Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh wants his employees to continuously explore new ideas. That's why there's a library of some of his favorite books at Zappos' Las Vegas headquarters.

Over the years he's recommended well over 20 business books— including his own, the 2010 bestseller "Delivering Happiness"— and you can always find what he's currently reading atop his cluttered desk.

"It's always interesting just to learn different perspectives, but to be careful of not trying to just say, 'Oh this book is the Bible, and we should copy that,'" Hsieh told Business Insider. "Instead, I want us t0 take the parts that make sense for Zappos and try to incorporate them."

Hsieh shared with us the four books he's recommending to everyone at the moment.

SEE ALSO: Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh reveals what it was like losing 18% of his employees in a radical management experiment — and why it was worth it

'Start with Why' by Simon Sinek

Leadership consultant and popular TED Talk speaker Simon Sinek's 2009 book "Start with Why" has a simple but potentially profound insight: The best leaders process and share information by starting with why, then how, and then finally what, whereas most people approach matters in the reverse order.

It's why, for example, Apple was able to dominate the mp3 player industry in the last decade despite the prevalence of many other quality devices on the market. It started its pitch to consumers with the why of having a mission to change the status quo and encourage creativity and then ended with the what of selling an iPod.

Find it here >>

'Where Good Ideas Come From' by Steven Johnson

Author Steven Johnson argues in his 2010 book that innovation comes from the collision of ideas. This can happen when an individual working in isolation builds off years of existing knowledge to fuel his insights, or it can happen much more quickly when several creative types bounce ideas off each other in a community like Silicon Valley.

This theory is one of the reasons why Hsieh decided to invest $350 million of his own money in 2010 into the Downtown Project, which is building a community of entrepreneurs in Zappos' neighborhood.

Find it here >>

'Getting Things Done' by David Allen

David Allen is a management consultant whose 2001 classic "Getting Things Done" has sold over a million copies, making it the go-to book on personal productivity for the past 15 years.

Allen updated it last year, but its main principles have held up well because they provide readers of all experience levels with tools to make decisions, plan their days according to top priorities, and stay focused on what matters.

It turns out that Allen runs his consulting company using the same unusual self-management system that Zappos recently adopted. 

Find it here >>

What's so cool about Alexander Hamilton?

Born a penniless bastard in the Caribbean, he would become a Revolutionary War hero and the genius behind much of America's government, all before dying in a duel at the age of 49.

Playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda saw it right away after reading Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton." The biography inspired Miranda to create the hip-hop musical"Hamilton!"— a global phenomenon that is sold out on Broadway nearly through 2016 and about to go on national tour.

After listening to the album obsessively, we wanted to share some of the magic. Keep reading to see our guide (pulling from Chernow, Genius, and more) to key lines from the best musical ever.

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a/ Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a/ Forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence/ Impoverished, in squalor/ Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755, in the West Indian capital city of Charlestown, located on the Caribbean island of Nevis.

His parents were unmarried, his father rejected him, and his mother died when he was 13.

By that point, many people would have given up. Not Hamilton ...

HAMILTON: I’m 'a get a scholarship to King’s College/ I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish

Hamilton had talent and dreams.

The orphan clerked for a trading company, read every book he could get his hands on, and honed his skills as a writer. After publishing a gripping essay in a local paper, community leaders paid for him to go to America to continue his education.

In 1772 he enrolled at Elizabethtown Academy in New Jersey. By 1773 he had impressed enough people to get a scholarship to King's College (later known as Columbia University).

That's when he really started making noise.

HAMILTON: Why should a tiny island across the sea regulate the price of tea?

Hamilton, age 19, anonymously published his first political essay in 1774 in defense of the Boston Tea Party, where Americans destroyed British tea to protest taxes.

The young firebrand gave a speech that summer that turned him into a hero of the cause.

In 1775, his anonymous essay "The Farmer Refuted" not only made the best case yet for revolution but explained how the colonists could win.

Facebook, the world's biggest social network, turns 12 years old Thursday, having been founded by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in his Harvard dorm room in 2004.

