If you've got a long drive or flight ahead of you for the holidays, you might be in search of the right audiobook to get you through your travels.

A list compiled by Amazon-owned audio book retailer Audible might help with your decision.

Audible compiled its list by looking at the most listened-to books of 2017. These are the audiobooks that listeners listened to the most — as opposed to simply looking at the most downloaded titles. Readers' listening habits pegged these books as the ones with the most re-listening potential.

Read on to see which nine made the list. Descriptions below are from each book's publisher.

SEE ALSO: 7 books that will make you smarter in a single plane ride

9. 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,' by J.K. Rowling, narrated by Jim Dale

The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter — but that doesn't stop Harry dreaming that he will win the competition.

Then at Halloween, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons and Dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through — alive!

Listen here »

8. 'How to Win Friends and Influence People,' by Dale Carnegie, narrated by Andrew MacMillan

You can go after the job you want...and get it! You can take the job you have...and improve it! You can take any situation you're in...and make it work for you!

For over 60 years the rock-solid, time-tested advice in this audiobook has carried thousands of now-famous people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives.

Listen here »

7. 'It ,'by Stephen King, narrated by Steven Weber

Welcome to Derry, Maine. It's a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real.

They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But the promise they made 28 years ago calls them to reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city's children.

Now children are being murdered again, and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in Derry's sewers.

Listen here »

During her 64 years on the throne, the Queen has racked up more international trips, state visits, and tours than any other head of state.

In fact, the Press Association reported last year that all of her air miles combined equate to more than 42 trips around the world.

With all that travel under her belt, Her Majesty must have some pretty antidotes to jet lag and homesickness.

Whether it's multiple copies of a well-planned itinerary or sausages from one of her favourite shops, there are certain things that the Queen always takes on her travels, according to the Telegraph.

Scroll on to discover a list of surprising and heartwarming things that the Queen always takes with her overseas.

SEE ALSO: The Queen gives a Tesco Christmas pudding to every member of her staff each year

Sugary sweets.

The Queen reportedly sucks on barley sugar boiled sweets in order to tackle jet lag during transit to her many public appearances and state visits across the globe.

GP Dr Nick Knight told the Telegraph that this is probably an attempt to regulate her sugar levels and acclimatise her body clock to the new time zone by mimicking the energy rush of mealtimes.

"Carrying out your daily habits like eating and sleeping in line with your new destination's time zone — both en-route and on arrival — helps re-synchronise our body clock to our new environment," Dr Knight said.

"What the Queen is doing by having barley sugar is essentially using her body's sugar metabolic pathways to help adjust her body clock."

A special supply of her blood type.

The Queen is apparently accompanied by a Royal Naval doctor at all times. If any illness or emergency were to arise, this means that she can be seen to by medical help immediately.

The doctor carries a wide range of emergency medicines for all situations, including refrigerated packs of blood in both the Queen's and Prince Philip's blood types — just in case.

A black outfit.

The Queen may be known for her colourful ensembles, complete with matching hats, but she never goes anywhere without a black mourning outfit in tow.

When the Queen's father, King George VI, tragically and unexpectedly died in 1952, Queen Elizabeth was on a state visit to Kenya.

When she arrived back in the UK, it's reported that she didn't have an appropriate mourning outfit with her — only a floral summer dress. The Queen and her contemporaries had to wait in the aircraft on the runway until a black outfit could be brought onboard for her to change into.

Nowadays, the Queen takes a black outfit with her everywhere, in case tragedy strikes.

• Personal trainer Max Lowery always exercises caffeinated.
• He will have green tea or green tea extract 30 minutes before he works out.
• Some studies have found that caffeine can boost fat-burning during exercise.

In the time-poor world that we live in, everyone wants to make the most out of their gym sessions. And during the festive period it's even harder to get there in the first place.

With this in mind, Business Insider asked 27-year-old personal trainer Max Lowery, the man behind the 2 Meal Day diet plan, about his pre- and post-workout routines for getting the most out of his training sessions.

He previously told us that he has never touched a protein shake in his life, but there is one thing he always does before a workout.

Training caffeinated

Lowery, a former professional sprinter, told Business Insider that before a workout is pretty much the only time he uses caffeine in his diet. But he always trains caffeinated.

While not a coffee drinker, he'll have either a strong green tea or take green tea extract about 30 minutes before he works out. A black coffee could also work, he said.

There have been a number of studies conducted into the effects and benefits of using caffeine while exercising. Although it should be noted that most research in this field that Business Insider came across while writing this article was carried out with relatively small samples.

One study conducted by a group of Australian doctors published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that when 14 recreationally active participants took part in a controlled rest trial, a placebo exercise trial, and a caffeinated exercise trial — the latter resulted in significantly greater energy expenditure and fat burning.

The caffeinated exercise trial was found to create a greater energy deficit. It also led to exercise being perceived as "less difficult and more enjoyable," it found.

Caffeine as a pain suppressant

Some athletes favour caffeine for another reason as well, according to Lowery. "Caffeine can also be used as a pain suppressant and so not only will you have more energy but you’ll be less sensitive to the pain from a workout."

And he points to a study conducted by the Department of Kinesiology, University of Alabama. For context, it said that while "ergogenic effects of caffeine on aerobic or endurance exercise are well documented," its impact on "high-intensity, primarily anaerobic performance, was not well understood."

It sought to examine the effects of caffeine on number reps, ratings of perceived exertion, and peak heart rate during resistance training with reps performed by 17 participants to fail.

It found that caffeine was associated with significantly higher reps and concluded that this suggests "caffeine can blunt pain responses, possibly delaying fatigue in high-intensity resistance training." 

