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A good gadget solves a problem, but solving a problem isn’t the same as making your life easier.

A fitness tracker might help you live healthier, but being constantly reminded to move isn’t very relaxing. A drone might help you take awesome photos, but you have to not crash it. A smartphone might let you communicate with anyone in the world, but social media exists.

Below we’ve rounded up a few gadgets that can add to your day, but don’t demand much in return. Some are specific, some are general ideas, but none of them will wind up being Another Thing to Worry About. 

SEE ALSO: I've written about a bunch of great smart-home tech, but these are the gadgets I use every day — here's why

The Amazon Echo

As you’ve probably heard by now, the Echo Dot is one of the cheapest ways to start a smart home. Just call on Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based virtual assistant, and the Echo can quickly start up a Spotify stream, call an Uber, control your smart lights, order a pizza, or follow a growing number of other quirky commands. It’s always listening, but it serves you, and it does so swiftly and accurately.

Echo Dot, $49.99 

A portable battery

The next time your phone dies before you could call that cab home, you’ll have wished you had a portable battery on you. We’ve recommended Anker’s PowerCore series before, and its PowerCore 10000 packs plenty of power in a compact, not-that-expensive package.   

Anker PowerCore 10000, $25.99

A wireless charger

The open secret about wireless chargers is that they’re not really wireless — a charging pad can’t produce power on its own, so you’ll have to plug it into a wall somewhere. Still, plopping your phone down on a pad and picking it up when it’s time to go is much smoother than making sure your microUSB cord is going in the right way for the hundredth time. Just make sure your phone uses the same wireless charging standard as the charger itself; CHOTECH's Qi charger here is a reliable choice for Qi-enabled phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8.

CHOETECH Qi Wireless Charger Pad, $15.99, available at Amazon

Across the United States, cities are in the middle of a construction boom.

And several projects are nearly complete — from a skyscraper dubbed the "Jenga Tower" in Austin, Texas to a neighborhood of hundreds of townhouses in Detroit, Michigan.

Here are some of the most ambitious development projects that will open in 2018.

SEE ALSO: 11 billion-dollar mega-projects that will transform the world's greatest cities by 2035

The Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When complete in mid to late 2018, this 60-story skyscraper will become the tallest tower in Philly.

The Foster+Partners-designed tower will include a Four Seasons Hotel on its top levels, and offices for Comcast employees on the lower levels. 

Solstice on the Park in San Francisco, California

Designed by the Chicago-based firm Studio Gang, Solstice on the Park is a tower that will include 250 apartment units. The architects oriented the facade at 72 degrees, the optimum angle to maximize sunlight in winter for passive solar power and minimize light and heat gain during summer to lower air-conditioning usage.

The 26-story project is expected to open by late spring of 2018.

3 World Trade Center and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York, New York

As part of the new World Trade Center site in downtown Manhattan, 3WTC by famed architect Richard Rogers will stretch 1,079 feet and house retail and offices. The tower topped out in 2016, and will open by spring of 2018.

Nearby, the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will soon open, too. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the $50 million project will replace the church that was lost in the September 11 attacks.

• Leading others can be challenging at times.

• But there are some subtle signs that you're an exceptional boss.

• It all comes down to your listening skills, empathy, and confidence.

It's not always easy being in charge.

Managing others comes with a ton of pressure. And when you're in a management position, it can be difficult to evaluate how you're doing.

Are you striking the right balance between commanding respect and appearing accessible? Are your employees responding well to your style of leadership? Are any of your actions breeding resentment in the office?

Being a good boss is crucial for your organization — a third of employees in one survey revealed that they'd quit a job because of a bad manager, Business Insider reported.

But you can't exactly go wandering around the office begging people to tell you how you're doing. You're better off organizing employee satisfaction surveys and soliciting feedback from your direct reports.

You can also take a look at these other, more subtle signs that you're killing it as the boss:

SEE ALSO: 19 simple social skills that will make you more likable

You don't have obvious favorites

You treat your employees like human beings

You're willing to try new things

Clemson University won their second national championship last season and have played in each of the last two College Football Playoff championship games.

