Section 3. Recognizing the main idea.
1. Bert is a natural listener.
He can lose himself in conversation with friends or family.
Bert has a few very close friends, and he works hard to keep his friendships strong.
2. One means of contact with friends is the regular exercise that Bert gets.
He plays handball and swims with a friend twice a week.
Besides that, he tries to stay in shape with morning exercises.
Bert enjoys the exercise that he gets for its own sake as well as for the fact that it has kept him healthy all his life.
3. In general, Adam has very few hobbies.
He used to enjoy collecting coins and reading, but now can never find enough time.
He has practically no release from his job and usually brings some work home with him.
4. Like many modern Americans, neither man is very religious.
Both belong to a church, but the religious services are not a sustaining part of their lives.
But the difference in their spiritual make-up is nonetheless remarkable.
5. Adam does not enjoy much self-confidence.
He has never spent the time to think problems through carefully or to teach himself to think about other things.
As a result, he isn't particularly creative problem solver, he spends quite a lot of time in compulsive, repetitive nervous activity which only frustrates him more.
6. Heart attack victims who have tried to change their behaviour after their first heart attack report that Type B behaviour has given them a new sense of peace, freedom and happiness.
Not for anything in the world would they return to their old lifestyle, which held them trapped like poisoners in an unhappy world of their own making.