It ought to be noted that British health service guidelines state that "caution should be taken by individuals thinking of drinking coffee, or taking anything else, to try and 'take the pain out of exercise.'

"In people not accustomed to exercising, excessive muscle or joint pain during exercise should be an indication that the exercise level is too intense."

The benefits of green tea

Lowery is particularly convinced by the benefits of green tea before a workout.

"When I used to sprint, I would sip strong cold green tea throughout the day at my competitions," he said.

"Studies have shown that green tea can increase the rate of fat-burning while exercising. It helps to inhibit the enzyme that degrades the body's primary fat-burning hormone, norepinephrine."

Ewa Jówko concluded in her chapter "Green Tea Catechins and Sport Performance," published in Antioxidants in Sport edited by Dr.Manfred Lamprecht, that the consumption of green tea catechins — the major component of green tea extract — has been shown to increase fat-burning and energy expenditure, particularly if combined with caffeine.

"This effect was seen in both sedentary and physically active individuals during exercise," she wrote.

So before you next hit the gym, it might be worth putting the kettle on. 

SEE ALSO: A personal trainer explains why you should always do your weight training before your cardio at the gym

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Warren Buffett lives in a modest house that's worth .001% of his total wealth — here's what it looks like

• The three most popular skyscrapers to see the New York skyline are the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and One World Trade Center.
• All three have incredible views, but One World Trade Center offers the most expansive panorama of the city.
• All three are around the same price, but the Empire State Building charges $20 extra to go to the very top.

It's a truism that New Yorkers never visit the tourist attractions in their own city.

Despite living in New York for my entire life I've never taken a boat to the Statue of Liberty, looked at the skyline from Rockefeller Center, and I avoid Times Square at all costs. I visited the Empire State Building once, when I was around five years old. 

But with friends and family visiting the city for the holidays and wanting to know which tourist hotspots are worth the dough, I decided to head out to three of New York's most popular: the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and One World Trade Center (also known as the Freedom Tower).

It's time to settle once and for all which skyscraper has the best view.

SEE ALSO: New York's oldest restaurant is so iconic, George Washington celebrated winning the Revolutionary War there — here's what it's like

Here's our three skyscrapers for today. One World Observatory in the Financial District, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center in Midtown.

One World Observatory: Directions / Tickets

Empire State Building: Directions / Tickets

Rockefeller Center: Directions / Tickets

I started my journey at One World Trade Center. 1WTC lets you schedule your tour ahead of time to avoid lines. Security seemed well organized with lots of screening lines.

There are a lot of ticket options. I opted for the cheapest: $36. The more expensive options just seem to let you skip the line whenever you come.

A couple of months ago, I tried the intense diet and fitness regimens that 40-year-old NFL quarterback Tom Brady touts in his new book "The TB 12 Method." A combination of workouts focus on "pliability," or adding flexibility to muscles through a series of workouts with resistance bands.

Some, have questioned the legitimacy of the pliability concept. In an interview with the New York Times, one muscle physiology expert called it "balderdash."

Recently, I was invited to visit the TB12 sports therapy center located in the shadow of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts to get a one-on-one workout with Alex Guerrero. He's the creator of the TB12 method and has worked with Brady as a personal trainer and body coach since 2004. I also asked Guerrero to respond to some of the criticism the TB12 method has received. The following is a transcript of the video. 

Graham Flanagan: We're here in the TB12 sports therapy center here in Foxborough with Alex Guerrero, creator of the TB12 method. 

Guerrero and Brady have worked together since 2004. They opened the TB12 center in 2013

Flanagan: I want you to take me through a circuit that you might go through with Tom Brady. 

Alex Guerrero: We'll do some things to get you warmed up here and then get your core activated, and then we'll get going.

So, we're gonna get him on the X-ciser. Let's go, Graham. Hold tight. Arms straight! Gotta engage that core. Engage those glutes. There you go. Breathe, Graham. Breathe. There we go. Let's pick up the pace. So, don't move those knees.

Flanagan: Don't bend the knees?

Guerrero: Nope, you're right here. So always — right, so full ranges, right?

Flanagan: So all the way here?

Guerrero: That's a bad exercise for him, right? You're not ready for that one yet. 

One of the main principles of the TB12 method is "muscle pliability"

Guerrero: Pliability is simply a way to maintain, you know, your muscles long and lean and soft, and it allows the joints in your body to move efficiently and correctly without putting loads on your tendons or your structure. 

Some have questioned the scientific validity of pliability. One muscle physiology expert called it "balderdash"

Guerrero: You know, to sit there and say there's no such real thing as pliability – that, to me, is balderdash!  We have a lot of laypeople that come here every day. We've had a lot of really elite athletes that have come from all over the world to come here. And I would say, you can't unknow what you know, right? Like, once you experience it and you feel it and you realize the differences it's making in your life – like, that guy who said it was balderdash, he's never gonna be able to convince these people that it didn't work. 

Push. Bring that arm out. Punch. Punch hard with the arm and kick back with that leg. There we go. Stay on those toes. 

Flanagan: So, what's your sort of takeaway. What's the verdict on me after that little session? 

Guerrero: So, we definitely do have some issues, right? You have, you know, hip-instability issues. You have no glute-facilitation, right? Your core is not as strong as it should be, because as you age and get older, those loads are gonna go somewhere, Graham. So, at some point you're gonna be like, "Wow, you know, I'm starting to get neck pain, or "I'm starting to get some nerve impingement" or "I've some cervical compression."

Simple piece of advice would be: work on core-stabilization, glute facilitation. 

Flanagan: Cool!

