Shortform Books

William Henry Seward: Survivor of an Assassination Plot

How did the plan to kill William Henry Seward tie in with the Lincoln assassination? What happened to Seward and his attacker? In addition to killing Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth wanted to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Henry Seward. He hoped that killing several key government officials would rally Confederate sympathizers and veterans to renew their fight. Read more to learn what happened to Seward on the night that Lincoln was assassinated.

How to Be Your Authentic Self: Brené Brown’s Practices

Do you want to know how to be your authentic self? Are you being held back by other people’s expectations, your own perfectionism, or your distrust of your intuition? Brené Brown’s first five practices for wholehearted living focus on how to be your authentic self. She discusses the importance of saying “no,” the dangers of perfectionism, the fear that some people feel when things are going too well, and more. Continue reading for Brené Brown’s first five practices for wholehearted living.

How to Interpret Feedback: Drop Your Ego

Are you sensitive to feedback? What do you think is behind your reaction? According to communication experts Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen, how we think about and interpret feedback has a lot to do with the stories we tell ourselves. If the feedback challenges their story, people tend to become defensive or reject the insight. In this article, we’ll discuss why some people find it difficult to receive feedback, and how to interpret feedback more objectively.

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science

What is Charles Wheelan’s Naked Economics about? What are the key takeaways? In Naked Economics, bestselling author Charles Wheelan strips away the complexity from some of the most powerful theories in economics, allowing readers with little or no background in the subject to understand many of the field’s most fundamental concepts. He skips over the more technical, mathematics-based aspects of the discipline and concentrates instead on the logical pieces of how and why people behave in certain ways, how markets function, and how governments can design incentive systems that encourage healthy economies. Below is a brief overview of the key

Ryan Holiday: How to Let Go of Ego

The 25 Cognitive Biases: The Kruger Effect

What exactly is an ego? How does having an inflated ego distort your perception of yourself and others? According to Ryan Holiday, the author of Ego Is the Enemy, ego is an unhealthy belief in one’s own importance that distorts our perception of the world so that we see ourselves as central figures and see everyone else as either subservient or oppositional. Further, he argues that seeing the world this way causes a host of adverse consequences such as difficulty accomplishing things (because ego causes us to overestimate our abilities) and connecting with people. In this article, we’ll discuss Holiday’s advice

Healthy Nuts and Seeds You Should Include in Your Diet

What are the main nutrients contained in nuts and seeds? Why do nutritionists recommend eating them despite their high-calorie content? What health benefits do they provide? Nuts and seeds are both nutritional powerhouses chock full of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Many studies have shown nuts and seeds have some remarkable health properties such as the reduced risk of heart disease, lowering of blood pressure, and prevention of cancer proliferation. In their book How Not to Die, Gene Stone and Michael Greger hail healthy nuts and seeds for their disease-fighting benefits. Here are the key recommendations.

Why Are Young People So Sensitive These Days?

Why do the authors of The Coddling of the American Mind think that young people today are too fragile and sensitive? What five solutions do the authors provide to the situation? In their book The Coddling of the American Mind, authors Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff ponder the question of why people are so sensitive and fragile these days. They came up with five major factors: political polarization, social media, safety parenting, bureaucratization on college campuses, and the evolving social justice norms. Keep reading to learn how the authors think these five factors are making young people today more fragile.

How to Recognize a Bad Strategy in Business

How does one tell a bad strategy from a good one? What are the signs that your business is operating under a misguided strategy? According to author and UCLA management professor Richard Rumelt, there are four elements that can signal a misguided strategy: 1) fluff, 2) failure to identify the challenge, 3) conflation of goals with strategy, and 4) misguided strategic objectives. The effects of bad strategy can be seen in everything from the failures of corporations to the poor performance of our educational system. Keep reading to examine four elements that can create a misguided strategy.

Take Pride in Your Work: Lessons From a Submarine

When you take pride in your work, what difference does it make for you—and your work? How can you, as a leader, help others have this attitude—and behavior—of pride? David Marquet shares leadership principles that he employed to turn around a demoralized submarine crew. He offers practical ways—such as the three-name rule—that you can take pride in your work and turn around things for your team. The key is to start with behaving proud, and thinking proud will follow. Read more to learn how taking pride in your work can lead to a change in thinking and morale.

The Tortured Artist: Why Art and Pain Go Hand in Hand

What is the tortured artist? What is the connection between art and pain? How can you learn to accept misery as part of the creative process? The tortured artist is a common trope used to describe an artist tormented by their own creativity and the world around them. In order to be a successful artist, you must learn how to accept the frustrations and problems that come with the creative process. Understanding the inevitable link between art and pain will help you to surpass obstacles you might face as a creative person. Find out more about the tortured artist below.