This season, the Tigers are back in the College Football Playoff and they took the journey in their new $55 million football complex.

The school opened the facility earlier this year, and now we get a peak inside and outside what looks like a swanky playground for college students.

Here are some photos and videos of some of the swankiest features, via HOK.

Here is an aerial view of the new facilities.

The "Allen N. Reeves Football Complex" was designed by HOK, the architect firm responsible for many stadiums around the world.

According to Thad Turnipseed, Clemson's director of recruiting and external affairs, he visited 36 football facilities around the country and was told by coach Dabo Swinney to "take the best from each place."

Source: Clemson Tigers

Renters in America spent a record amount of money on housing in 2017.

They paid $485.6 billion to landlords, about 1% more than they did in 2016, according to Zillow. This was the slowest pace in recent years because more renters transitioned into homeownership. 

But tight supply and strong demand from buyers are likely to keep the cost of housing on the rise in 2018. "Despite recent changes to federal tax laws that have historically made homeownership financially attractive, the long-term dynamics pushing up home values and rents are unlikely to change significantly in 2018," said Aaron Terrazas, a senior economist at Zillow, in a release on Thursday.

The total value of America's housing market rose this year to $31.8 trillion. It was a 6.5% increase and the fastest pace in four years.

Here are the cities where rents increased the most in 2017, ranked in ascending order:

SEE ALSO: The GOP's big tax break for landlords could make America’s housing crisis worse

17. Indianapolis, Indiana

Total rent paid: $2.4 billion

Annual change in rent paid: 2%

16. Boston, Massachusetts

Total rent paid: $10.7 billion

Annual change in rent paid: 2.4%

15. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Total rent paid: $11.8 billion

Annual change in rent paid: 2.4%

• The Explorers Club is an ultra-elite club in New York that serves as a meeting place for explorers, scientists, and the moneyed-elite who fund expeditions.
• Its members include astronaut Buzz Aldrin, President Teddy Roosevelt, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and film director James Cameron.
• The Manhattan clubhouse is filled with priceless artifacts and ancient documents.

World history is full of secret clubs with elite members, like the Freemasons and the Illuminati. Shrouded in mystery, these clubs become the stuff of legend.

In a lavish Upper Manhattan townhouse lies the headquarters of a legendary, though far less secretive society — The Explorers Club.

Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club is a professional society that serves as a meeting place for explorers, scientists, and just about anyone with an interest in scientific exploration. The Explorers Club funds, promotes, and assists in expeditions around the world.

The club's current and historical members include astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, film director James Cameron, Space-X  and Tesla founder Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, President Teddy Roosevelt, and aviator Charles Lindbergh.

The Explorers Club invited Business Insider in 2014 to take an exclusive look inside the historic club.

The Explorers Club is located on East 70th Street in Manhattan near Central Park. The house's Jacobean facade makes it instantly recognizable.

The Explorers Club headquarters was originally the home of Stephen C. Clark, the heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune and founder of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Club member and famous writer Lowell Thomas later bought the house and gifted the property to the club.

The front sitting room is suffused with history, including many 15th- and 16th-century fixtures from Europe. The wood coffee table was originally a hatch cover on the USC&GS Explorer, a survey ship and research vessel that was one of the few ships to survive the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack.

There’s nothing better than a movie moment you immediately know will be stuck in your mind forever.

It might be the emotion of the moment, the way the music matches the powerful visuals, or a line that’s delivered just the right way. Whatever it is, it’s the moment when you are hooked on the movie not just for the rest of the year, but for many more to come.

With 2017 coming to a close, I looked back on 11 moments in the movies this year that I won’t forget anytime soon.

Warning: Some spoilers are also included. 

SEE ALSO: All 36 notable characters in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," ranked from worst to best

11. The K-Ci & JoJo scene in “Ingrid Goes West”

I've pretty much been cracking up about this scene since I first saw it at the Sundance Film Festival back in January. Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) befriends Taylor (Elizabeth Olsen), the person she's been stalking on Instagram, and they take a girls' trip to Joshua Tree. 

