Shortform Books

John Meriwether and Salomon Brothers’ Contribution to LTCM

How did John Meriwether get his start with the investment firm Salomon Brothers? What role did Meriwether play in forming LTCM? In When Genius Failed, Roger Lowenstein writes that hedge fund manager and arbitrage expert John Meriwether was pivotal in the conception and formation of LTCM. He formed the arbitrage group at the investment firm Salomon Brothers, where he had previously worked. Let’s look at the rise of John Meriwether, Salomon Brothers’ hand in LTCM’s creation, and how they set the stage for LTCM’s rise and fall.

The Mindbody Prescription: Overview and Key Takeaways

What are the key takeaways from The Mindbody Prescription? How does author Dr. John Sarno explain the connection between mind and body? In The Mindbody Prescription, Dr. Sarno explains how repressed emotions can lead to physical feelings of pain, a disorder he calls tension myositis syndrome (TMS). Learning these concepts supports the healing process. Keep reading to discover how the mind and the body are connected, and how to diagnose and treat TMS.

How Amazon Became Successful By Doing Things Differently

What explains how Amazon became successful? What did the company do differently? Amazon became successful by creating a strong business culture based on giving value to the customer before all else. If you take a close look at Amazon’s guiding principles and strategies, you’ll see that many of its tools can be used in other businesses too. Continue reading to see how Amazon grew from a startup into the successful business it is today.

Healthy Fasting for Weight Loss: Switching Energy Sources

What does healthy fasting for weight loss look like? How does it work? Healthy fasting for weight loss is carefully planned to encourage the body to burn fat over carbohydrates. Understanding how this works can help you lose more weight faster. Continue reading for more on why intermittent fasting is effective for weight loss.

Matthew Desmond: Poverty Goes Well Beyond Numbers

What does it feel like to be poor? What aspects of poverty can’t be quantified? It’s easy to regard poverty as a black-and-white, by-the-numbers matter. But, according to Matthew Desmond, poverty is far more than that. It’s a tangible experience he knows firsthand, and he argues that it’s important for policymakers (and everyone else) to look beyond the numbers. Keep reading to understand the lived experience—and the consequences—of poverty from Desmond’s perspective.

How to Be Skeptical: 3 Ways to Identify Bullshit

Do you tend to believe everything you hear? Would you like to foster healthy skepticism without falling into the trap of cynicism? Let’s be frank: The modern world is replete with bullshit—a phenomenon that professors Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West define as the use of misleading evidence to persuade an audience. But, we aren’t defenseless against this bullshit, they argue. Read more to learn how to be skeptical and identify bullshit in its many forms.

Dr. Sarno’s Method for Treating Psychosomatic Pain

What is the Dr. Sarno method? How does Dr. Sarno explain the connection between the mind and the body, and how does that influence treatment? Dr. Sarno’s method involves breaking down the repressed emotions behind physical manifestations of pain. If you understand how this method works, you can start your healing journey. Read on to learn how the Dr. Sarno method works and how you can apply it to pain treatments.

Amazon’s Business Strategy: The 4 Tools for Success

What is Amazon’s business strategy? What tools do they use to grow as a company? Amazon’s business strategy centers on four tools: the product development proposal, the deep thinking document, the DMAIC process, and big-picture planning. Seeing the way that Amazon uses each of these tools is a great way to grow your own business strategy. Keep reading for an in-depth look at each of these tools.

What’s an Arbitrage Strategy? Explanation and Example

Guaranteed Basic Income: Creating A Better Tomorrow

What’s arbitrage? How did John Meriwether’s arbitrage strategy earn Salomon Brothers a profit? Arbitrage is where investors exploit small differences in price for similar assets in two or more markets. When John Meriwether learned this technique, he used it to his advantage, earning more money than ever. Continue reading to learn more about how arbitrage works in the stock market.

Product Development Proposal Tactics From Amazon

What is a product development proposal, and what is its purpose? How does Amazon use product development proposals? The product development proposal, or PDP, is a two-part document including a hypothetical press release and frequently asked questions that you create before developing a new product. By looking at how Amazon uses the PDP, you can get a sense of good product development processes. Read on to see what a good product development proposal looks like and how it is used.