Join the conversation about this story »

• Two psychology researchers have written a paper suggesting that people who post a lot of selfies on social media may suffer from "selfitis."
• They surveyed 400 people and categorised selfitis into three groups of severity.
• Other researchers in the field aren't convinced that selfitis is real, with some labeling the study as "dangerous."

We all have a friend whose Instagram feed is filled with pictures of themselves. Selfies are so ingrained in our lives now that we don't really see them as any sort of issue. But according to two psychologists, snapping selfies all the time could have a negative impact on our mental health.

In 2014, a spoof news article coined the term "selfitis," saying that the American Psychiatric Association was going to start recognising it as a real disorder.

Three years on, two researchers have looked at the term and have decided there could be some truth to it.

Psychologists Mark D. Griffiths and Janarthanan Balakrishnan have published a paper in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, in which they argue that selfitis is a real condition, and can be diagnosed as excessive selfie taking.

They also developed a "Selfitis Behaviour Scale" by surveying the selfie behaviour of 400 participants from India. The scale assesses the severity of the condition, of which there are three levels.

There are borderline cases, which is when someone takes selfies at least three times a day, but they don't post them on any social media. The next level is "acute," which means they post the selfies, and the "chronic" stage after that is people who cannot control the urge to take photos of themselves all the time — racking up at least six selfie posts a day.

Participants were asked questions like "I feel more popular when I post my selfies on social media," or "When I don’t take selfies, I feel detached from my peer group."

"Typically, those with the condition suffer from a lack of self-confidence and are seeking to 'fit in' with those around them, and may display symptoms similar to other potentially addictive behaviours," said Balakrishnan.

"Now the existence of the condition appears to have been confirmed, it is hoped that further research will be carried out to understand more about how and why people develop this potentially obsessive behaviour, and what can be done to help people who are the most affected."

However, not everyone in the field is convinced. Talking to The Telegraph, Mark Salter, a spokesman for The Royal College of Psychiatrists, said that selfitis doesn't exist, and suggested it is irresponsible to try and label human behaviour in this way.

"There is a tendency to try and label a whole range of complicated and complex human behaviours with a single word," he said. "But that is dangerous because it can give something reality where it really has none."

SEE ALSO: Constantly texting your friends, family, or partner could be psychologically damaging — here's why

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The easiest way to trick an airline into charging you less for your flight

• A new study suggests that bullies have more sexual partners than kinder people.
• Researchers looked at where people were on the "honesty-humility" scale, and asked them to fill in questionnaires about their sex lives.
• Bullies could have more success with because dominating others makes them look strong.

If you think back to the high school bully, you probably don't have great memories of them. We tell ourselves that they picked on others because they have low self-esteem, and deep down they aren't happy people.

But according to a new study, this supposed insecurity doesn't seem to have much of a negative impact on their sex lives.

The research, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science, suggests that bullies have more sexual partners than nice people.

Researchers from the University of Windsor in Canada investigated the personality differences that lead people to be more willing to bully others when they're looking for sexual partners. The team recruited 144 older adolescent volunteers, with an average age of about 18, and 396 younger teens, with an average age of 14-15.

They were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their personalities, including questions about their cooperation with people, and their tendency to exploit and antagonise others. This line of questioning was how the team measured how agreeable, emotionally in tune, honest, and humble the subjects were.

People with low scores were considered to be bullies, and were more likely to use bullying tactics to pursue sexual partners. Not only that, but those more willing to act this way were found to have more sex than the more honest and humble participants.

"Younger adolescents lower in 'honesty-humility' may therefore strategically manipulate others in a variety of ways to obtain more sexual partners," said Daniel Provenzano, the lead author of the study. "Our findings indirectly suggest that exploitative adolescents may have more sexual partners if they are able to strategically use exploitative behaviour like bullying to target weaker individuals."

Those on the low end of the honesty-humility scale could use bullying as a way to show they are strong and dominant, Provenzano said. They may find it's a successful way of making their opponents look weak, giving them an advantage.

"Our results suggest that both research and intervention efforts with older and younger adolescents need to recognise and respond to the relationships between personality, sex and bullying," he added.

SEE ALSO: Some people can't help themselves from dating narcissists time and time again — here's why

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why I loved working with Steve Jobs even though he fired me 5 times and treated me terribly

• Chipotle's new organic queso has been reformulated, and it's definitely better than before.
• Unfortunately, it's still just not as good as Qdoba's classic variety.

Chipotle's queso has been tweaked, and things are looking up for the chain's cheesy dip.

But it just doesn't taste as good as the queso from its competitor, Qdoba. I know I've been hard on Chipotle lately — as has fate, frankly — but it's my honest opinion that Qdoba puts forth a better experience and product balanced with the right pricing. 

First, a quick lesson: the "queso," or chile con queso, that we enjoy in America is a bastardized form of queso fundido, a Mexican dish of melted Oaxaca or Chihuahua cheese typically mixed with roasted chilis and chorizo. It's like a fondue-style appetizer. American Tex-Mex cuisine has replaced these easily melted Mexican cheeses with some form of processed cheese and cream, which gives it a distinctly plasticky, gooey mouthfeel.

This is the queso that Qdoba serves. Is it expressly organic? No, it isn't. And if that's not your scene, then Chipotle is the way to go. But in terms of taste and sheer culinary hedonism, Qdoba's queso runs circles around Chipotle's — here's why.

SEE ALSO: 4 reasons why Chipotle will never be as good as its biggest rival

Comparing Qdoba's queso with Chipotle's is all about expectations. As mentioned above, "queso" is the viscous, smooth, processed cheese dip — far from authentic queso fundido, yet delicious in its own elastic cheesy splendor.

Chipotle's queso started out grainy and gluey, which stole the stage from an otherwise fairly well-seasoned dip.