During the car ride they play the late 1990s hit "All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo. Ingrid gets so into the song that she begins to stare at Taylor as she sings the lyrics, "I pray for someone like you, and I hope that you feel the same way too." This leads to her slamming into the guardrail.

Plaza's lust stare for Taylor makes the entire moment incredibly funny. 

10. Paz de la Huerta interrupts “My Scientology Movie”

This is definitely one of the top bats--t moments I have ever seen in a documentary. 

Louis Theroux is having a serious chat with former Scientology member Marty Rathbun in a hotel room when out of nowhere a bikini-clad Paz de le Huerta knocks on the window of their room. Theroux opens the door and the actress walks in demanding not to be filmed, though goes on to brag that she's been in over 45 films (there's a lot more to this story). And as quickly as she appears she's gone, and the two men are left wondering if somehow Scientology was behind the encounter.

The randomness of the encounter and Theroux's handling of the situation is something I can watch on a loop for days (and perhaps I have!).

9. Rachael reunites with Deckard in “Blade Runner 2049”

The appearance of a CGI version of Sean Young, as she looked in the original "Blade Runner" movie in 1982, filled me with nostalgia and a burning desire to find out how they did it. 

She looks flawless (though Deckard finds a flaw) and the moment beautifully links both movies. 

Is your New Year's resolution to read more? We here at STAT have you covered.

This year saw the publication of some page-turning memoirs, deeply researched works of nonfiction, and fascinating stories of the history of science — among many others.

So as we turn the page on 2017, we asked our readers and staff for their picks of the best health and science books that came out this year. Tuck these titles into your library hold list or Amazon cart and keep that 2018 promise.

SEE ALSO: Humans probably won't ever live forever — and new genetic discoveries might explain why

'Admissions: Life as a Brain Surgeon' by Henry Marsh

Henry Marsh is a superb surgeon and writer, but what drove me to instantly reading his second book, following the stellar "Do No Harm," is the fact that he admits to being as human as the rest of us. Maybe it is the fact that he is in the twilight of his career and can get away with it, or his forthright Englishness, but he puts onto paper what medicine is truly like from the inside, warts and all. — Martin Kaminski, Boston

'The Cell: Discovering the Microscopic World that Determines Our Health, Our Consciousness, and Our Future' by Joshua Z. Rappoport

Rappoport's writing is exceptionally concise and exciting to read. He effectively and accessibly communicates the cutting-edge understandings underpinning cell biology, peppering in the highlights in its history of ideological and technological development. Using vivid imagery and poignant analogy, he elevates the discipline in a poetic and important way. — Ron Yadin, Berkeley, Calif.

'In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope' by Rana Awdish

Rana Awdish, a physician, had the chance to die. Luckily for us, she did not. Her book, "In Shock," a must-read for patients and doctors alike, is a tour de force in championing a shift in culture for helping health professionals talk more effectively with their patients, and for patients voices to have primacy within the health system. — Madhukar Pai, Montreal

Chronically-negative people can slow down your momentum and sabotage real success. Top entrepreneurs and members of The Oracles share their bulletproof strategies for cutting ties with negative people once and for all.

SEE ALSO: What 11 entrepreneurs and execs would tell their 24-year-old selves

1. Audit the five people in your circle.

Gary Vaynerchuk, founder and CEO ofVaynerMedia (700+ employees with over $100 million in annual revenue),NYT-bestselling author, and mentor onPlanet of the Apps:

Negative loser energy is a drag. Reflect on how you feel after hanging out with each of the five closest people in your circle. After taking stock, audit accordingly. You may need to find new friends: People who are fired up and trying to win. You might even need to break up with your partner.

Letting go is scary, but do you want to know the single scariest thing of all time? Regret. Don’t let loyalty trump your happiness.

2. Consider why you’re attracting negativity.

Roy McDonald, founder and CEO of OneLife:

Whom we attract often reflects our own behavior. When encountering negative people, first consider why you’re attracting their energy. To stop attracting negativity, you may have to give up some former judgments. So ask yourself: "What is it about their negativity that frightens me so much?"

