Shortform Books

Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter: Book Overview

What is John Kotter’s Our Iceberg Is Melting about? How does his story about penguins teach readers about, change, teamwork, and leadership? In John Kotter’s book Our Iceberg Is Melting, he tells a fable about penguins who are faced with the reality that the iceberg they live on is melting and they must find a new home or perish. The story outlines the steps it takes and the difficulties companies face when they must adapt or die. Below is a brief overview of Kotter’s fable Our Iceberg Is Melting.

The Road to Character by David Brooks: Book Overview

What are the key takeaways in David Brooks’s book The Road to Character? In what ways has society shifted from a “we” to a “me” mindset? The Road to Character by David Brooks is about the modern shift in moral character. Brooks provides many examples of important events that occurred in the past that wouldn’t have happened, had the people involved been as selfish as people today. Keep reading for a brief overview of The Road to Character.

Spiritual Unity: The 5 Biblical Ways to Protect It

What does the Bible say about unity in your church? How can you keep spiritual unity intact? God desires spiritual unity. The Bible provides direction for churches to protect this cohesion that blesses both God and his people. Keep reading to learn practical ways to protect spiritual unity in your fellowship.

The Truth About Love: What Unselfish Love Teaches Us

What is the truth about love? What lessons can you learn from unselfish love? When you live as part of God’s family, you experience unselfish love. This is a skill you develop throughout life. As you practice this skill, you discover the truth about love. Read more to learn the truth about love.

How to Fulfill Your Ministry: Learn to Serve Others

Are you effectively fulfilling your ministry? Are you living out your purpose to serve others? God made you to serve others in the larger context of his mission to restore the relationship between Himself and humanity. When you identify how God uniquely designed you to serve—and when you cultivate a servant’s heart—you’re better able to fulfill your ministry to the world. Continue reading to learn how to fulfill your ministry in service to God and others.

Why You Need a Decision Group and How to Form One

What is a decision group? How can it strengthen your decision-making skills? Thinking in Bets author Annie Duke cites decision groups as a key part of her growth as a poker player, especially when she was first starting out. Having a group of people to help you make better decisions is important, and Duke shares how you can find and engage with such a group. Read more to learn about decision groups.

Why Do We Need Community as Christians?

Why do we need community as Christians? How can being part of a community dramatically improve your mental well-being? According to the Bible, humans were made for community. The fact that we’re made for community reaches back to the nature of God himself, and also human biology. Understanding why we need community can inspire you to reach out to others and reap the benefits. Keep reading to find out why we need community as humans.

How to Fight (and Win) the Spiritual Battles of Life

Do you want to know how to fight and win the spiritual battles of life? What advice can help you do this? According to Jennie Allen, everybody is fighting their own inner spiritual battles. This could be due to fear, pride, self-pity, complacency, and other emotional obstacles. Understanding how to fight and win the spiritual battles of life will help you gain control over your thoughts and avoid negative spirals. Here’s Jennie Allen’s advice for how to fight and win the spiritual battles of life, from her book Get Out of Your Head.

Getting Started With Investing? Ask Yourself This

Do you want to get into investing but aren’t sure where to start? Do you need professional financial help to get started? Investing doesn’t have to be complex. People selling investments profit by making them complicated—they convince you that you need professional help to get started with investing. Yet the actively managed funds they sell are costly and underperform index funds. According to financial blogger J.L. Collins, getting started with investing only requires answering three questions and applying three wealth-building tools (stocks, bonds, and cash). We’ll consider Collins’s three questions for beginner investors and the wealth-building tools below.

How to Grab Attention: Introduce the Unexpected

How can you strategically grab attention and get people to listen? Can you do it without being gimmicky? To get someone to hear your message, you first have to get them to notice you. The best way to grab attention is to break a pattern and introduce the unexpected. People tune out sameness, but you can get them to tune in by changing something up. Keep reading to learn ways to grab attention.