Shortform Books

Memory Distortions: Reconstructing the Past

Is memory an accurate record of the past? Can you think of a memory that you remember in vivid detail? Do you believe those details are accurate? Memories are mere representations of events—not accurate recordings—and thus they easily become distorted. There’s no way you can remember every detail of an experience. Instead, you remember certain aspects, and when you call up the memory, you unconsciously fill in the details. This lends itself to memory distortions. Here is how memories become distorted and how they affect your learning process.

Finding Your Values in Life: Where to Even Start?

What are your values in life? Are there any values you’d like to change? Why is it important to define and live by one’s personal values? In his book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson talks about finding your values. Your personal values are the basis for everything you do. That’s why it’s important to discover what you value, what values may be harming you, and how to fix your negative values. Continue below for everything you need to know about finding, understanding, and changing your personal values.

Way of the Wolf: Review, Context, and Approach

Is Jordan Belfort’s book The Way of the Wolf worth the read? Does Belfort’s Straight Line method work? The Wolf of Wall Street’s source material, Way of the Wolf, was a book written by Jordan Belfort which combines his personal stories as a salesman with practical sales advice. This book had a very mixed reception both due to Belfort’s sales advice and his personal, criminal background. Keep reading for a Way of the Wolf review.

How to Implement The One Thing by Gary Keller

How do you practically implement the principles of The One Thing by Gary Keller? What difference could it make for your success? In The One Thing, Gary Keller argues that the key to extraordinary success is focusing daily on the “One Thing” that’s most important for achieving your goal, rather than scattering yourself in many directions. When you know and focus exclusively on the most important thing every day, everything else falls into place. Keep reading to learn how to implement the principles in The One Thing by Gary Keller.

The Effects of Feeling Disconnected From People

What can happen when you are feeling disconnected from people? What can trigger such a disconnection from others? Feeling disconnected from people creates loneliness which can trigger the onset of depression. Humans evolved as social animals that banded together to survive—loneliness triggers fear of survival which leads to depression. Our modern society encourages independence and self-sufficiency, which is at odds with our evolutionary need for community. Read more about the dangers of feeling disconnected from people.

The Play to Win Strategy: It’s All About Good Choices

What is the core concept of the Play to Win strategy? What are the major misinterpretations of business strategy? The Play to Win strategy posits that winning is the process of making tough choices that put you ahead of the competition. A winning business strategy does not mean adhering to industry best practices or publishing a vision statement, it essentially means making the decisions that put your company in a position to thrive in the marketplace. Read on to learn more about the true meaning and misinterpretations of the Play to Win strategy.

Avoiding Responsibility: How It Harms Mental Health

When you avoid responsibility, what impact does it have on your wellbeing? How can you develop a stronger sense of responsibility? Avoiding responsibility is a bad idea, according to psychiatrist M. Scott Peck. It signals a lack of discipline, which is crucial for growth. He explains the problems that you can face when you avoid responsibility, and he offers advice on how you can learn to accept responsibility. Keep reading to learn about the impact of avoiding responsibility—and how you can work to turn it around.

The Role of Profit Incentives in Consumer Welfare

How does the incentive of profit contribute to consumer welfare? What role does it play in economic efficiency? Business profit is the price society pays for efficiency, quality, and low cost. Without the profit incentive, businesses would be less efficient, producing lower quality goods with less concern for cost, as in the Soviet Union. In this article, we’ll discuss the role of the profit incentive in consumer welfare, how business profits are measured, and how they incentivize efficiency.

The Healing Power of God Is the Best Medicine

Can faith in God heal physical ailments? How can the simple act of believing and trusting in the divine principle help to cure a bodily disease? According to Norman Vincent Peale, the author of The Power of Positive Thinking, faith, when understood and applied in the right manner, can be a powerful factor in overcoming health obstacles. He argues that the amazing power of faith is not used enough in healing. Faith can work miracles, but these miracles are actually the result of spiritually scientific principles. Here is how the healing power of God can be combined with medicine to

Brand Visibility: Awareness Leads to Customers

What is brand visibility? Why is it important that your products are publically visible? Brand visibility is about making sure potential customers are aware of your brand and products. Ultimately, people are never going to talk about your product or idea if they never see it in the first place. Understanding the different brand visibility strategies will help increase word of mouth about your product, which will ultimately increase sales. Keep reading to learn how to create brand visibility.