When I’m choosing a book to read for a school project, help me to find summaries and reviews that are easy to understand, so that I can pick a book that captures my interest and relates to my assignment.
In her cozy corner of the room, Lily was surrounded by her favorite thing in the world—books. But today was no ordinary day. She had a big school project looming over her head, and she needed to pick a book to review, pronto. Usually, choosing a book was a breeze for her. She’d just go for the exciting mysteries or thrilling adventures. But this time, it had to be a book that not only sparked her interest but also fit with her assignment.
As she scanned through her book pile, confusion crept in. The usual joy of picking a new book was replaced by a sense of uncertainty. This wasn’t like her usual decisions. Her usual quick and easy way of choosing books, her Automatic System, just wasn’t cutting it this time. She felt jittery and lost.
Inside Lily’s head, it was like a battle was raging. Her Automatic System, used to making quick decisions, was firing away, trying to rely on old habits. But here’s the snag—none of those old habits fit this new situation. Her Deliberate System, the slower, more thoughtful way of thinking, started to wake up as Lily realized the gap between her usual book choices and what her assignment needed. This was her Step 1 moment, realizing things needed to change.
She began to ask herself, “What makes a book right for a school project? How can I make sure it’s both interesting and relevant?” These questions were her Deliberate System kicking into gear.
Turning to her mom for help, Lily poured out her struggles. Her mom, knowing it was time for Lily to switch gears to Deliberate System thinking, sat down with her. Together, they dove into Step 2, looking for summaries and reviews that matched Lily’s project needs. When they linked the project to Lily’s dream of being a scientist, it all clicked. Her mom cheered her on, reminding her she had all the support she needed.
Now in Step 3, Lily was on the hunt for solutions and crafting her goals. “I need a book that grabs my attention and fits the project’s rules,” she decided. They scoured educational sites, jotting down summaries and reviews, especially noting the deadline—only 3 days away, which made Lily even more determined.
As they sorted through options, Lily started ranking books based on how well they matched her goals and the time frame. “This one sounds exciting, but is it relevant?” she pondered. “And this one seems cool, but it’s too long to finish in time.”
Her mom guided her through Step 4, making tough choices and focusing on relevance over sheer excitement. After a bit, they had a solid list of books to choose from. Finally, Lily found the perfect book. It checked all the boxes—interesting, on point, and easy to relate to. She felt relieved and pumped to get started.
After double-checking her steps (Step 5) and organizing her reading schedule (Step 6), Lily got to work. Her mom showed her how to use a calendar app to stay on track.
As Lily breezed through her reading schedule (Step 7), her mom stressed the importance of tracking progress. Lily looked back on her calendar, marking off each chapter she finished.
In Step 8, Lily celebrated the success of her decision. The book she chose really boosted her project. Lily realized the power of switching from her old Automatic System to a more thoughtful approach. With her mom’s help, she’d found a whole new way to tackle challenges.
Thrilled with her victory, Lily shared her story with her friends, urging them to be systematic when picking books for school. Her journey from hasty decisions to careful choices showed just how powerful Deliberate System thinking can be, especially when things get tricky.