3. Reflect before deciding.

Tom Shieh, CEO of Crimcheck; connect with Tom on Facebook:

It's easy to label others who don't share our attitude, perspective, or behavior as "toxic" or "negative." Before cutting these "negative" people off, evaluate why their behavior triggers such intense emotions.

And remember:

Removing fat doesn't create muscle.

Removing poverty doesn't create riches.

Removing coldness doesn't create heat.

Removing hate doesn't create love.

Removing darkness doesn't create light.

Removing doubt doesn't create faith.

Removing fear doesn't create courage.

Removing negativity doesn't create positivity.

• Fried chicken has become a huge trend in fast food, and Chick-fil-A is an industry leader.
• If you've never been before, have no fear — we've compiled a list of the menu items worth ordering.

Fried chicken has taken over fast-food.

And as the ruler of the roost, Chick-fil-A is leading the charge. A recent Piper Jaffray survey found that Chick-fil-A was second in terms of favorability with teens.  

While Chick-fil-A continues to expand from its southern stronghold into the Northeast and beyond, many diners unfamiliar with the storied chain will suddenly find themselves pausing at the counter or in the drive-thru line, wondering what to order. 

Well have no fear, intrepid American Eaters. The Chick-fil-A Dining Guide is here.

We've rounded up the best of the menu here, so if you find yourselves bewildered by the jarring friendliness of a Chick-fil-A cashier, you can still order with confidence.

SEE ALSO: We ate dozens of meals at restaurant chains in 2017 — here are the 9 absolute best things to try right now

The illustrious, sophisticated, Chick-fil-A Dining Guide:

So, you're at Chick-fil-A. Good work! The chain launched an aggressive expansion plan in recent years, barreling into the New York City market and striking up the East Coast as well as into the Midwest.

The menu is essentially all chicken, so here's to hoping you realized that and are in fact in the mood for chicken. 

There are several categories to cover: sandwiches, finger foods, breakfast, sides, and the "healthy" option.

Sandwich: the Chicken Sandwich.

You can't beat a classic. The original chicken sandwich is an easy choice — in its sheer simplicity lies its strength. This sandwich came second in our fried chicken sandwich smackdown, shut out of the top spot only by an intriguing addition from KFC. 

The chicken breast is tender and juicy, and while it isn't outrageously crispy, the quality of it more than makes up for that. Only a handful of lively pickle slices garnish it, and that's all it needs — a slight acidic jolt to cut through the savory chicken and pillowy bun. 

Finger food: the Chicken Nuggets.

This is another fairly obvious and entirely solid choice. The nuggets are definitely superior to the chicken strips, not in quality but in psychological experience. Chicken nuggets harken back to childhood (although yes, you should still eat them as an adult, clearly), and are more much more fun than the responsible and sensible strips. And more is always better than less, right?

Plus, they took the top spot in our fast-food chicken nugget roundup. The tender white meat chicken is very clearly real chicken, and easily the most identifiable as such compared to competitors. And the bevy of dipping sauces that accompanies these nuggets can cover just about any flavor craving. 

• There may not be a cure for the common cold, but there are ways to prevent yourself from getting it.
• From switching out your hand towel to sipping on some green tea, these simple changes can help you avoid getting sick.

Why do some people seem immune to colds and flu? Follow these tips from real people and experts, and you can learn how to avoid them too.

They press elevator buttons with their elbow.

Everyday mistakes can raise your risk of catching a cold — and that includes touching surfaces that many, many other people have touched. A University of Arizona study found that a virus spreads to over 50 percent of surfaces and other employees within hours when a single person in an office is infected. Partha Nandi, MD, a leading physician and author of "Ask Dr. Nandi," advises avoiding touching common surfaces when possible. Even after you wash your hands, "use a paper towel to turn off the faucet," he says.

They drink enough water.