The flavor was smoky and savory, but the texture was more reminiscent of a weird cheddar soup or a poorly blended Mornay sauce. It lacked the elasticity that lends Instagram-worthy cheese pulls their credence.

Almost as soon as Nestlé spent $425 million to buy a majority stake in hip coffee chain Blue Bottle in September, the search for the next hot coffee brand was underway. 

San Francisco has a contender in Philz Coffee, a family-run coffee chain known as a darling of the tech industry. The company, which passed hands from father Phil Jabar to son Jacob in 2005, has grown from one cafe in the city's Mission District to over 40 locations in California and Washington, DC. Tech investors have poured $75 million into the chain to date.

Philz has the cash to fuel an expansion and a key ingredient to become the next Blue Bottle: individuality. It looks nothing like a cookie-cutter coffee chain. At Philz, a diverse set of customers sit around mismatched pieces of furniture and drink coffee brewed one cup at time. Employees are encouraged to express their personality through interactions with customers. 

We spoke with Phil and Jacob to see why Philz has become a beloved institution.

SEE ALSO: Why people are crazy about Blue Bottle, the coffee chain that Nestlé just acquired for up to $500 million

Philz Coffee is the unofficial beverage of Silicon Valley.

According to Phil, Google, Twitter, Apple, and LinkedIn employees buy the beans wholesale for their offices. Facebook has a standalone location at its Menlo Park campus.

Facebook employees are currently beta-testing an order-ahead mobile app made by a team of engineers at Philz's headquarters in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood.

The app will launch nationwide sometime in 2018.

LONDON — It was 2012, and Kathy Caton was out for a morning run on the Brighton seafront following a long night of gin-drinking when she had her "lightbulb moment."

Gin, known for its forgiving hangovers, was starting to grow in popularity thanks to the early efforts of craft distillers like Sipsmith, and Brighton needed its own version.

"Gin is the one drink that lets you get away with it and Brighton is the place that needs to get away with it on a frequent basis," Caton told BI.

Three years after it launched, Brighton Gin is an entrepreneurial success story. The small-batch distillery was named the UK's best gin at the People’s Drinks Awards in June, and sales have rocketed since. Year-on-year sales are up 60% this year, annual turnover hit £500,000, and sales reached 1,000 units a week in the run-up to Christmas.

In some ways, Brighton Gin's success seems improbable. Caton had spent her career working as a radio broadcaster and running pubs and restaurants, and had "b****r all" clue about how to go about creating a gin. So how do you begin to create one from scratch?

The answer, Caton says, was a "shedload" of research, a team of helpful friends which included a laser physicist, and years of painstaking recipe-testing.

"We got a still off eBay, we made tonnes of mistakes and experiments, and I tried to dust off my ancient chemistry knowledge from school," she says.

"I'm now really glad we went through that process of learning about the mechanics of it and the tiny things you can do to vary the result of the recipe."

The basic idea behind gin is simple enough: it is formed of a base spirit, plus juniper berries, plus a host of botanicals, brought together in a still.

Caton says it is that simplicity which means there is such a variety between gins, but also what makes a good recipe so hard to come by. A bottle of Brighton Gin — which arrives hand-sealed with a wax lid — includes contains coriander grown in the UK, milk thistle from the South Downs, and fresh orange and lime peel.

"I always use the analogy of making a soufflé. Theoretically, it's incredibly simple, but there are 300,000 different ways you can screw it up," she says.

When Brighton Gin finally launched in December 2014 — "much later than we initially thought" — Britain was undergoing something of a craft gin revolution. The once disreputable spirit the Victorians called “Mother’s Ruin” was transforming into a product altogether more upmarket and desirable: Distillery openings in 2015 increased by 50% year-on-year, expensive tonic maker Fever Tree floated on the stock exchange in a move worth hundreds of millions of pounds, and gin sales hit a record £400 million.

Fast-forward to 2017, and there are more than 500 craft gin distillers in Britain alone. Is Caton worried the bubble will burst?

"I think it will contract at some stage, but bubble's probably the wrong word," she says. She's confident that craft gin's popularity is more than the fad which has come to characterise many food trends in Britain, and cites the enduring popularity of craft beer as evidence.

"We're following what's happening to craft gin based on what's happened to the craft beer movement. The amount of knowledge and passion and interest that people from all sections of society have got about craft beer is really interesting.

"Five years ago I can't imagine that I'd go to a pub and buy a can of beer for £6, but there's been a wave of interest in provenance and the stories behind products. It's a really positive thing that people are interested in their food and where it's coming from," she says.

Next year's target is moving into international export markets, where British gin sales are through the roof.

Over 60% British gin is currently exported — a figure which is growing — and Caton believes the popularity of Brighton with overseas tourists put her in a strong position to sell into countries which drink a lot of gin, particularly in Asia.

"We have 11.4 million visitors a year coming to Brighton. If a quarter of those can go back to their home countries either taking a bottle of Brighton gin or knowing about it, it represents a huge potential for us," she says.

Caton also aims to double revenue next year, a target which she admits is ambitious given the firm's currently small production capacity.

"We'd rather aim for it and fall a bit short than not have that ambition," she says.

"If we fall short, there's always nice gin at the end of the day. I still think a gin and tonic is the most perfect drink ever invented."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Economist Jim Rickards on gold versus bitcoin — intrinsic value is meaningless for both but the bitcoin prices aren't real

• Many of the most successful people out there also have incredibly successful marriages.

• While you can't read into a marriage from a wedding, it's fun to take a look back at the days that marked the begin of married life.

• Some couples, like Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, took the low-key route. Others, like Bill and Melinda Gates, threw huge bashes.

No two weddings are exactly alike. Couples tend to throw events that match their personalities, tastes, and budget.

