Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

What Is a “Black Swan” Event? The Ultimate Guide

What is a black swan event? Can you predict black swan events? Prepare for them? Avoid them? A black swan event is an extremely unpredictable event that has a massive impact on human society. These include positive Black Swans, like the invention of the Internet and the discovery of antibiotics, as well as negative Black Swans, like the 2008 recession. We’ll define black swan events, look at “black swan” event examples, and discuss how best to prepare for them.

Meeting with the Goddess: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 7 (Explained)

What is stage 7 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? What does the “meeting with the goddess” signify? The meeting with the goddess is the stage of the hero’s journey when the hero encounters the goddess, the mother figure who is the epitome of beauty and represents the feminine ideal in all its aspects. The meeting with the goddess is stage 7 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, from The Hero with a Thousand Faces. We’ll cover what the meeting with the goddess entails and look at an example of a hero meeting with the goddess.

Refusal of the Call: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 2 (Explained)

What is stage 2 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? What is the “refusal of the call”? The refusal of the call is the initial reluctance of a hero to follow the steps of their destiny and heed the call of adventure. The refusal of the call is stage 2 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, from The Hero with a Thousand Faces. We’ll cover what the refusal of the call entails and look at an example of a hero refusing the call.

Call to Adventure: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 1 (Explained)

What is the “call to adventure” in the hero’s journey? What step in the hero’s journey is it? In Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the call to adventure is the first stage of the 17 stages of the hero’s journey. It is during this stage that the hero discovers a hidden world of possibility. We’ll cover the elements of the “call to adventure” stage of the hero’s journey and look at three examples.

The 17 Hero’s Journey Steps: The Complete Guide

How many hero’s journey steps are there? What are they? Where did they come from? In Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces, there are 17 hero’s journey steps. The Hero With a Thousand Faces is a journey through the world’s mythological traditions, from the ancient Egyptians, to the Romans, the Hindu and Buddhist legends of the east, and the folk-tales and foundation myths of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and Oceania. We’ll cover the 17 hero’s journey steps and what happens in each stage of Campbell’s hero’s journey cycle.

2 Classic Monomyth Examples: Understand the Hero’s Journey

What are some good monomyth examples? How can they help me understand the concept of the monomyth? We’ll cover two monomyth examples, or examples of the hero’s journey, and discuss the basic elements of the monomyth.

Monomyth: 17 Stages of the Hero’s Journey

What’s a monomyth? How many monomyth stages are there? What are they? Where did they come from? The monomyth is a template that shows the hero’s journey common in many myths, folktales, and religions. The monomyth is an expression from James Joyce but was popularized by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces. We’ll dive into the monomyth definition above and cover the 17 stages of monomyths and what happens to the hero in each.

Sui and Tang Dynasties: Lessons from Critical Battles (Sun Tzu)

Was the transition between the Sui and Tang dynasties smooth? What can we learn from how the Tang ruler wiped out rebel Sui armies? We’ll cover the fight between the Sui and Tang dynasties and what the Tang army can teach us.

Explained: “In the Midst of Chaos, There Is Also Opportunity” (Sun Tzu)

In Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, the author advises that “in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” What does Tzu mean by this? We’ll cover what’s involved when mobilizing an attack, how to use both orthodox and unorthodox actions to confuse your opponent, and what Tzu means when he says, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

The 5 Sun Tzu “Art of War” Quotes You Should Know, Explained

What are some of the most famous Sun Tzu Art of War quotes? What do they mean? The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a renowned guide for how to engage in conflict and be successful in battle. Written more than two thousand years ago, Sun Tzu, a Chinese warrior and philosopher, details the nature of competition and psychology of leadership and provides strategies for how to approach both. Although his teachings are geared toward actual military conflict, the principles can be useful in all arenas of conflict or competition, even at a personal level. We’ll cover some of