Great things happen to your body when you get enough water, one of which is flushing out germs that could make you sick. "Stay hydrated," advises Renee Miranda, MD, a family medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. How do you know how much to drink? "Take your weight in pounds, divide in half, and this is approximately how many ounces of water you need a day," she says. "For example, someone who is 150 pounds needs about 75 ounces of water a day." This is what happens when you get your full 8 glasses of water.

They don't skimp on sleep.

When you don't sleep enough, studies have shown your immune system suffers, and you're more prone to getting sick. "Sleep is one of the most important things we can do for the body," Dr. Miranda says. "When we sleep, the body gets a chance to recuperate, repair, and rejuvenate." She recommends getting at least six to eight hours of sleep nightly. This is what happens to your body when you don't get enough sleep.

• When it comes to losing weight, there are a variety of workout routines and diets to choose from.
• Your personality can influence your weight loss journey. 
• So, we got an astrolger to tell us the best ways to lose weight based on your zodiac sign. 

If you're wondering how to lose weight, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the insane amount of information out there. With a new diet plan trending seemingly every other week, it can be hard to identify not only the strategies that work, but the strategies that will work for you. The best way to begin your path to weight loss and to a healthier lifestyle is to contemplate your personality. That's where your zodiac sign comes in. It can help you figure out what will get you up and moving and help you stay motivated. We got astrologer and life coach Linda Furiate, who has written for Astrology Hub, The Baltimore Sun and more, to offer insights to help guide you toward a healthier way of living.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

For Aries, the best way to start and keep up with workout routines or diet plans is to harness their competitive edge. The hardest part about weight loss for an Aries is that they love to start projects, but have a hard time following through. Competition is a way to motivate Aries when they would otherwise begin to slack off.

"They are motivated to try new things and to be the first to use something," Furiate says. "They love getting the latest product on the market to help in their workout or nutritional routine. Their kitchens are filled with blenders, food processors, or other gadgets. Unfortunately, they use these things once or twice and then get bored or lazy. The best thing for Aries is to find a friend or partner they want to aid in their weight loss and workout routine." These are the secrets of women who work out every day.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Taurus can be very hedonistic, which makes exercising regularly and following diet plans difficult. "They can tend to be slow, methodical, and stuck in their ways," Furiate says. "They also love sweets and rich foods." Basically, anything scrumptious or luxurious will attract a Taurus, so if working out or dieting is somehow made to seem glamorous, a Taurus will have a much easier time of it. Furiate says, "If they feel good around what they are wearing and find value in spending the money for exclusive membership, this may motivate them to get up and go to the gym." So a gym with extra amenities, like a pool, a sauna, or access to masseurs would be perfect for a Taurus. They would benefit from a spa experience. Check out these 12 must-have products for your very own home spa day.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Geminis love to go, go, go. Luckily for them, that means that staying committed to a workout routine shouldn't be too difficult. According to Furiate, the best activity for a Gemini to engage in is running. "Running or fast walking is great for Geminis. They love being on the move. They will benefit also from being able to talk to or communicate with another person while working out. They need to find a buddy to walk or run with." Geminis are also great multitaskers, so if they can't find a partner who is willing to run a few miles with them, they can always fill the silence by listening to music or a podcast. (This is the energizing workout music that makes exercising more fun.)

After months upon months of investigation, the International Olympic Committee made a bombshell announcement: Russia has been banned from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The announcement came on the heels of the Schmid Report, which confirmed a large-scale, state-sponsored doping program designed to give Russian athletes an unfair edge. The full extent of the Russian Olympic Committee and government's joint effort to skirt the rules may never be known, but the information we do have still points to an unprecedented operation.

Below, find out more about Russia's quest to dominate the Olympics through doping, as well as the lengthy investigation that followed.

The IOC has reviewed the investigations, and the ruling is in: Russia's Olympic team will be barred from competing in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang.

The findings confirmed the Russian Olympic Committee's part in one of the biggest doping scandals in history. While some clean individuals may still get a chance to compete, they will not be able to wear the Russian colors...

...hear their national anthem during medal ceremonies...

