Shortform Books

Women and Self-Esteem: Fake It Till You Make It

Why do women have such a hard time building self-esteem? What steps can you take to build up your confidence? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that for women, self-esteem can be built by dressing to match how you feel on the inside, faking a confident attitude, and spending time with people who build you up. These acts may be difficult or feel fake in the beginning, but she says you just need to “fake it ’til you make it,” or in other words, act confident until you feel confident. Keep reading to learn how to build

Don’t Take Anything Personally: The Second Agreement

What is the second agreement of Toltec enlightenment? What does “don’t take anything personally” actually mean? In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz describe five “agreements” to make with yourself that adjust the way you see the world and your place in it. The second agreement is this: Don’t take anything personally. In other words, understand that not everything is about you. Keep reading to learn more about the second agreement: Don’t take anything personally.

Is Suffering the Key to Creativity? Dispelling the Myth

What is the connection between creativity and suffering? Does pain really facilitate creativity? Can you create great work without suffering for it? There is a common tendency to see creativity as necessitating or being facilitated by suffering. This view has been promulgated by Christianity and 18th and 19th century German Romanticism, both of which put a premium on agony. The central idea of these philosophies is that you cannot create something great without suffering for it. In this article, we’ll explore why pain is commonly associated with creativity, and why this is, in fact, far from the truth.

Benedict Anderson: Nationalism as a Personal Identity

Why is nationalism such a powerful concept? Why would many people die for their country but not for their political party or hometown? In his book Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson says nationalism is a form of personal identity that creates bonds of loyalty and love. The only other identity that is as strong as nationalism is religion. Here’s what Anderson has to say about nationalism.

The 3 Most Important Skills for Life to Acquire

What are the three most important skills to acquire if you aim to start your own business? How does Hollis’s advice match up to the advice from other experts in the field? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that some of the most important skills you should practice are persistence, positivity, and leadership. Those three skills will help you develop your goals, stick with them even when times get tough, and lead your team when it starts to grow. Continue reading to learn more about the three skills.

John Kotter: A Sense of Urgency Drives Change

What is step 1 in John Kotter’s 8-step model? Why is it important do develop a sense of urgency when initiating change in a company? In his book Leading Change, John Kotter says a sense of urgency is a crucial first step to change because nothing will change if your employees don’t feel it is necessary. Complacency is the first hurdle you must get over if you want to initiate change. Here is John Kotter’s step 1 in his 8-step model for change.

Always Do Your Best: What to Expect Out of Yourself

Do you always do your best? How should that be defined? The fourth agreement in the Toltec path to enlightenment is “always do your best.” This is an agreement you can make with yourself that will help you continue to grow throughout your life. The key is to define “your best” well and learn how to set reasonable expectations for yourself. Continue reading to learn what it means to always do your best.

Girl, Stop Apologizing: Review, Context, and Reception

Are you thinking of reading Rachel Hollis’s book Girl, Stop Apologizing? Does the book live up to all of the hype? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Hollis takes you one by one through all of the excuses that are holding you back. She lists the behaviors that you must be willing to change in order to succeed, and the skills that will help you along the way. Continue for our Girl, Stop Apologizing review.

Benedict Anderson: A Different Theory of Nationalism

Where does the idea of “nationalism” stem from? What is Benedict Anderson’s theory of nationalism? According to Benedict Anderson, the author of Imagined Communities, the nation is simply a social construct. It has no biological or historical basis. Continue reading for Anderson’s nationalism theory.

Nassim Taleb: Is Your Skin in the Game?

How does Nassim Taleb define “skin in the game”? How do you know whether you have your skin in the game? Someone who has their “skin in the game” has a vested interest in the outcome of an event and, more importantly, has something to lose. Essentially, Taleb equates skin in the game to risk. The more you have to lose, the more skin you have in the game. In this article, we’ll go over some broad principles that are key to understanding Nassim Taleb’s skin in the game philosophy.