The original domain for Facebook — TheFacebook.com — now redirects to Facebook.com, and about 1 billion people a day visit the website on a desktop, smartphone, or tablet.

Facebook Messenger, an offshoot of Facebook that lets users talk to friends, has over 800 million users, and WhatsApp, the messaging client Facebook acquired for $19 billion (£13 billion) last year, has about a billion.

The design of Facebook has changed a lot over the years as the social network expanded beyond Harvard throughout the world, with the exception of one or two countries where it is banned, including China.

Here's what the homepage looked like over the years:

The original Facebook homepage from 2004 with a small picture of Al Pacino in the top left corner.

Mark Zuckerberg originally described himself as not only the founder of Facebook, but also as the "Master and Commander" and "Enemy of the State."

Here's what a Facebook group page looked like in 2005.

Happy 12th birthday, Facebook!

As you'd expect, the site looks completely different now compared when it first launched on February 4, 2004. 

But in case you haven't been a loyal user since the beginning, we'll give you a little tour of how the site evolved. 

Check it out:

(Former Business Insider reporter Megan Rose Dickey also contributed to this piece.)

SEE ALSO: What 25 popular websites used to look like

Remember when Facebook was called Thefacebook? It started at Harvard and slowly opened up to other colleges.

Mark Zuckerberg originally described himself as not only the founder of Facebook, but also as the "Master and Commander" and "Enemy of the State."

We love this gem about "poking" from one of the original FAQ pages.

At Country & Town House, we love a property with a bit of history. Today we’ve rounded up the most desirable properties on sale right now. And whether you’re looking for a historic London house with a view, or an equestrian lover’s dream, we have it all. 

So, while the weather is bleak outside, let’s take a look at some dream properties to help you fast-forward to spring.

1. Conkwell Grange, Conkwell, Limpley Stoke, Bath, Wiltshire, BA2

This gorgeous Grade II listed house is what idyllic country living is made of. Imagine pootling down the A303 and pulling up to this every weekend? As quintessentially British as they come, this ten bedroom home in nestled in the Wiltshire countryside with views of the Avon Valley and Salisbury Plain. And as if that wasn’t enough, if you’re a keen rider, the estate featured equestrian facilities. When can we move in? Available through Knight Frank for £5.9m.

2. Black Collar Barn, Farthing, York, YO61

A barn conversion in Farthing, Yorkshire, this home is as dreamy and light as they come. Cosying up next to the fireplace after a delicious Sunday lunch couldn’t be better here, we imagine. We love the high ceilings and brickwork throughout the house, which create a lovely shabby-chic decor. Available through Humberts for £1.25m.

3. Castle Hill House, Rotherfield Nr Crowborough, East Sussex

Castle Hill House is set in the prettiest of villages, High Wealden, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house itself comprises six bedrooms and bathrooms, five reception, and also has a tennis court and swimming pool. Perfect for large families, then, and those who like to entertain. When the weather sorts itself, the orangery will come into its own on long summer evenings. Available from Savills for £4.95m.

Of the 50 richest people in the world, most built their wealth up from nothing, creating some of the most powerful companies out there — including Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Nike, and Google — along the way. 

The 25 richest self-made billionaires on earth have accrued more than $850 billion combined, each with a personal net worth of at least $18 billion. 

This comes from new data provided to Business Insider by Wealth-X, which conducts research on the super-wealthy, as featured in our recent list of the richest people on earth. Wealth-X maintains a database of dossiers on more than 110,000 ultra-high-net-worth people, using a proprietary valuation model to discern the size of their fortunes. 

The list ranges from tech moguls like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos to influential investors like Warren Buffett and Carl Icahn. Read on to learn how each of these 25 self-made magnates earned their fortune.

SEE ALSO: The 50 richest people on earth

DON'T MISS: The 8 richest people in Europe

25. Paul Allen

Net worth:$18.3 billion

Age: 62

Country: US

Industry: Diversified investments

Source of wealth: Self-made; Microsoft

Alongside his cofounder Bill Gates, Paul Allen credits Microsoft for his fortune. Although Allen left the company before it went public in 1986, he remained a board member until 2000 and today holds a less than 5% stake. The college dropout went on to found Vulcan, his private-investment vehicle, shortly after leaving the software giant.

With lifetime donations exceeding $2 billion, Allen's philanthropic efforts make him one of the most generous people in the world. The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation gives to global health causes, including $5 million to Seattle BioMed, $4 million to Global FinPrint — a conservation project focused on the preservation of sharks worldwide — and $7 million in grants to Alzheimer's research. During West Africa's Ebola pandemic in 2014, Allen gave more than $100 million to develop solutions to stem the outbreak. In October 2015, the foundation announced seven new grants totaling $11 million to prevent future widespread Ebola outbreaks.

The self-made billionaire also counts an extravagant lineup of cars, World War II fighter jets, real estate, and two sports teams — the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trailblazers — among his luxurious array of assets.

24. Lee Shau Kee

Net worth:$18.5 billion

Age: 87

Country: Hong Kong

Industry: Real estate

Source of wealth: Self-made; Henderson Land Development

Lee Shau Kee fled China for Hong Kong before the Communist takeover in 1948, working in commodities like gold and currency exchange before founding Henderson Land Development in 1973. Over the last 43 years, Henderson has become a top real-estate developer in Hong Kong and China, generating annual sales of more than $3 billion and making Lee one of the richest men in Asia.

An active philanthropist, Lee has donated more than $100 million over the years to causes ranging from education to affordable housing to farmer-training programs. In October, he honored the birth of his seventh grandchild by giving away HK$15 million— about US$1.9 million — to his friends and employees.

23. Carl Icahn

Net worth:$18.7 billion

Age: 79

Country: US

Industry: Diversified investments

Source of wealth: Self-made; Icahn Enterprises

Carl Icahn has made a lifelong habit and lucrative career out of agitating undervalued and poorly managed companies to change their ways. Since founding his own investment firm in 1968, Icahn has become one of the most powerful people in finance, investing in scores of high-profile companies, including RJR Nabisco, Philips Petroleum, Viacom, Marvel, Time Warner, Netflix, and Herbalife.

And he usually gets his way. When Icahn revealed that he held a stake in Apple worth more than $1 billion in 2013, the company's stock shot up and CEO Tim Cook responded to Icahn's critique of the company. Cook has even come around to some of Icahn's views, and Icahn said in the fall that he may buy an even larger stake.

Now Icahn's leading the charge against AIG, publishing an open letter in January calling for the insurance giant to break up into a "smaller, simpler company."

Icahn has said that he has no plans of retiring from pestering corporate executives, but a career shift may nonetheless be in the works. Donald Trump has said that if elected US president, he would bring Icahn in as Treasury secretary — a position which Icahn said he would accept despite some disagreements with the combative real-estate mogul's positions.

The military is full of stereotypes. Contemporary perceptions of the average soldier or veteran often focus too much on one characteristic or miss the mark entirely. Whether it’s interbranch conflict, marriage woes, or political viewpoints, there are very few all-encompassing tropes that fit all members of the military.

Here are six military stereotypes debunked.

SEE ALSO: The Pentagon and the Navy are fighting over a $23 billion combat ship

They love war.

World War II veteran-turned-President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” The stereotype of the hyper-masculine soldier is not an accurate depiction of most service members.

In fact, because they’ve seen combat firsthand, they are much less likely to suggest warfare as a primary means of resolving conflict. According to a report from the Daily Beast, “Civilian elites were more supportive of using military force, and for a wider range of scenarios, than were military elites.”

They joined the military as a last resort.

There are any number of reasons why a person joins the military. People often believe that someone joins only because her or she flunked out of high school. However, reasons can be as far reaching as love of country, to familial history, to educational incentives.

According to Blue Star Families 2014 survey, however, “The reason for joining the military reported by the highest percentage of respondents (96%) was to serve their country. Additionally, 74% of respondents said they joined to ‘improve their life circumstances.’”

Regardless of why people choose to join, they put themselves in harm’s way to protect American interests.

Related: Read about the four military stereotypes that Hollywood got right.

They can’t think for themselves.

It’s a common misconception that service members only know how to give and take orders — nothing else. Many people perceive veterans as drones with rigid, set functions.

However, they are often put into situations where they must think and respond quickly to unpredictable situations. The Business Journals, among various employment sites, cite the ability to think on their feet as major advantage when hiring veterans.

The European Police Office (Europol), recently launched a website listing the continent's most wanted fugitives.

The list, which has 43 fugitives on it, features Salah Abdeslam — who is wanted in connection with the Paris terror attacks which left 130 people dead.

The website is available in 17 languages and according to Europol it is the first initiative on a European level to present a joint most wanted list. 

The website enables citizens with information about the criminals to share it with the agency, similar to the FBI.

The website displays information about high-profile criminals, convicted of — or suspected of having committed — serious crimes or terrorist acts in Europe.

Here are 10 of the most wanted fugitives in Europe, the full list can be found here.  

These photos have been provided by Europol. Please do not attempt to apprehend any of these fugitives. Report any sightings or information to the police.

Salah Abdeslam

Salah Abdeslam is wanted in connection with the terrorist attacks carried out in Paris last November which left 130 people dead and injured hundreds more.

He is wanted by French and Belgian authorities who warn he is armed and very dangerous.

Crime: Terrorism

Date of birth: September 15, 1989

Nationality: French

Ethnic origin: North-African

State of case: Ongoing investigation

Source: Europol

Mohamed Abrini

Mohamed Abrini is also wanted in connection with the terrorist attacks on Paris last November. He was filmed two days before the attacks at a gas station with Abeslam and driving the same car that was used two days later to carry out the attacks. 

He is wanted by French and Belgian authorities that warn he is armed and dangerous.

Crime: Terrorism

Date of birth: December 27, 1984

Nationality: Belgian

Ethnic origin: North-African

State of case: Ongoing investigation

Source: Europol

Matteo Messina Denaro

Matteo Messina Denaro has made it time and again to lists of the most wanted fugitives in the world. He is rumoured to be the current leader of the powerful "Cosa Nostra," an Italian criminal organisation. 

He was convicted for the kidnapping and killing of the son of a Cosa Nostra member who was a police informant, in 2002 he was also sentenced to life in abstensia for his role in attacks that killed two prosecutors in 1993. He has been on the run since 1993.

Crime: Murder, grievous bodily injury, participation in a criminal organisation

Date of birth: April 26, 1962

Nationality: Itlaian

Ethnic origin: European

State of case: Convicted to life imprisonment

Source:Europol

We get a lot of emails from public relations folks at Tech Insider. But one stood out today: a pitch from a group of roboticists in Poland working to turn the Hasbro toy Furby into an open-source robot for tinkering. That means anyone with a little coding knowledge can program a Furby to do and say basically anything. (We posted some examples below.)

Here's how the Open Furby Project describes their mission on their Facebook page:

The establishment and maintenance of the robot-human communication, both verbal and non-verbal, depend essentially on capabilities of naturally and plausibly showing emotions by generating facial expressions by the robot.

FURBY toy manufactured by Hasbro Inc. has a friendly appearance with outstanding capabilities in such price segment. Unfortunately, manufacturer does not provide for the possibility of using its product as a HRI (human-robot interaction) research platform. There is no possibility of full behaviour control. Our goal is to modify current version of FURBY and equipped him in a custom controller that allows to control him form PC.

Creepy as we find the Furby, this is actually a pretty cool idea. A number of short videos on youtube demonstrate the open Furby's potential capabilities.

Here's an Open Furby alerting that a post received 100 likes on Facebook.

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Here's one reacting to human touch, which isn't at all terrifying.

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Here's a video showing off how the Open Furby moves.

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In just a few short weeks, Vice will finally have a television playland — something it has been working on for a few years now.

On February 29, Viceland lauches with the goal of bringing millennials back to TV or squeezing out the final millions who found their way to the aging machine and converting them to users of the media brand's other platforms.

Why TV when its millennial audience is dipping in viewership? Vice co-creator Shane Smith wasn't going to miss out on the money Vice could be making now, because, as he put it, "75% of the world's advertising budget" is still being used on TV.

"Why don't I get that 75% while all these other guys who don't know what the f--k they're doing are getting it?" he asked the Hollywood Reporter in a new cover interview laden with profanity.

The Viceland deal is full of new ideas, but network partner A+E sees it as a worthy gamble since the channel it's transitioning, H2, wasn't doing well anyway.

In many ways, Viceland is not following the standard protocol for a TV network. And, that's the intention.

Here are five ways Viceland is breaking the TV industry's rules:

SEE ALSO: What happens behind the scenes of a hit NBC show as it airs live

SEE ALSO: The 6 biggest things that will shake up the TV industry in 2016

1. Vice is setting up a cable network without pouring millions of dollars into it and wrangling for distribution.

Vice will replace A+E 's low-rated cable network H2. Instantly, it doesn't have to spend millions for a position on the dial and it takes over H2's distribution of about 70 million homes.

2. A+E has little to lose with Viceland.

A+E has handed over a low-rated cable network. If Vice can improve on H2's numbers, great! As BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield told THR, "In success, they create something far more meaningful than H2. And at worst, they revert to an H2 strategy in two years."

3. Cable TV viewers aren't necessarily the end goal.

Smith knows that his target audience is shrinking on traditional TV. A recent Pew Research Center study found that 19% of 18-to-29-year-olds are cord cutters (they've dropped cable or satellite TV subscriptions), while another 16% have never even signed up for a traditional pay TV package. And as that group continues to move from TV to other platforms, Vice is waiting. "Guess what? I'm in online," Smith told THR. "I'm in mobile!"

"We saw an opening, and for us it's about brands that will survive regardless of the platform," A+E Networks CEO Nancy Dubuc said, "and Vice is the Holy Grail."

Carnival, an annual two-week celebration in Venice, Italy, officially kicked off on January 23.

Carnival dates back to the 11th century and is a celebration leading up to the Roman Catholic season of Lent. 

Traditionally, Carnival is a celebration where Italian Catholics would binge eat the various foods that were restricted during Lent. They would then don intricate costumes and masks and take to the streets to party. 

This year, the celebration runs through February 9. 

SEE ALSO: 5 carnivals everyone should experience at least once

The major Carnival celebrations are held in St. Mark's Square in Venice.

But the two weeks of partying are also celebrated throughout the country.

The word "carnival" is a possible derivative of the Latin word "carnelevarium", which means "to take away meat".

SEE ALSO: 25 thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts under $50

Atlanta

Home to the busiest airport in the United States, flight deals are plentiful for a romantic weekend getaway to Atlanta, Georgia. A standout among the luxury hotels of the city, the towering Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta is offering a Valentine’s Day deal this year called the “Decadent Romance” package, highlighting their top-notch service. The weekend starts with a pop as Champagne is served for a toast along with heart-shaped chocolates from a local chocolatier. Though don’t get too comfortable in the suite, you’ve got reservations for the best of Atlanta’s culture, by way of Atlanta Ballet's production of Moulin Rouge—The Ballet. The night concludes with sweeping views of downtown Atlanta and a picture-perfect rose petal turndown. Package rates from $595. 

