Shortform Books

Foreshadowing in a Story: Providing Your Reader With Memories

What does foreshadowing accomplish in a story? How can it be used to powerful effect with your readers? In Wired for Story, Lisa Cron explains that humans have an innate need to understand the reasons behind everything—to make sense of what’s happening to us and around us. One of the techniques that writers can use to satisfy this human need is foreshadowing. Keep reading for Cron’s exploration of foreshadowing in a story and how it affects readers.

How to Read Emotions: Body Language Tips From an FBI Agent

What does it mean when someone purses their lips? Why do people turn their feet away from others? Can you tell what someone’s feeling, despite what they’re saying? Joe Navarro, a retired FBI Special Agent, knows how to read people. In The Dictionary of Body Language, he examines some of the body language cues that indicate emotions, such as repetitive actions that suggest anxiousness and tense postures that indicate anger. Keep reading to learn how to read emotions through body language.

How to Recover From a Narcissistic Relationship: 3 Tips

Did you just get out of an abusive relationship? How can you recover from a narcissistic relationship? In Power, Shahida Arabi says that even after ending a relationship with a narcissist, the abuse may have long-lasting effects such as PTSD, low self-worth, depression, and more. Because of these wide-ranging effects, healing can be a years-long process. This is how to recover from a narcissistic relationship, according to Shahida Arabi.

Visual Perception in the Brain: How the Left & Right Brains See

How are the left brain and right brain different in the way they perceive objects? Do we need the function of each hemisphere to fully see something? Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist seeks to dispel the myth of left-hemisphere superiority by showing that the right hemisphere is responsible for several of the brain’s most essential functions. To this end, he examines the different ways that each brain hemisphere perceives objects. Keep reading for an intriguing exploration of visual perception in the brain.

Effects of ADHD: Memory, Distractions, & Disorganization

What are the effects of ADHD? How does ADHD affect functioning? In Order From Chaos, Jaclyn Paul argues that people with ADHD face particular organizational challenges that can make their lives feel chaotic and frustrating. People with ADHD also have trouble with their memory and are distracted by their own thoughts. Let’s explore the effects of ADHD to see if they fit your own symptoms.

Robin Sharma’s The Everyday Hero Manifesto: Overview

What is The Everyday Hero Manifesto by Robin Sharma about? Do you want to release your inner hero? Robin Sharma’s The Everyday Hero Manifesto provides suggestions for strengthening your mind, body, and heart to fulfill your heroic potential. This is for you to realize that you can accomplish great things. Read below for a brief overview of The Everyday Hero Manifesto.

Where Does ADHD Come From? The Biopsychosocial Role

Where does ADHD come from? Is ADHD caused by genetics or your environment? According to Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté, there are many factors that could explain why your brain developed atypically. There’s a biopsychosocial approach to the origins of ADHD that lead to the psychological symptoms associated with ADHD. Let’s dive into the causes of ADHD, as well as the role genetics and childhood stress play in it.

The Right Level of Autonomy at Work: Where’s the Sweet Spot?

What level of autonomy at work should you give to your employers? How do you find the balance of control as a manager? Will Guidara’s book Unreasonable Hospitality shares excellent lessons that anyone can apply to their career. One lesson is to find a good balance of control at work, letting your employees take initiative while also stepping in when needed. Here’s how to find that balance, according to Guidara.

The Vital Question by Nick Lane: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why does life work the way it does? Are life’s features the product of random genetic mutations, or did organisms have to evolve in a certain way to overcome specific physical and chemical challenges? In The Vital Question, Nick Lane argues that genetics can’t give us the answers by itself. To explain the origin of life, we have to understand how cells make use of energy and what environmental conditions gave rise to the molecular power plants found in every living thing. Continue reading for an overview of this book that seeks to answer some of life’s biggest questions.

Unveiling the Secrets to Successful Employee Retention

Employee retention plays an important part in the development and success of any business. With fewer turnovers and top talent remaining in their jobs for a longer period of time, causes fewer stops and starts within the organization. However, achieving successful employee retention is often challenging, especially when there are many variables that influence this retention rate. You need to keep your employees happy in their roles, while also providing enough satisfaction that they don’t look elsewhere. According to one study by Gartner, 91% of HR leaders are concerned about employee turnover in the immediate future. To avoid becoming a