Shortform Books

Social Norms Promote Acts of Selflessness

How can social norms promote acts of selflessness? Why do people try harder when they’re not being paid? Experiments have shown that when given free stuff, people are less likely to be greedy and more likely to selflessly leave some for others. When those items cost even a small amount of money, people are more likely to greedily purchase more. This could have serious implications for society. Keep reading to learn how “free” things can increase acts of selflessness.

Charting the Future of the English Language

What is the future of the English language? Do you think English will become more diverse or more uniform? Around 1.5 billion people around the world speak English—roughly 20 percent of the global population. According to linguist scholars, the most likely trajectory for the future of English is its homogenization to conform to the way it is spoken in the U.S. Keep reading to learn about the future of English.

AI, Humanity, and the Future of the Species

What impact will AI have on humanity? Would you consult an AI algorithm to make a decision that concerns your personal life? Presently, AI acts as humanity’s oracle, guiding our actions but having no power over the ultimate decision. However, as people place more trust in artificial intelligence, algorithms may become agents, making decisions to accomplish a goal you create. Keep reading to learn about the projected impact of AI on humanity.

How to Improve Your Tennis Game: Start With Habits

Do you want to know how to improve your tennis game? What steps can you take to get better? Learning how to improve in tennis is about more than fixing your technical skills. You have to fix your bad habits both physically and mentally to compete at a high level. Read more about how to improve in tennis below.

Self-Concept Theory: Deny the Self or Celebrate It?

What is the theory of self-concept? Should we de-emphasize the self? Or can celebrating it make us happy? Self-concept theory is the how an individual thinks about themselves. In the east, they de-emphasize the self to reach enlightenment. In the west, many celebrate the ethic of autonomy. Ultimately, we should be practicing a bit of both. Keep reading to learn more about the self-concept theory.

Make More Money: Scott Pape’s Top 3 Strategies

Creating a Positive Emotional Relationship With Money

Do you want to make significantly more money than you are currently making? What are some realistic ways to boost your baseline earnings? Money does not grow on trees. If you want to make more money than you are currently making, you have to be willing to make some fundamental changes. Here are three strategies that will help you make more money plus some questions to help you decide which one will work best for you.

A Look Into the Key Influences on the English Language

What were the major foreign influences on the English language? What changes did they introduce? From the earliest stages of its development, English has come into contact with a number of foreign languages. The major influences on the English language were Latin, Scandinavian, and Norman French, each associated with distinct changes to its lexicon, pronunciation, and grammar. Here is a brief overview of the major foreign influences on the English language.

The Body’s Defense Against Pathogens and Bacteria

How does the human body defend against pathogens and bacteria? What strategies and counters do the body use? Some bodily defense mechanisms have dual purposes that benefit both the host and the pathogen. Similarly, some infectious diseases cause damage to the host which is costly to the pathogen as well. This is because both the host and the pathogen need to make compromises. Keep reading to learn about the body’s defense against pathogens and bacteria.

So You Want to Talk About Race Quotes to Know

Are you looking for So You Want to Talk About Race quotes by Ijeoma Oluo? What are some of the most noteworthy passages that highlight the author’s key ideas about racial inequality? In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo offers a handbook on how to have intelligent, productive, empathic conversations about race. The following So You Want to Talk About Race quotes highlight some of the author’s key ideas about racial identity and oppression. Keep reading for So You Want to Talk About Race quotes by Ijeoma Oluo.

The How to Lie With Statistics Book Guide

What can you learn from the How to Lie With Statistics book? What are the ten techniques that liars use to manipulate statistics? How can you assess if a statistic is reliable? In his book How to Lie With Statistics, Darrell Huff explains how people (advertisers, companies, anyone with an agenda) can manipulate numbers to yield statistics that support their cause. Since these people aren’t actually lying, it isn’t considered illegal. Huff teaches you what to look out for and how to see through liars. Continue on for more on How to Lie With Statistics.