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Atlanta Travel Guide

Del Mar, California

There are few things more romantic than an ocean view, especially when enjoyed from two rocking chairs on a terrace. The best of Southern California life comes through in the hospitality of L’Auberge Del Mar, a 121-room destination resort 40 minutes north of San Diego. Hosting couples year-round, Valentine’s Day weekend brings out the best in their service. The resort welcomes couples with the “With Those You Love” package, which includes a $50 spa credit and $25 food and beverage credit, along with the choice of five sweet chocolate-covered strawberries, a savory cheese board, or a split of Champagne. Package rates from $344.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s San Diego Travel Guide

Kennebunkport, Maine

Hailed as “New England’s Most Romantic Town," Kennebunkport, Maine continues its annual tradition of decking the town in red for romance this February for Valentine's Day. Red twinkly lights dot the downtown streets while restaurants, galleries, and shops welcome couples with specials offers and packages. For the most romantic weekend, check in to the Kennebunkport Inn this Valentine's Day and let the Cupid Concierge take it from there. With optional amenities that include customized music playlists for the room, flower delivery, couple's massages, sleigh rides, and dessert in bed, you'll be glad the Cupid Concierge is on speed dial in these luxe suites. Call for pricing info. 

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Kennebunkport Travel Guide

If you wanted to watch the Super Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, now's your shot.

Carolina Panthers player Roman Harper has listed his one-bedroom apartment for $5,000 a night for the Super Bowl while he's away.

"This year, for one night only, I'm putting my place up on Airbnb while I head to San Francisco to play the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl 50,"Harper wrote on the Airbnb page. 

But there are a few catches — only two guests can stay in the apartment, there are to be no events or parties, no smoking, no football in the hallways, and no cleats on the hardwood.

All proceeds are going to his charity Harper's Hope 41 Foundation and Airbnb will also match the $5,000. Guests will also get a signed football from Harper.

"Kick back on my sofa while watching Super Bowl 50 on our 70 inch TV," Harper said. Sure.

Keep scrolling to see inside his pad.

Welcome to Roman Harper's one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte, North Carolina, that you can rent for one night only on Airbnb for $5,000.

Here's the bedroom that will cost you $5,000 a night. "In need of a lint roller, hair dryer, wi-fi password? Please let us know, we know people," the listing says.

And here's the bathroom. It's "right in the heart of uptown Charlotte!"

Airplane food is often disgusting. After paying hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for a flight, passengers are served sad trays of rubbery chicken, powdered mashed potatoes, and tiny iceberg salads with ranch dressing.

Now there's a growing movement from US airlines to do better — for first class and business passengers, at least.

When American Airlines recently launched a 15-hour direct flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia, it also debuted a new menu. Flight attendants offer first-class passengers complimentary glasses of 2010 Penfolds Grange Shiraz (normally $850 per bottle) and roasted sirloin steak with red wine sauce.

Travelers in the economy cabin are still only treated to peanuts (but hey, at least they get complimentary spirits).

The improvements in first and business class have more to do with the economics of the airline industry than they do with a desire to provide better service, Richard Foss, culinary historian and author of "Food in the Air and Space: The Surprising History of Food and Drink in the Skies," tells Tech Insider.

Foss has studied the history of airline food for over a decade, from the glory days in the '70s when airlines served lobster to today's inflight tuna sandwiches. Here's a look at that history, and how airlines are trying to bring back the golden age of airline dining for high-paying passengers.

When planes first became a more common way to travel (at least for those who could afford it) in the 1930s, there wasn't a distinction between first and economy class. Inflight dining on US airlines often included free sandwiches — a simple meal to comfort passengers on turbulent flights.

As flight technology improved and planes grew larger after World War II, cabins became more comfortable and meal selections improved, Foss says.

The meals were often extravagant, because the planes were smaller (and thus easier to serve) and there was only one flight class.

As technology continues to connect workers across the seven continents, being aware of cultural differences becomes increasingly important.  

To help companies like Sony, Deloitte, Unilever, and BMW understand and do business with different cultures, British linguist Richard D. Lewis founded CrossCulture, a coaching and consulting firm, and wrote "When Cultures Collide," which has sold over one million copies.

"If you don't understand the other culture, you can make mistakes," Lewis says, "like mistaking UK 'slowness' as a negative." 

That's why Lewis's No. 1 tip for doing business with Brits is to keep in mind that they are less direct and tend to take longer to make decisions. "They're not going to come out and say what they're thinking," he says. "They're going to talk around it." 