So it's not surprising that there's quite a range of wedding styles, even among some of the most successful people in the world. Some couples went for more modest, intimate affairs, while others opted for massive celebrations.

Here's a look at the weddings of some of the most successful couples out there:

SEE ALSO: The incredible career of Jeff Bezos' wife MacKenzie, an acclaimed writer who quit her job to support her husband and is now half of the richest couple in the world

The 100 or so guests attending the surprise wedding of Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan initially thought they had been invited to the latter's medical school graduation party. The nuptials took place in the backyard of the couples' Palo Alto home on May 19, 2012.

Source: The Washington Post

Zuckerberg designed a ruby wedding ring for his bride. The Washington Post reported dessert consisted of "Burdick Chocolate 'mice' (tiny chocolate truffles in the shape of mice), which they ate during their first date."

Source: The Washington Post

Bill and Melinda Gates married in 1994 in what was then Manele Bay Hotel in Hawaii. They tied the knot by the "par-3 12th hole" on the property's golf course, according to Forbes. The event reportedly cost $1 million.

Source: Business Insider, EasyWeddings.com, Forbes, People magazine, Business Insider, Business Insider

What do you picture when you imagine a hedge-fund office? A noisy trading floor full of hedge-fund guys in fleece vests?

Two Sigma, a $45 billion hedge-fund firm that uses advanced technologies to find investment opportunities, is a little different. The firm, which says it has seen head count grow by more than 400% in the past seven years, is as much a technology company as it is a finance company, analyzing over 10,000 data sources to find patterns in markets.

That approach seems to have paid off. Two Sigma ranked as the fifth-biggest hedge fund in the world in Institutional Investor's Alpha's 2017 Hedge Fund 100 list, while cofounders David Siegel and John Overdeck each made $750 million last year, according to the magazine's list of the top-earning hedge-fund managers. The firm also runs an insurance business, Two Sigma Insurance Quantified, a market-making arm called Two Sigma Securities, and a venture-capital arm.

In August, Business Insider took a tour of the firm's two New York offices, which are across the road from each other in the SoHo neighborhood. The offices are stashed with arcade games, computing memorabilia, gyms, a hacker space, and a music room.

SEE ALSO: These before-and-after photos show tech billionaires' dramatic transformations

There was a teach-in on Python for Research when we visited 101 Avenue of the Americas, one of three talks the firm hosts weekly.

The kitchen was well stocked.

You may be able to see a Juicero machine on the left side. Two Sigma Ventures, the venture arm of Two Sigma, is an investor in Juicero, which recently announced a price cut and layoffs.

Across the road at 100 Avenue of the Americas, there's another kitchen, with staff taking time out to play games.

Flying offers the opportunity to disconnect from the internet — unless you pay for it — and turn your mind off from the constant barrage of phone notifications.

Why not spend that time getting smarter on a topic you've always wanted to learn more about.

With that in mind, Business Insider found seven smart books you can finish over the course of a single plane ride. They are short, visually stimulating, or both. For this list we selected an array of lengths, from a 64-page book that's perfect for your hour-long flight, to a 320-page book that would fit the bill if you fly coast-to-coast.

Below we've listed them in order of length, from shortest to longest.

So grab one, or a few, for your next flight, and get smarter by the time you've deplaned.

SEE ALSO: The most exciting city in every state — and the most boring one you can probably skip

'Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words' by Randall Munroe

'Thing Explainer' is intentionally short and simple to understand. The 64-page book uses drawings and the 1,000 most common words to give readers simple explanations for different complicated subjects.

Buy it here »

'We should all be feminists' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

MacArthur Genius Grant winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie expanded on a popular TED talk by the same name to write her 64-page book. She provides a modern-day definition of feminism, and explores the sexual politics at work in society today.

Buy it here »

'The War of Independence' by John Fiske

Originally published in 1890, this 115-page book provides a historical perspective on the American Revolution 100 years following the war, rather than today's more than 230 years. It was written by a historian and scholar who graduated from Harvard Law School.

Buy it here »

The team at Business Insider writes about and tests out products we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Whether you like to have your shopping done as early as possible or you spread your purchases out to make the most of the season of lights, decorations, and leisurely browsing, it's never too early to get some Christmas gift inspiration.

And, if you get your shopping list right, the season doesn't have to mean going into debt or blowing your entire paycheque.

Our advice: Go for quality over quantity, and look for meaningful, personal gifts that are perfectly suited for each person on your list, whether you're shopping for a mum, a brother, a colleague, a son, or your in-laws.

In order to suit every budget — and save you some time — we've put together a comprehensive guide of the best gifts your money can buy under £100.

They are carefully arranged in ascending price order, so you can start at the cheapest and work your way up. Scroll on to see our top picks for under £20, £50, and £100.

Star Wars Light-up Toothbrush — £4

A budget-friendly way to satisfy the Star Wars fan on your list, complete with light-up effects and Kylo Ren's voice from the film.

Buy it here.

Fidget Spinners — £4 each

Available in six different colours, fidget spinners are perfect for relieving stress — or simply for fun.

Buy it here.

• It's pretty normal to feel nervous before a first date.
• But if that feeling continues beyond a few weeks, it could be a sign of a different problem.
• Rather than trying to make it work with someone you just don't feel comfortable around, it's better to end things and find someone who makes you feel at ease.

Getting butterflies before a first date is normal. Whether it's a blind date or it's with someone you've been speaking to for a while on dating apps, you're bound to feel a little nervous.

But if this feeling of worry continues past the first few dates and your stomach can't settle down, it might be the sign of a bigger problem.

According to behavioral expert Wendy L. Patrick in a blog post on Psychology Today, uncomfortable, awkward feelings could be a sign that you are not dating the right person for you.

If you find yourself constantly questioning the way you act — if you're shuffling in your seat, and wondering if you're being funny, attentive, or attractive enough — that should be a major red flag.

"A date should not feel like a performance," Patrick writes in the post. "Dinner conversation should not feel like a police interrogation under a harsh spotlight. Although your emotions are subjective, and your partner likely has no idea of the stress you are feeling, your anxiety will not sustain a successful relationship."

We all feel mild anxiety from time to time— at a low level which isn't classified as the mental health condition. But if we are constantly feeling uneasy about meeting up with the person you are dating, it's a sign this person isn't for you — even if they're a great human being. If you're agonising over your own behaviour, it suggests you're putting on an act, and that will be mentally damaging in the long run.

"Sure, it is natural to want to make a good impression on your new love interest," Patrick writes. "But if you are overly self-conscious, you are definitely not enjoying the relationship the way that you should."

Turning an internet relationship into a real life one can make this even more complicated.

People tend to have a specific persona when online, and this comes into play as many people connect with each other on dating apps. For some, it'll be seamless. For others, it'll be tricky and awkward. It is a tragedy of modern dating that the person you got on so well with via digital messaging just doesn't tick the boxes in person, but it's one we have to deal with.

However, instead of trying to make it work with someone you're not gelling with, you should seek out a partner who makes you feel at ease.

Of course, on the first few dates you are bound to feel a little skittish, but if that feeling continues beyond a few weeks, take a step back and ask yourself whether you really are getting comfortable with this person you're inviting into your life.

SEE ALSO: Single men are more worried about finding a partner for Christmas than women — here's why

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Look out for these early warning signs that you're dating a narcissist

• "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" writer-director Rian Johnson addressed the backlash from fans who say his movie isn't like the original trilogy.
• He explained how the fan theories of where the story would go after "The Force Awakens" didn't affect writing the script.
• He said he hoped a female director would soon make one of the "Star Wars" movies — perhaps in the new trilogy he's creating.

WARNING: Spoilers below if you haven't seen "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

It's getting into the evening hours in Los Angeles on the first full day "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is in theaters. Rian Johnson, the director of the biggest movie of the year, has not stopped moving for a week.

First Los Angeles for the press junket. Then Japan. Back to LA for the flashy world premiere. Followed by a jump to London. Now back again to LA for a final round of press — for now.

When Johnson, 43, gets on the phone, he sounds weary from jetting around the globe. But he perks up when it's time to talk about "The Last Jedi." It's not just a movie he spent the past four years of his life writing and then directing. It's more than that.

Johnson has been a lifelong fan of the franchise, and he even chose to go to film school at the University of Southern California because the creator of "Star Wars," George Lucas, went there. In many ways, his entire career has been leading up to this point.

You can see many traces of Johnson's filmography in "The Last Jedi" — risk-taking ("Brick"), lighthearted moments ("The Brothers Bloom"), and world-building ("Looper"). But it's his love of the "Star Wars" franchise and his drive to tell a story that builds on "The Force Awakens" with something new and challenging that shines through.

It's that newness that has divided "Star Wars" fans about "The Last Jedi." Though many appreciated a movie that didn't just feed off the hallmarks of the original trilogy, others have voiced their disappointment with Johnson for breaking fresh ground.

That's where we began our wide-ranging conversation with Johnson. The director also touched on not being distracted by fan expectations, the challenge of bringing Luke Skywalker back into the saga, why Captain Phasma isn't featured more prominently in the movie, and what he hopes to accomplish with the new "Star Wars" trilogy he's creating.

The following has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Jason Guerrasio: Like making any "Star Wars" movie, the director can't win. People complained that "The Force Awakens" was too much like the original trilogy. With your movie, the knock is it's nothing like the original trilogy. What are your thoughts when you hear that take?

Rian Johnson: Having been a "Star Wars" fan my whole life, and having spent most of my life on the other side of the curb and in that fandom, it softens the blow a little bit.

I'm aware through my own experience that, first of all, the fans are so passionate, they care so deeply — sometimes they care very violently at me on Twitter. But it's because they care about these things, and it hurts when you're expecting something specific and you don't get it from something that you love. It always hurts, so I don't take it personally if a fan reacts negatively and lashes out on me on Twitter. That's fine. It's my job to be there for that. Like you said, every fan has a list of stuff they want a "Star Wars" movie to be and they don't want a "Star Wars" movie to be. You're going to find very few fans out there whose lists line up.

And I also know the same way the original movies were personal for Lucas. Lucas never made a "Star Wars" movie by sitting down and thinking, "What do the fans want to see?" And I knew if I wrote wondering what the fans would want, as tempting as that is, it wouldn't work, because people would still be shouting at me, "F--- you, you ruined 'Star Wars,'" and I would make a bad movie. And ultimately, that's the one thing nobody wants.

And let me just add that 80-90% of the reaction I've gotten from Twitter has been really lovely. There's been a lot of joy and love from fans. When I talk about the negative stuff, that's not the full picture of the fans at all.

Guerrasio: Even though the movie is the second part of a trilogy, it really feels like a standalone. Was that a goal of yours?

Johnson: Well, I wanted it to be a full meal. I wanted it to be a satisfying experience unto itself — because when you go into a theater, that's what you always want.

I did want to pick it up where the last one left off. I did want to do service to these characters in a way that felt consistent. And I wanted to leave it in a place where you felt you were excited for the potential of what could come next, and you're invested maybe a little more deeply in these characters and where they end up. In that way it is a middle chapter — it has to function like that.

But you know, it's also a movie, and I wanted to give people a full "Star Wars" experience. I wanted to give them something where they come out of the theater and feel totally satisfied.

Guerrasio: Speaking for myself, the satisfaction is that you move the trilogy someplace beyond the hot takes fans had since "The Force Awakens." And you did that by making some very shocking choices on who we will no longer see beyond this movie, theoretically. Has it been fun waiting for this movie to come out knowing "The Last Jedi" is a very different movie than what fans expected? Or was it panic that maybe your take could miss the mark?

Johnson: [Laughs.] It's been a combination of both of those things. When I was writing the movie, I was doing it while they were shooting "The Force Awakens." So it wasn't like I was reading all these theories online and being at my typewriter and going "Ha! Ha! Gotcha!" It was me coming up with a story. I was writing purely from a personal reaction to the script of "The Force Awakens" and what they were shooting. Snoke, for example, I probably would have done the same thing regardless.

Guerrasio: Oh yeah?

Johnson: Yeah. Snoke's fate came entirely out of Kylo's arc and realizing that in this movie the most interesting thing to me was for Kylo to be ascendant — to start by knocking the shaky foundation out from Kylo's feet and then building him back up into a complicated but credible villain by the end of it. And one that Rey now has a more complex relationship with than just "I hate you, I want to kill you."

And once I kind of landed on that, it quickly became evident that, OK, what is Snoke's place in this? If I build Kylo up to that point, the most interesting thing to carry into the next movie is Kylo running things, not any echo of the emperor/pupil relationship. And you realize the dramatic potential of that, and it just makes a lot of sense from the story point of view.

Guerrasio: Was coming up with how Luke Skywalker would come out of his self-imposed exile a challenge to write?

Johnson: Yeah. It's something that, early in the process, the first thing I had to crack in the movie is why Luke is on that island. I had to figure out something that made sense, and you don't know much about where's Luke's head is at coming out of "The Force Awakens."

But what you do know is his friends are out fighting the good fight, and he's taken himself out of the equation. So for me growing up, I know Luke as a hero. I know that he must think he's doing the right thing by taking himself out of the equation, and that means he thinks the best thing for the galaxy is that he's not a part of this and, by extension, that the Jedi are not a part of this. So that leads you down a certain path.

Guerrasio: And how did you come to the realization that this would be the end of Skywalker?

Johnson: As I worked out that his arc was going to be coming to a place where he does this big heroic act that is going to be spread throughout the galaxy — basically taking back the mantle of Luke Skywalker, a Jedi master, a legend — it just slowly became clear to me that it would be this big grand act. It would be an act of mythmaking. And if there was ever going to be a place in this entire trilogy to give him this emotional moment of a goodbye, this was probably going to be the most emotionally potent place to do it.

Guerrasio: In many ways, this is Luke's coda.

Johnson: Yes, exactly. But I also have to say I'm not writing the next one, and I'm not sure what J.J. [Abrams] and [screenwriter] Chris Terrio are going to do in the next one with Luke.

But setting up possibilities for the next one, honestly, it seems much like Obi-Wan going where he did after "New Hope." The possibilities seemed even more exciting in terms of what Luke's place could be in the next chapter with him entering into this other realm as opposed to him having a lightsaber and being with our heroes. It opened more possibilities as opposed to fewer.

I was holding my breath when I did it and I realized all these things, though I also thought, "S---."

Guerrasio: And how did Mark Hamill react to all of this?

Johnson: It wasn't the thing he wanted to necessarily hear. [Laughs.] Understandably so. Mark had all these years to think what Luke's triumphant return would be. Luke's the hero coming back into this story, and the fact that this character and this movie could not be that — this character in this movie was by necessity what he had to be, and also in relation to Rey, that brought its own necessity.

If he comes in as just an optimistic fighter for the good guys, that gives Rey nothing to bounce up against — that's just an older version of Rey. So it's not what Mark had in his head initially, and that's why he's spoken very openly about his being caught off guard by the script and where the character ends up. But I knew this is where it had to be. We got into the conversations, and we got into the work, and we talked, and we argued, and we discussed, and that process ended up being very good for the character and also for our working relationship. It was a very good one.

Guerrasio: Like most movies, this one was crafted in post, you guys shot a lot.

Johnson: Yes.

Guerrasio: Is the lack of Captain Phasma in the movie just simply that most of her scenes were left on the cutting room floor?

Johnson: There wasn't a ton of Phasma that we shot for this. The God's honest truth is, if you take a look at the movie, it's so full already. There are so many characters to serve already, and it's tough because Phasma really enters the movie when she needs to, and she does exactly what she needs to do in it. She's someone at the tail end of Finn's journey that represents his past for him to have this cathartic moment of being on the side of good and fighting her.

The notion of having a side plot of Phasma throughout the course of the film — look, I love Gwen [Christie]. I love Phasma. It would have been fun. But it just wasn't the story we were telling. There just wasn't a place for it. We already had quite a full plate to deal with in terms of all the other characters.

Guerrasio: So what you're saying is you've basically helped build the next Boba Fett-level fan-obsessed character for the "Star Wars" saga.

Johnson: [Laughs.] Look, I'm bummed about it too. Absolutely. I wish we could have more Phasma. Just the truth of it is there wasn't room for her in this movie. She's so badass, I wish it was her story. But it isn't. Maybe there will be one eventually at some point.

Guerrasio: I like that tease.

Johnson: [Laughs.]

Guerrasio: In regards to you taking on a new "Star Wars" trilogy, do you have a notebook filled of just ideas that would be cool to plug into this universe, or are you really going into this with a blank page?

Johnson: What's exciting to me right now is the open blue sky of it and the potential of it. I wish I had a file cabinet full of "Star Wars" ideas just in case, but also it's great because I can start from the beginning and work forward.

As opposed to having stuff I think would be cool, the thing that I think is cool is to figure out what the story will be and what character we're going to follow and build it from there. It's easy to come up with cool "Star Wars" stuff. It's just like grabbing your toys and starting to play. The real question is what the story will be — how are we going to create something that's really going to be a new and inspiring "Star Wars" story.

Guerrasio: It sounds like you will direct the first movie of this trilogy and then go on and produce the other two.

Johnson: We'll see. I'm not sure yet.

Guerrasio: But if that holds, would you push to have a female director do at least one of those movies? Is that important to you?

Johnson: Hell yeah. I think that would be fantastic. Again, I don't know how it's going to go. I'm going to write and direct the first one and tell the story for the rest of them. But yeah, there are so many talented female directors that I would love to see do one of these movies. Look, I hope it happens in a "Star Wars" movie even before that! Going forward, that's something I would absolutely love to see.

Guerrasio: Give me the one scene/shot in "The Last Jedi" that, regardless of how many times you've seen it, you are pretty impressed that you pulled it off.

Johnson: [Laughs.] It was an early image that I had. I really love that slow-motion shot of Kylo and Rey back-to-back with the guards coming from all the sides in Snoke's chambers. And look, there were a lot of people whose work went into it to design the space and the guards, the stunt work, but that was a moment that I had just always held dear to me, and it's one of those very rare things where the realization of it on screen I just feel like, "Ah, we got it!" It makes me happy.

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is now in theaters.

SEE ALSO: 'The Last Jedi' is a super-sized 'Star Wars' movie that will make you laugh and cry

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: It's been 25 years since the band Hanson was formed — here's what they're up to now

With nationalism and authoritarianism sweeping the globe, 2017 saw protests and marches break out from India to Kenya to the United States.

The massive political gatherings that have taken place across the world this year featured incredible scenes of human resilience and perseverance, and reporters have been there to cover every one.

Here are 17 of the most inspiring photos from protests this year:

SEE ALSO: JOHN LEGEND: Why the NFL protests are patriotic

DON'T MISS: Incredible photos inside International Women's Day marches, rallies, and protests around the world

January 21: The day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who once bragged about being able to grab women "by the p---y" on tape, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC for the massive Women's March. Many more participated in sister marches in cities around the world.

Source: Business Insider

February 22: The protest camp on the Standing Rock Reservation burns down as protesters are evacuated after Trump's administration reversed a decision by former President Barack Obama on to shut down the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Source: Business Insider

March 8: A Muslim woman got arrested at the "Day Without a Woman" protest in New York City, which was organized as a followup to January's Women's March.

Source: Business Insider

As winter storms roll through, folks who live in icy areas have to re-acquaint themselves with how to navigate a slick icy surface. For some, it comes naturally. For others, that tailbone is going to take a beating. When in doubt, just remember: Walk like the penguins. The following is a transcription of the video:

Don’t let winter slip you up!

The secret to avoiding icy tumbles: Impersonate a penguin!

When we walk, we keep our center of gravity between our legs, so each leg supports half our weight.Because the leg is at an angle, we’re more vulnerable to losing our balance.

But penguins don’t walk this way. Their legs are too short, so they must waddle, keeping all their weight on one leg at a time. When on the ice, do as the penguins do.

Maintain your center of gravity over one leg at a time and take tiny steps, even if it looks funny. Keep your hands out of your pockets and if you do fall, try landing on your thigh, hip or shoulder. Falling onto your hands could injure your wrists.

Follow these steps, and you could be at home in the Antarctic.

You may need a tuxedo to fit in.

Join the conversation about this story »

You can finally get croissants and coffee like Holly Golightly. People have been waiting for hours to get into the Blue Box Café. Located in its 5th Ave store. Here's what it's like inside.

Everything is Tiffany Blue. The café seats 40 guests. You can opt for $29 breakfast, $39 lunch, or $49 Tiffany Tea. The menu changes seasonally. Dishes include Croissant: Nutella, honey butter, winter fruit preserves. Seasonal fruit & berries. Truffle eggs: soft eggs, shaved truffles, kunik cheese, smoked bacon. Black bass crudo: radish, fennel, espelette, olive oil. Fifth Avenue salad: Maine lobster, avocado, grapefruit, poppy seed dressing. Plus a dessert platter featuring the Tiffany Bird's Nest. There's also a selection of teas. The café takes reservations a month in advance. It's currently sold out until January 2018.

Join the conversation about this story »

• MoonPie's Twitter is one of the weirdest — and best — social-media accounts in the food industry.
• This weekend, the brand got into two Twitter battles with critics of the snack.
• One sample tweet from MoonPie: "Buddy it's saturday night and you're talking to a marshmallow sandwich on the internet."

MoonPie's Twitter account emerged as one of the best of 2017, with a perfect mix of bizarre and bittersweet tweets.

Now the brand is brutally roasting people who speak out against the snack.

"Nobody likes moon pies," the Twitter user KaelaDianne97 tweeted at the brand on Friday.

MoonPies tweeted back: "Yes they do."

Things escalated quickly from there:

Perhaps emboldened by the virality of the insult, MoonPies struck again on Saturday night.

A Twitter user tweeted at MoonPie: "Your time is wasted managing a social media account."

MoonPie replied: "Buddy it's saturday night and you're talking to a marshmallow sandwich on the internet."

The tweet went viral, with more than 210,000 likes as of Monday morning. The original Twitter user, @sigurbjornl, has since deleted his tweet.

SEE ALSO: Fast-food chains are ramping up their social-media game — here was the best tweet of 2017

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The best way to wrap a gift in under 2 minutes