• As a reporter for the Strategy vertical, I've interviewed many entrepreneurs, CEOs, and academics about leadership and personal growth.
• Sometimes I will adopt the best insights into my own life.
• This year, I learned how to be a better colleague and how to best view my career path.

If you're reading this right now, you may have read some advice-based Strategy stories on Business Insider or other outlets — things like how to lead teams better, or why you should meditate every morning.

As someone who's written many of those, I know that they can come across as human interest stories (e.g. "This Navy SEAL wakes up at 4:30 a.m. but sorry I'm not going to do that") but other times they can really resonate with you, and you can't get a particular insight out of your head.

When I look back at this year and the interviews I did with people like life coach Tony Robbins or LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, I can see how many of the insights they shared with me did just that, and led to new routines and ways of approaching my career.

I've collected those lessons that most resonated with me and distilled them to their key takeaways.

SEE ALSO: The 19 best business books of 2017

LinkedIn founder and Greylock investor Reid Hoffman said a strong network is more valuable than a thorough career plan.

Who you know will prove to be more valuable than just your ambition, Hoffman told me in an interview for BI's podcast "Success! How I Did It."

"And so, as opposed to saying, 'I have a master plan,'" he said, you're better off focusing more energy on building "as strong a network as possible, because that's the thing that most catapults you, in terms of your capabilities, in terms of your abilities to do things."

To accomplish this, he said, you have to become a "central node" in a network, where you are adding value to the people who can move your career forward.

Life coach Tony Robbins demonstrated the power of routine.

As the world's most famous life coach, Tony Robbins not only has personal clients like billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones he checks in with daily, he tours the world giving presentations and running events that regularly include 16-hour days.

He's been doing this for about 40 years now. And even though he's now 57 years old, he told me that implementing strict routines into his daily schedule have allowed him to be busier than he was when his energy came more easily.

Each morning, Robbins spends 10 minutes meditating and reflecting on what he is grateful for, and then spends 15 minutes in a compact but intense workout.

While I haven't mimicked Robbins' exact routine, I've realized there's no reason not to carve out at least 30 minutes every morning for the sake of mental and physical health.

Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio said that anyone can benefit from a degree of 'radical transparency.'

Ray Dalio built Bridgewater Associates into the largest hedge fund in the world, with roughly $150 billion in total assets under management, but he may be more recognizable for the controversial management philosophy he's instilled into all of his employees.

After stepping down from daily management responsibilities in March, Dalio began a phase of his career in which he passed on this philosophy to the public.

I spoke with Dalio in September when he was promoting his book "Principles: Life and Work," and he said that he wants his legacy to be inspiring people to use "radical truth" and "radical transparency" in their personal and professional lives in order to make better decisions and form more honest relationships.

While I certainly don't want to work in an office where all meetings are recorded and my performance in meetings is graded in real time by my peers — as things go over at Bridgewater — I do understand the core of Dalio's desire: that playing disingenuous office politics is a slippery slope, and that honesty with your bosses and coworkers, even when it's uncomfortable, is always the better option.

New York City should be on everyone's list of once-in-a-lifetime New Year's Eve destinations.

The city is home to the world-famous Times Square ball drop, where last year more than two million people gathered in the chilly air to watch live performances and count down to midnight. And it's free.

Below, we've rounded up seven more fun events in New York City that won't cost you a penny on New Year's Eve.

SEE ALSO: 16 of the most luxurious ski resorts to visit this winter

DON'T MISS: 19 of the best ski resorts to visit this winter that don't cost a fortune

Dance at the Midnight Run in Central Park

While there's a fee to participate in the 4-mile run, spectating is free at New York Road Runner's Midnight Run in Central Park. The party starts at 10 p.m. with a live DJ, followed by a parade and costume contest at 11 p.m. and the race and fireworks at midnight. 

Cruise the harbor on the Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry offers riders the best views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. At no cost to ride, you'll see fireworks going off in each of the boroughs as you cruise the harbor on New Year's Eve. Bring a coat and get there early.