Here are three other things you should know about negotiating with people in Britain, according to Lewis:

SEE ALSO: 23 fascinating diagrams reveal how to negotiate with people around the world

SEE ALSO: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

How and when to use humor to establish rapport with the British 

Lewis says British people like to keep relations formal for the first two or three meetings, then they tend to ease up and become more informal, using first names, taking their jackets off, and even rolling up their sleeves, he explains.  

They respect those who come to a meeting with witty remarks and relevant jokes, Lewis says, because they see humor as more than just a reason to laugh — they also view it as a tool. 

In a previous Business Insider article, Lewis said the British use humor for the following reasons, among others:

--to break tension;
--to speed up a discussion when excessive formality is slowing it down;
--to direct criticism toward a superior without getting fired;
--to introduce a new, possibly wild idea to unimaginative colleagues;
--to introduce the unexpected in over-rigid negotiation;
--and to laugh at overly elaborate or "mysterious" management priorities and perspective in solemn corporate planning.

How to use understatements to make a proposal 

After a comfortable rapport has been established, British business people will often make a "reasonable proposal"— something some Americans are not too familiar with and can mistake for a lack of enthusiasm, Lewis says. 

Americans tend to overstate the proposal, he explains, with comments like: "This is worth a million dollars!" and "It's perfect for you!"— while the British tend to understate the proposal with a comment like, "It'll do the job." 

"Just because they aren't oozing enthusiasm doesn't mean they aren't interested," Lewis says. "That's just the way they talk." 

How to get them to make a final decision 

Once the proposal is on the table, Americans like to get down to business and promptly make a decision, Lewis says — but the British are the opposite. They tend to skirt around their final answer with well-mannered jokes and anecdotes. 

But don't mistake these understatements or diversions for a lack of interest. They usually know their final decision, but choose to be vague for as long as possible, Lewis says. 

To get a final decision from them, Lewis suggests following their lead by being indirect and understated, just hinting at what you want, rather than being upfront about it. "With the British, it pays to understate yourself," he says.

Fraternal twins Kelsey and Baylee Soles are two of the stars of the latest campaign for Calvin Klein's gender-free cologne, CK2.

They're successful models, and they're extremely close.

This summer, Vogue went so far to call them "fashion’s fastest rising duo." 

At the time, they were just 19, according to The Daily Mail.

So who are these two model sisters that will likely be inundating your news feed?

Get to know more about them.

SEE ALSO: This Instagram star has contracts with brands like L'Oreal — and it's estimated she's making millions from her craft

The girls are from Hopkins, South Carolina.

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"A lot of people assume we're really shy or really sweet just because we're Southern," Kelsey told Elle.

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They're fraternal twins, although Kelsey told The Cut that Baylee is a centimeter taller.

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 Source: The Cut

If you live in or have visited New York recently, then you've probably seen ads for Pager plastered all over the subway.

The service, which launched in 2014 and for now is only available in New York City, pitches itself as a kind of "Uber for healthcare," sending a doctor or nurse to your office, hotel, or apartment with the tap of an app.

Pager promises that the healthcare provider will be to you within two hours of requesting a visit, but you can also chat with a nurse through the app right away if you need to speak to someone urgently.

The pricing is simple and straightforward: $50 for the first visit, $200 for a subsequent visit, and $100 for a physical.

But the company is offering a promotion right now — free health checks (a screening that checks if you're at risk for diabetes, stroke, or heart disease) and free flu shots. So I decided to take advantage of the promotion and try it out.

Here's what it was like: 

First, download the Pager app and sign up.

You'll need to create a username and password, enter some basic information, and enter your credit card. You can also add a picture.

If you're sick and you want to speak to a nurse right away, tap "sickness or injury."

I wasn't sick, though. I was interested in getting what Pager refers to as a "Health Check," which is essentially an appointment that checks your heart health and helps you identify your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. 

So I tapped "Additional Services," which brought me to a map.

Like Uber, Lyft, or any other on-demand app, you confirm your address. I wanted to get my health check at the office, so I entered our office address.

