Shortform Books

What Is the Fourth Turning? Strauss and Howe’s Theory of Crisis

What is the Fourth Turning? Was the Third Reich a Fourth Turning? How do crises transform nations? In The Fourth Turning, historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe explain how Anglo-American history follows a pattern of four 15- to 25-year periods, called Turnings. The Fourth Turning, they say, is a Crisis. Continue reading to learn about Strauss and Howe’s theory of the Fourth Turning and their predictions for America’s next one.

Sri Yukteswar Giri: The Prophesied Teacher of Yogananda

Who was Sri Yukteswar Giri? What was his relationship with Paramahansa Yogananda? Sri Yukteswar Giri was a spiritual teacher and mentor to Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the most influential yogis of the 20th century. In Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda details the teachings that he received from Yukteswar and how they contributed to his spiritual development. Read on to learn about Sri Yukteswar Giri and how his teachings influenced Paramahansa Yogananda.

Dealing With Chronic Pain: Tips and Techniques

Do you struggle with chronic pain? What are some techniques for managing chronic pain? Chronic pain can significantly affect the quality of your life both physically and psychologically. But there are methods to eliminate or, at least, manage chronic pain to minimize its interference with your life. Here are some tips for dealing with chronic pain from the book Life Force.

Peak States: The 4 Elevated States of Mind Explained

What is a peak state of consciousness? What are the four different altered states that you can achieve? In their book Stealing Fire, Stephen Kotler and Jamie Wheal explore the concept of peak states and place them in a historical context. They claim that altered states of consciousness are subjective experiences that are different from normal consciousness, while peak states occur at the high end of the spectrum. Read on to learn about the four types of peak states, according to Kotler and Wheal.

The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine: Book Overview

What is The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In The Way of the Seal, retired Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine discusses modern work world challenges that resemble a SEAL battlefield. He also provides strategies to identify your values, focus on your goals, embrace uncertainty, and harness your mental strengths. Read below for a brief overview of The Way of the SEAL.

Codependent No More Exercises to Help You Break Free

Are you plagued by stress and guilt? Do you forget to take care of yourself because you’re busy managing other people’s lives? Codependent No More is a guide to reclaiming your life from codependency. Melody Beattie encourages readers to overcome codependency with powerful messages about finding yourself, recovering self-esteem, and living a life that’s free and full of joy. Continue reading for nine Codependent No More exercises that will help you break free from codependency.

How to Be Autonomous and Gain Back Control of Your Life

Have you lost control of your life? How can you become more autonomous? According to Do Hard Things by Steve Magness, true toughness means facing the reality of your autonomy. Places such as school and work restrict your autonomy by stripping away your independence, but it’s your responsibility to gain it back to become better. Keep reading to learn how to be autonomous and fight for what’s yours.

What’s the Story of 1MDB? Jho Low’s Rise to Infamy

Looking for an explanation of the 1MDB Jho Low scandal? How did Low first become involved with 1MDB? In Billion Dollar Whale, Tom Wright and Bradley Hope explain the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, which exposed Malaysia’s corruption. At the center of the scandal was Jho Low, a fraudulent entrepreneur who worked with Prime Minister Najib Razak to siphon money from the 1MDB fund. Read on for an overview of the 1MDB Jho Low scandal, according to Wright and Hope.

Technology and Human Values: How to Make the Connection

Is there a connection between technology and human values? How can we design technology to better reflect society’s values? For the most part, User Friendly by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant argues that technology has driven us away from basic human values. However, they believe that technology can be reprogrammed to better fit into people’s lives and help society improve. Continue reading for more on how we can insert human values into our gadgets.

The Light We Carry: Book Overview (Michelle Obama)

What is Michelle Obama’s book The Light We Carry about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In her book The Light We Carry, former US First Lady Michelle Obama explains that everyone has the potential to improve the world in a way others can’t since everyone has unique abilities, strengths, and perspectives. Since our potentials are unique, Obama believes we have a responsibility to fulfill them. Below is a brief overview of The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama.