Becca King, Author at Shortform Books

Surrender by Bono: An Overview of the U2 Star’s Memoir

What background stories are discussed in Surrender by Bono? How does Bono describe his lived experiences? In Surrender, we learn about Bono’s Irish upbringing, how the death of his mother shaped his personal life, and how U2 came together as a band and rose to stardom, giving way to Bono’s celebrity activism. Learning about Bono’s history gives great insight into the nature of stardom and celebrity. Read on to learn more from Bono’s memoir Surrender.

Dopamine Levels and Schizophrenia: Creativity to the Extreme

A sad woman with a thought bubble filled with her blurry silouette.

How are dopamine levels and schizophrenia connected? What happens when you have too much dopamine? Dopamine levels and schizophrenia are connected because higher dopamine increases creativity, and when taken to the extreme this can mean making creative associations between things that aren’t really related, feeding delusions. To understand how this happens, you need to take a look at how dopamine works. Let’s investigate the role of dopamine in schizophrenia and when too much creativity is a bad thing.

Who Is Bono? A Background on Ireland’s U2 Star

Who is Bono, and how did he become famous? What is Bono famous for? Bono is the lead musician in the band U2 and a celebrity activist who fought for debt relief and AIDS relief in Africa. A look at Bono’s trajectory is a good case study of celebrity and fame. Continue reading to learn about Paul “Bono” Hewson’s backstory and what he’s famous for now.

Was January 6th an Insurrection? Behind the Riot

Was January 6th an insurrection or not? Why were people rioting at the Capitol? January 6th was most likely an insurrection in that a group tried to overthrow democratic election results through violence. To understand why this happened, look at Donald Trump’s response to losing the election. Read more to see why January 6th might be considered an insurrection and why it happened.

Dopamine and Impulsivity: What Causes Impulsive Behavior?

A man affected by dopamine and impulsivity as he sits on the couch and eats potato chips.

How are dopamine and impulsivity related? What causes impulsive behavior? Dopamine and impulsivity are connected because dopamine makes you want things and makes you feel like achievements will make you happy. Once you understand how this works, you can see how this causes impulsive behavior when unchecked. Here are some ways that dopamine affects emotions and behaviors.

Who Is in U2? Bono, Mullen, the Edge, and Clayton

Who is in U2? How many members does the group have? Where did “The Edge” get his nickname? U2 is made of four musicians: Paul “Bono” Hewson, Larry Mullen Jr., David “the Edge” Evans, and Adam Clayton. A look at who is in the band and how they came together gives you a good understanding of what kind of group U2 is. Read more for some background on each of U2’s four members.

The Trump Presidency Timeline: From 2016 to 2020

What is the Trump presidency timeline? When did Donald Trump become president? The Trump presidency timeline started in June 2015 when he announced his presidential campaign. From there, he made divisive speeches, won the 2016 election, and then went on to lose the 2020 election. Continue reading for more on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and a timeline of his presidency.

Bono’s Family: How He Handled Fame, Marriage, & Fatherhood

Who is in Bono’s family? What fears did Bono have about fatherhood? Bono’s family is comprised of his wife Ali, their two daughters Jordan and Eve, and their two sons Elijah and John. Bono discusses what it’s like to have a family while in the limelight in his memoir Surrender. Let’s take a look at Bono’s family and how he handled fatherhood as a rockstar.

When Did U2 Form? A History of the Irish Rock Band

When did U2 form as a band? What has their journey to fame been like? U2 formed in the late 1970s and continued producing music for the following four decades. In his memoir Surrender, Bono discusses the history of the band and how they grew to what they are today. Read on to learn about the early days of U2 and how their band has developed over time.

The Motivation Chemical: How Dopamine Drives and Rewards You

A cartoon of two people affection by the motivation chemical to run after a giant trophy.

Why is dopamine known as the motivation chemical? How does dopamine influence our thinking? Dopamine is called the motivation chemical because it inspires us to think about and focus on future happiness and work towards something. By looking more closely at how this neurotransmitter works, you can understand why you’re motivated in the ways that you are. Consider these explanations of how dopamine works and how it influences motivation.