Shortform Books

Debunking the Myth of Hymen—”Virginity Membrane”

What is a hymen? Is the hymen a marker of a woman’s virginity? There is a common misconception that the hymen—a membrane found at the opening of the vaginal canal—is an indication of virginity. Because of its location and potential to change over the course of a woman’s life, there’s a common but incorrect belief that the hymen is a barrier that’s permanently “broken” the first time that a penis penetrates the vagina. Let’s debunk the myth of hymen or the “virginity membrane.”

Storytelling in Advertising: The 6 Elements You Need

Do you use storytelling in advertising? Why is this technique so effective? Good storytelling is the key to good marketing, according to author Seth Godin. In All Marketers Are Liars, he discusses the power of storytelling and discusses six elements that make a story good. Keep reading to learn how to use storytelling in advertising.

How to Avoid Deathbed Regrets and Live More Fully

What are the most common deathbed regrets? Is it possible to avoid them before you run out of time? In his book Who Will Cry When You Die? Robin Sharma lays out the most common end-of-life regrets and proposes a plan on how to avoid them. Sharma says that the first step is to regain control of your life by finding your purpose. Continue reading to learn what steps you can take to live a more fulfilling life.

Michael Burry’s “Big Short” of the Housing Market

Who is Michael Burry? What was his involvement in the housing market crash? Michael Burry is the founder of the hedge fund Scion Capital. In 2007, Burry saw a rare opportunity in the subprime housing bond market. He was skeptical (to say the least) about the confidence with which Wall Street sold mortgage-backed securities. He realized that these securities were extraordinarily overvalued because they were backed by questionable loans to uncreditworthy Americans. So, Burry decided to short the housing market. Here goes the story of Michael Burry’s “Big Short.”

Robert Kiyosaki: Cashflow Fundamentals

What is cashflow? What are the different types of cashflow channels? Cashflow is the total amount of money you earn and spend, and is the total of your income, expenses, liabilities, and assets. According to Robert Kiyosaki, cashflow is the central difference between generating income in the E (employee) and S (small business owner) quadrants and the B (big business owner) and I (investing) quadrants. Here is how cashflow looks like in the E and S quadrants vs. the B and I quadrants.

The 4 Biggest Decision-Making Barriers: Explained

What are the biggest decision-making barriers? Why does expanded choice make decisions even more difficult? In his book The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz asserts that expanded choice comes with four distinct pitfalls: missed opportunities, regret, disappointment, and unfavorable comparison. These decision-making barriers can have many side effects, such as decision paralysis, anxiety, and depression. Here’s a breakdown of the four decision-making barriers that come with expanded choice.

Turn the Negative Into Positive—It’s Within Your Power

How do you get through negative pits in life? Do you try to distract yourself from the negativity or do you look for ways to turn the negative into positive? Most people deal with difficult times by trying to lessen the impact of negative emotions. But hard moments in life have the potential to become positive and beautiful experiences that you’ll look back on fondly. In their book The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath suggest two ways of turning negative pits into positive peaks. Here is how to turn the negative into positive.

The Effects of Shame on Women’s Sexual Well-Being

How does modern culture repress female sexuality? What are the effects of sexual shame on women’s psychological well-being? Sex and sexuality are often associated with shame, especially for women. Women have always been taught to feel ashamed of their sexuality, which negatively affects their mental health. Here is how sexual shame affects women’s sexual well-being.

3 Reasons Why Traditional Advertising Is Dead

How has marketing changed over time? What accounts for these changes? Seth Godin argues that traditional advertising doesn’t work anymore. He gives three reasons for this and goes on to describe the new age of marketing that we’ve entered. Keep reading to learn more about the end of traditional advertising.

6 Tips for Staying Focused on Your Purpose

Do you have a purpose in life but struggle to stay on track? What strategies can you use to focus on your purpose every day? Having a purpose in life that you’re working towards will make you feel more fulfilled and overall happier. However, it can be easy to lose sight of your purpose when you get caught up in the everyday routine. That’s why self-help guru Robin Sharma put together this list of strategies to help you maintain focus on your purpose. Continue below for Sharma’s six tips for focusing on your purpose.