September 14, 2018: Friday News Roundup

There’s not much to say about today’s roundup except: flying cars.

Are Audiobooks As Good For You As Reading? Here’s What Experts Say
Audiobooks are a great diversion while you sit behind the wheel or clean the house, but some wonder whether reading comprehension suffers when people aren’t looking at the written word. According to one researcher, there’s essentially no difference—unless you’re trying to learn, which is undermined by multitasking.

In Britain, Calls for a 4-Day Week. Can It Be Done?
We’ve heard this idea before and kinda like it. Now, a major British labor organization is getting behind the proposal too. Read on for examples from places around the world experimenting with a shorter week in order to mitigate how “technology affects productivity and work-life balance.”

Having a Growth Mindset Makes It Easier to Develop New Interests
Starting from the premise that “the arts and sciences do not live in isolation,” researchers studied why some people cross disciplines while others stick to one. Carol Dweck and team now bring us the “growth mindset of interests.” People who’ve got that mindset know they can develop new interests with investment and commitment.

Is Happiness a Consequence or Cause of Career Success?
You might think a flourishing career leads to happiness, but a new study finds we might be getting it backwards. Turns out, people who are already happy tend to perform well and succeed in the workplace and are more satisfied with their jobs. That should put a smile on your face as you head to the office!

The First Flying-Car Review
We promised you flying cars at the top, so here you go: a dispatch from a reporter who got to ride in the Kitty Hawk Flyer, also known as a “vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle.” These vehicles are predicted to usher in an era of “widespread aeromobility.” The photos are cool, and the writer seemed to enjoy his flying experience.