, and explores her own memories of childhood in Greece, where she observed religious holidays with reverence and learned about living in the moment and appreciating one’s surroundings—that is, cultivating wonder—from visiting the Tharri Monastery.
Section 3, Subsection 3 Summary: “Coincidences: Life’s Secret Door to Wonder”
Huffington views coincidence as a pathway to wonder. She leans on German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s definition of coincidences as “harmony” in the universe and psychologist Carl Jung’s interpretation of them as “acts of creation” (194). Citing journalist and This American Life contributor Sara Koenig, she offers examples of what coincidences are and how they remind people to maintain a sense of wonder by prompting consideration of the “big questions” in life (195). To support her argument that coincidences inspire wonder, Huffington cites research suggesting that people who notice coincidences are “more confident and at ease with life” (199). Whether one calls them coincidences or synchronicity, as Jung does, contemplating the significance of a coincidence is an “entry point” for living a life rooted in Huffington’s “Third Metric.”
Section 3, Subsection 4 Summary: “Memento Mori”
Huffington studies the Roman mantra memento mori, a reminder that death is something everyone has in common. Huffington believes that remembering the “certainty” of death is necessary for living a truly successful life. She points to organized religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism as spaces where death is explored as a concept despite the avoidant attitude toward death that predominates Western culture. Huffington turns to the psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who created the five stages of grief, to remind the reader that one can only understand the meaning of life if they face the reality of death: Life is short, and therefore precious. For this reason, Huffington believes being present in one’s life can generate both a good life and a good death.
Huffington then narrates her mother’s last day alive, spent feasting on food she purchased at the market with her daughters and granddaughters, offering her as an example of how to live in the moment. Huffington concludes her section on wonder by offering three practices that can unlock wonder by bringing one firmly into the present moment: 1. Breathwork; 2. A joyful image; and 3. Self-forgiveness.
Section 3 Analysis
Huffington credits wonder as the inspiration for science—a sensation that connects the individual with the universe. In essence, wonder is a bridge between internal and external forces. As in the Wisdom section, Huffington’s definition of wonder underscores the universal accessibility of this pillar of Third Metric living: Wonder comes from each person’s unique perspective. It’s not what they see, but how they see. Throughout the section, Huffington underscores her thematic focus on Presence as a Means to Cultivate Wonder by positioning technology as the enemy of presence and detailing various approaches to mindfulness, which grounds one in the present moment and enriches success in one’s life.
Huffington emphasizes The Inherent Accessibility of Wisdom by suggesting a wide range of accessible settings to inspire wonder, from concerts and museums to nature. Her caution against technology in these settings in subsection 1 (“Blast-off on a Journey to Inner Space”) similarly positions the sense of wonder as intrinsic to the individual—not something to be submitted to social media for the approval of strangers. To fully experience wonder, one must look inward as well as outward.
Huffington explores coincidences and death, in subsections 3 (“Coincidences: Life’s Secret Door to Wonder”) and 4 (“Memento Mori”), which serve as unifiers for people across religions, belief systems, and all levels of spirituality. By repeatedly emphasizing that these apply to all religions and philosophies (195, 203, 206), Huffington appeals to a wider audience while promoting connection between individuals with different belief systems. She continues to use inclusive “we” statements throughout these sections (195, 203, 204) to empower her readers to be present enough to notice that wonderful coincidences happen and to appreciate that life is precious, so it should be filled with wonder. In her discussion of the Roman phrase memento mori, Huffington’s argument that life is precious because the time we live is limited derives directly from Stoicism, which holds this belief about life as its central tenet for how to make the most of it. Using a paradox, Huffington also describes death as the sine qua non of life (204)—another Roman phrase meaning “not without which.” In doing so, Huffington underscores the inevitability of mortality for everyone.
In this context, Huffington’s critique of information technology takes on a new meaning. Not only does technology distract us from the introspective work so necessary for thriving, but it also offers a false promise of permanence: “[W]hile the remnants of our virtual selves might linger on past our physical selves, they are just as fleeting” (205). As she did in the Wisdom section, Huffington uses her mother again as an exemplar of how to live in the present moment and, therefore, experience wonder on her final day alive—right up until her last breath. In this way, Huffington builds once more upon her implicitly gendered argument that women will be the ones to enact positive changes in society through their behaviors and norm resetting.
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