Uncommon Sense Teaching: Book Overview (+ Exercises)

A teacher standing in front of a classroom full of young students

What if all of our ideas about teaching are wrong? How can teachers create truly effective lesson plans? Teachers and students alike often struggle. In Uncommon Sense Teaching, Barbara Oakley and Beth Rogowsky team up with neuroscientist Terrence Sejnowski to explain how your brain actually processes and stores information. They also provide practical, science-based strategies to help you harness your brain’s natural learning mechanisms.  Continue reading for an overview of the book, including exercises to help you apply the book’s principles to your own teaching.

How to Do Things You Hate—Book Overview (Peter Hollins)

A silhouette of a person vacuuming a carpet in their home

Do you struggle to stay disciplined in work and life? Should you be focusing more on short-term or long-term values? In the book How to Do Things You Hate, Peter Hollins explains that avoiding doing the things you don’t want to do creates a spiral that makes everything worse. Instead, he teaches you how to strengthen your self-discipline so you can find the motivation to get things done. Continue reading for an overview of Hollins’ book, complete with exercises.

What Is the “Abundance Agenda”? Klein and Thompson Explain

A suburban neighborhood with nice houses

Are resources in America really scarce? How is bureaucracy holding America back? In Abundance, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson argue that America can create a world of plentiful resources and improved living standards, but is being held back by manufactured scarcities and barriers. Their answer is to remove bureaucratic obstacles while reinvigorating scientific innovation. Here’s a look at what the “abundance agenda” is and why it represents a new direction for liberalism.

Shortform vs. Blinkist: Which Book Summary App Is Right for You?

The Shortform logo vs. the Blinkist logo

Both Shortform and Blinkist provide book summaries designed to help readers grasp the core ideas of nonfiction books quickly. While they share the same goal, they have distinct features that set them apart. Content Depth and Quality Are you looking into Shortform vs. Blinkist but don’t know which product is right for you? When it comes to content depth and quality, Shortform and Blinkist take different approaches to summarizing books.  Blinkist is known for its ultra-concise, 15-minute summaries that highlight the core ideas of a book in a digestible format. This makes it great for those who want a quick,

Abundance—Book Overview (Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson)

Journalist Ezra Klein standing in front of a door wearing a formal shirt and tie

Where do America’s biggest problems stem from? What if America could create a world of plentiful resources? In their book Abundance, journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson argue that excessive bureaucracy and regulatory barriers are creating manufactured scarcity in housing, energy, and innovation. Their solution: a new “abundance agenda” that removes obstacles to building while maintaining important protections. Continue reading for an overview of Abundance.

Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff (Book Overview)

A black and white image of a pencil on a checklist with the title "Goals" written on the top

How is the traditional goal-setting approach fundamentally flawed? How can you ensure that you’re pursuing goals that align with your authentic self? In Tiny Experiments, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff challenges our ingrained beliefs about achievement and offers an alternative. She says to treat your life as a laboratory for discovery rather than a linear path to predetermined destinations. Keep reading for an overview of the book so you can learn how to pursue true growth and fulfillment.

What Is Stretch Collaboration? The 3 Principles (Adam Kahane)

A man and a woman shake hands while standing in an office building, showing signs of collaboration

Do you have to collaborate with others at work or in school? Are you ever paired with someone you don’t see eye-to-eye with? In Collaborating with the Enemy, conflict resolution expert Adam Kahane draws on his experience mediating high-stakes conflicts. Kahane’s “stretch collaboration” framework shows how to embrace both conflict and connection, experiment with different solutions when the path ahead isn’t clear, and focus on changing your contribution rather than trying to change others.  Keep reading to learn what stretch collaboration is and the principles that make up its framework.

Stop Self-Sabotage by Judy Ho: Book Overview & Lessons

A man at work who looks tired and is resting his head on his hand at his desk

Do you have a tendency to undermine your own success? How can you overcome your self-sabotaging tendencies? In her book Stop Self-Sabotage, Judy Ho explores the root cause of self-sabotaging behavior: the conflict between the desire to get what you want and the desire to avoid what your mind perceives as danger. Then she explains how to replace your self-destructive habits with better ones. Keep reading for an overview of Stop Self-Sabotage.

Wild Courage by Jenny Wood—Book Overview & Takeaways

A drawing of a business woman reading a book and drinking from a mug while sitting in a chair by a window

Are you letting fear hold you back from your goals? How can you muster the courage it takes to go after what you want? In Wild Courage, Jenny Wood explains that many people struggle in their lives and careers because they’re afraid of taking the bold actions necessary to succeed. To become a success, Wood says to be courageous and act boldly—be authentic, driven, curious, persuasive, and don’t be afraid to lead others.  Continue reading for an overview of Wild Courage.

Collaborating with the Enemy by Adam Kahane: Book Overview

A businessman and business woman standing in an office shaking hands with unhappy looks on their faces

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a project with people you don’t agree with, like, or trust? How does stretch collaboration differ from traditional collaboration? In Collaborating with the Enemy, conflict resolution expert Adam Kahane offers an unconventional approach to working with difficult people. Kahane’s “stretch collaboration” framework shows how to embrace both conflict and connection, experiment with different solutions when the path ahead isn’t clear, and focus on changing your contribution rather than trying to change others.  Keep reading to learn strategies for transforming seemingly impossible collaborations into productive partnerships.