Then tap Instant Health Check.

A notification came up telling me that my numbers would be most accurate after at least eight hours of fasting. I had eaten breakfast that morning, so I decided to schedule an appointment for early the next day rather than asking a nurse to come right away.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's spent billions of dollars on acquiring startups during her 3 years at the company.

A lot of those deals were meant to be "acqui-hires," in which it's done for the skills and talent of the people at the startup, rather than the product itself.

But some of the founders of those startups didn't bother staying too long at Yahoo — like these people who spent less than 3 years there.

In fairness, their turnover can't all be blamed on Yahoo. A lot of founders like to start multiple companies and don't often enjoy corporate environments.

SEE ALSO: The 13 worst things about Silicon Valley

Bart Stein sold his company Stamped to Yahoo but left before the 2 year mark.

Deal size: Less than $6 million

Time at Yahoo: 1 year and 5 months, according to LinkedIn

Role at Yahoo: Product manager

Current job: Co-founder/CEO of Project Madison

Ramy Adeeb sold his social platform startup Snip.it in January 2013.

Deal size: over $10 million

Time at Yahoo: 2 years 3 months, according to LinkedIn

Role at Yahoo: Senior director of product management

Current job:"Working on my next thing."

Nick D'Aloisio's news reading app Summly in March 2013.

Deal size: $30 million

Time at Yahoo: 2 years 7 months, according to LinkedIn

Role at Yahoo: Senior product manager, Yahoo News Digest

Current job: Student at Oxford University

It's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day grind and let the stress pile on.

And getting rid of that stress often seems exponentially difficult. 

So if you're looking for a way to escape, here are some science-backed ways to decompress, even if you can't take a vacation.

SEE ALSO: 15 healthy eating habits that work according to scientists

DON'T MISS: Science-backed ways to stay focused all day

Get a massage.

Yes indeed, getting a massage may be a great way for some of us to relieve stress and relax. 

One small study looking at the effect of back massages on Japanese students preparing for exams found that people who got them had less muscle stiffness and lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Some caveats though: the study was small, and it didn't have a control group. In other words, there's no way to know if they'd sent another group of people into a quiet room and not given them massages that they wouldn't have seen similar results, perhaps just from being isolated from their studies.

Meditate.

Meditation is often seen as a great way to relax, and many studies back up that idea. In a meta-analysis looking at several studies of relaxation training in people with anxiety, the observed effects of meditation were greater than those observed for other intentional relaxation techniques, such as autogenic training (a process that involves making your body feel heavy and warm) and applied relaxation. Other studies have also outlined its effect as an anti-anxiety and antidepressant method.

Want to learn how to meditate? Check out this nifty graphic.

Exercise regularly.

The key to a relaxed mind is a relaxed body, according to the Harvard Medical School: "The relaxed body will, in turn, send signals of calm and control that help reduce mental tension."

One way to relax the body is by exercising. It may sound counterintuitive, but working out can help the body release mood elevating hormones, like endorphins, and reduce levels of stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol.

You might think people are happiest in their jobs in the big capitals of Europe, such as London or Berlin. 

But those political and financial centres fail to get in to the top locations for happy worker, according to a study from the European Commission.

European citizens were asked a range of questions about the cities they live in for the report.

One of those questions was: "On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with your personal job situation?"

The results are in and it doesn't look good for the bigger capitals. London comes in a lowly 27th.

Here are the cities that scored the highest in the job satisfaction stakes.

15. Burgas: 76% satisfied, 20% unsatisfied. Burgas is Bulgaria's most important port and the fourth-largest city in the country after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna with 200,000 inhabitants.

14. Strasbourg: 76% satisfied, 18% unsatisfied. Strasbourg, which is the official seat of the European Parliament, has more than 900,000 inhabitants and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in France.

13. Bordeaux: 76% satisfied, 17% unsatisfied. Bordeaux is a port city with more than 200,000 inhabitants. But more importantly it is considered the world's wine industry capital with an estimated €14 billion (£1.1 billion) annual wine revenue.