Shortform Books

Our Need for Emotional Safety: Why It’s So Important

Why is emotional safety a human need? How do people achieve emotional safety? Based on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman created a new hierarchy of needs in his book Transcend. According to him, neuroscience and psychological research reveal that we all have security needs, and he notes that emotional safety is one of them. Read on to learn why emotional safety is so important to humans, according to Kaufman.

How Intellectual Pursuits Help Us Satisfy Our Highest Desires

Would you like to be more open-minded and objective? Do you value truth above all? In The Second Mountain, David Brooks argues that the relationalist approach (the “second mountain” he endorses) requires a commitment to the intellectual life. It’s the pathway, he says, to our highest desires. Continue reading to learn how intellectual pursuits lead you upward and onward.

3 Things Innovative Organizations Have in Common

What do innovative organizations have in common? How can you set your company up for breakthroughs? The authors of The Innovator’s DNA identify five behaviors and skills shared by the top innovators. Then, they explain how to drive meaningful change by embedding these behaviors and skills into your organization. They address team makeup and structure, workflows, and mindset. Keep reading to learn what innovative organizations have in common, and see how you can count your company among them by doing what they do.

When Things Fall Apart: Quotes by Pema Chödrön to Inspire You

What are the best When Things Fall Apart quotes about compassion and suffering? How can these quotes help you grow as a person? In When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chödrön argues that pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life. But, these experiences can also be opportunities for growth and transformation. Keep reading for When Things Fall Apart quotes that express the main ideas of the book.

Getting Real: Doable Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Proposals

How should we deal with climate change and its impact? What’s actually realistic? Because of the distortion of climate science, Steven E. Koonin argues that many governments have endorsed impractical responses to climate change. In his book Unsettled, he proposes alternative responses to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its effects. Continue reading to learn Koonin’s practical climate mitigation and adaptation proposals.

The Law of Awareness: To Grow Yourself You Must Know Yourself

What’s the Law of Awareness? How can it help you grow and reach your potential? The Law of Awareness states that to grow yourself, you must know yourself. John Maxwell defines self-awareness and explains how it can help you achieve personal growth. He also recommends a brainstorming activity you can do to improve your self-awareness. Keep reading to learn about Maxwell’s Law of Awareness.

How to Create Positive Affirmations for Negative Thoughts

Is your mind overwhelmed by negativity? Do you often find yourself slipping into the vicious cycle of negative thinking? According to self-development coach Roxie Nafousi, one of the best remedies for negative thinking is affirmations—statements that encourage positive beliefs. When negative thoughts invade your mind, reciting positive affirmations in your mind can help override them and restore a positive outlook. Here’s how to create affirmations for negative thoughts.

Factfulness Questions to Challenge Your Knowledge & Thinking

Do you have a good handle on the state of the world? Are things worse than ever? By almost any measure, there’s never been a better time to be alive than right now. That’s the belief of Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund. Their book Factfulness explores the misconceptions that color our view of the world. Continue reading for several Factfulness questions that will test your knowledge and adjust your thinking.

How Do Children Acquire Language? Innate Skills May Explain It

How do children acquire language? At what point do our language acquisition skills diminish? Steven Pinker believes that human language is biologically innate. His theory provides a key insight into the field of linguistics. It explains why children have the ability to rapidly acquire language. Keep reading to discover why children are linguistic geniuses.