Listen to live music at the New Year's Eve Concert for Peace

A New York staple since 1984, the Concert for Peace takes place at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine every New Year's Eve. General admission seats are free and open to the public. This year's show features Cathedral Artist in Residence Judy Collins, and runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

As the year draws to a close and we catch up with the best business books of 2017, we're also looking toward what's coming up in 2018.

We've looked through titles that have already been announced for the new year and have highlighted the memoirs, career guides, and analyses we're most excited about.

SEE ALSO: The 19 best business books of 2017

'Your Best Year Ever' by Michael Hyatt (Jan. 2)

Hyatt has led a varied career. After years as a CEO and an entrepreneur, he published bestsellers like "Living Forward" and "Platform"; he also hosts a podcast called "This is Your Life" and created a productivity system called "Free to Focus."

"Your Best Year Ever" is all about goal setting and achieving, at home and at work. It's an outgrowth of Hyatt's course "5 Days to Your Best Year Ever." The idea is to stop getting stuck in the day-to-day and accomplish what really matters to you.

Find it here »

'The Right — and Wrong — Stuff' by Carter Cast (Jan. 9)

Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management professor Carter Cast has spent years researching career development, and what factors lead some employees to rise to the top while equally talented employees "derail."

Cast has settled on five career archetypes that cut across gender, industry, and experience level and he's highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of each. Use his guide to determine what you most closely align with, and how to use that to your advantage.

Find it here »

'When to Jump' by Mike Lewis (Jan. 9)

After college, Mike Lewis took a job at Bain because it seemed like the thing to do. But while the job was prized, his heart wasn't in his work and he decided to go against everything he was conditioned to believe and left to pursue his real passion, the game of squash.

Lewis lived out his dream of being a pro squash player and then decided he would like to inspire others to stop pursuing careers that make them miserable. Featuring a foreword by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, "When to Jump" is a guide for assessing what you need to get from your work in order to be fulfilled. 

Find it here »

2017 has been a year of change and turmoil.

Donald Trump became US president this January, bringing with him an administration rocked by more than a dozen high-profile exits. Robert Mugabe resigned after a military coup, ending a 37-year reign over Zimbabwe.

Outside politics, Britain's Prince Philip officially retired from his formal duties after 65 years of public service. In business, high-profile figures like Uber's Travis Kalanick also resigned.

Scroll down to read about more leaders who left the world stage this year, in chronological order.

Barack Obama, US President — January 2017

Barack Obama ended his eight-year presidency on January 20, 2017.

In a letter to his successor, Donald Trump,he said: "We've both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune.

"Not everyone is so lucky. It's up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that's willing to work hard."

Park Geun Hye, South Korean President — May 2017

A South Korean court removed Park Geun Hye from the nation's presidency in March, after she was accused of taking part in an alleged bribery ring which encouraged companies to donate money in return for government favours.

Her successor, Moon Jae In, was elected in early May and assumed office the day after.

Francois Hollande, French President — May 2017

François Hollande ended his five-year term as French President, and welcomed 39-year-old former banker Emmanuel Macron to the Elysée Palace in May.

Macron defeated Marine Le Pen, a far-right, anti-EU nationalist in a landslide victory earlier this year.

LONDON — 2017 has been another solid year for crowdfunding. 

Seedrs, one of the UK's biggest crowdfunding platforms, surpassed £300 million invested across the platform since its launch and the total invested through crowdfunding surpassed 2016's total.

That's according to Off3r, a comparison site that lets retail investors compare investment options. Off3r calculates that British startups raised £229 million through crowdfunding this year, around £12 million more than in 2016. 

Off3r has rounded up a list of the top 20 crowdfunding campaigns of the year, covering everything from digital banking to healthcare.

Here are the companies that crowdfunded the most this year:

20. Core Collective — £2 million

Total raised:£2 million.

Platform: Seedrs.

Month: April.

What is it? Pay-as- you-go fitness class provider.

19. GripIt — £2 million

Total raised:£2 million.

Platform: Crowdcube.

Month: March.

What is it? Heavy duty plasterboard fixings.

18. Warwick Audio — £2.1 million

Total raised:£2.1 million.

Platform: SyndicateRoom.

Month: July.

What is it? Audio technology developer.

Japan has a sex problem. The country's birthrate is shrinking year after year, to the point where deaths are outpacing births.

Simply put, Japan's population is decreasing.

But let's be clear: Population change is a complicated subject affected by many factors.

Western media often correlates the decline in Japan's population size with recent studies of Japanese sexual habits and marriage. A 2016 study by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research in Japan, for instance, found that "almost 70 percent of unmarried men and 60 percent of unmarried women are not in a relationship."

But just because people aren't in relationships doesn't mean they don't want companionship, of course. And that's where something like Gatebox comes in.

Yes, that is an artificially intelligent character who lives in a glass tube in your home. Her name is Azuma Hikari, and she's the star of Gatebox — a $2,500 Amazon Echo-esque device that acts as a home assistant and companion.

Here's what we know:

SEE ALSO: Japan's sex problem is so bad that people are quitting dating and marrying their friends

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A Japanese company named Vinclu created the Gatebox.

It's about the size of an 8-inch by 11-inch piece of paper, according to Vinclu. And there's a good reason for that: The device is intended to be "big enough for you to be able to put right beside you." You'll understand why you'd want a Gatebox so close soon enough.

The Gatebox is similar to Amazon's Echo — it's a voice-powered home assistant.

The Gatebox has a microphone and a camera because you operate it using your voice.

For now, it will respond only to Japanese; the company making Gatebox says it's exploring other language options. Considering that preorder units are available for both Japan and the US, we'd guess that an English-language option is in the works.

Gatebox does a lot of the same stuff that Echo does — it can automate your home in various ways, including turning on lights and waking you up in the morning.

Apple has a new iPhone on the way that looks incredible, is faster than ever, and ... is outrageously expensive. The base model costs $1,000. One thousand dollars!

But there's good news, friends: There's a far better iPhone out there right now, and it costs less than half the price of the absurdly priced iPhone X.

That phone is the iPhone SE — Apple's best iPhone. Here's the deal.

SEE ALSO: 9 reasons you should buy an iPhone 8 instead of an iPhone X

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1. The iPhone SE is remarkably affordable, at just $350 to start.

Millions of people will excitedly plunk down a full stack for the iPhone X. It's more than just a phone — it's a status symbol. I get it. It's a much more affordable version of a Ferrari. Fine. But I'm a Honda Civic kinda guy.

I want something affordable, powerful enough, and long-lasting. I'm not trying to impress anyone, nor am I the kind of person who lives on the bleeding edge of tech gadgets. That's why I was excited to see that, alongside the announcement of the iPhone X, Apple quietly made the iPhone SE $50 less expensive.

At $350 to start, with 32 GB of storage and the internals of an iPhone 6S, the iPhone SE is the perfect Honda Civic of smartphones.

2. The iPhone SE is shockingly powerful.

The chip that powers the iPhone SE also powers the iPhone 6S and the most recent iPad. It's called the Apple A9, and it's more horsepower than you need in a smartphone — Apple calls it "the most powerful 4‑inch phone ever," specifically because of that chip.

More than just a zippy device, the A9 powers 4K video recording, high-definition games, and pretty much everything else you want to do with your iPhone. Most importantly, the A9 makes the iPhone SE feel like a modern phone in terms of everyday use.

3. Like other iPhones and prominent Android phones, it has a killer camera.

The iPhone SE doesn't have optical image stabilization or wide-color capture like the newer iPhones, so it won't perform as well in low light, and videos won't be as smooth. But don't worry: Everything from 4K video to HDR photos is built into the iPhone SE. And yes, you can take "live photos" on the iPhone SE, just as you would on any other recent iPhone.

Most importantly, though, you can snap crisp, beautifully detailed photos using the iPhone SE's 12-megapixel rear camera — its aperture is slightly different from the newer phones, but the camera's the same as the iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 lines, and the iPhone X. Like the A9 chip at the heart of the iPhone SE, the camera on the iPhone 6S is built into the iPhone SE.