Shortform Books

Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman: Book Overview & Takeaways

A woman doing volunteer work by cleaning up trash

Tired of feeling like your career doesn’t matter? You’re not alone. In Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman explains that 25% of workers in wealthy countries believe their jobs are socially meaningless. At the same time, the world’s biggest problems, from climate change to global poverty, need talented people working on solutions. His answer is to restructure your career around creating a measurable impact on humanity’s greatest challenges. To understand Bregman’s critique of current approaches and his proposed alternative, we’ll examine his argument through four questions: What is moral ambition? Why does it matter? Why do both traditional activism and effective altruism

Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (Overview)

President Joe Biden sitting at his desk in the Oval Office

President Biden’s awful debate performance in June 2024 shocked millions of Americans. But, according to two journalists, that moment wasn’t a sudden decline—it was the inevitable result of years of carefully orchestrated deception. Their explosive book Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson reveals how Biden’s inner circle, family, and Democratic allies allegedly worked together to hide his deteriorating condition from the public. Continue reading for a comprehensive overview of Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

Dana Perino’s I Wish Someone Had Told Me… (Book Overview)

Political commentator and author Dana Perino speaking at CPAC 2016 on stage

How often do you receive truly life-changing advice? If you’re Dana Perino, it’s a regular occurrence. As a Fox News host and former White House Press Secretary, Perino meets people from many walks of life and a variety of backgrounds. In her book, I Wish Someone Had Told Me…, she compiles the highlights of the advice guests gave in her online column, Short Questions With Dana Perino, alongside her own tips for success. We’ve highlighted the book’s major themes for different stages of life and the challenges you might face, from finding your purpose to becoming a leader. Read below

The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More (Jefferson Fisher)

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Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling frustrated, misunderstood, or like you were talking to a brick wall? Whether it’s a heated family dinner discussion or a tense meeting at work, we’ve all been there. Jefferson Fisher’s The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More isn’t about winning debates or getting your way. Instead, Fisher focuses on building genuine connections and turning conflicts into opportunities for understanding. Continue reading to discover how to handle even the toughest conversations.

Life Lessons From a Brain Surgeon by Rahul Jandial: Overview

An up-close shot of a surgeon wearing a gown and gloves

How can something so small control every aspect of your existence? The human brain, with its 85 billion neurons forming over 100 trillion synaptic connections, holds the key to optimizing your cognitive abilities, protecting against age-related decline, and unlocking your full mental potential. In Life Lessons From a Brain Surgeon, neurosurgeon and scientist Rahul Jandial reveals how understanding your brain’s structure and function can transform the way you approach everything from daily habits to long-term health planning. Keep reading for a detailed overview of the book.

Shortform Articles: Read Something Worthwhile Today

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Here at Shortform, we’ve made a name for ourselves with our trademark book guides, but you might not know that we also produce human-written, high-quality articles. Shortform Articles are included with every Shortform subscription. Whether you want to stay updated on trending topics, get inspired by influential authors, or explore timeless topics like self-care and human connection, Shortform Articles are designed to inform, engage, and enrich your daily thinking. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Shortform Articles different—and why they might be exactly what your brain’s been craving. What Are Shortform Articles? Shortform Articles are original pieces of

The Tell by Amy Griffin—Book Overview and Takeaways

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Can psychedelic therapy unlock buried memories of childhood trauma? According to venture capitalist Amy Griffin, the answer is a resounding yes. In her acclaimed 2025 memoir The Tell, Griffin details how MDMA-assisted therapy helped her recover repressed memories of sexual abuse by a trusted teacher during middle school. Her story offers a compelling case study of memory recovery through psychedelic intervention, though it also enters contentious scientific territory where experts debate the reliability of drug-induced recollections and the very existence of repressed memories. Her memoir, which landed on Oprah’s Book Club list and earned her a spot on Time Magazine’s

The Thinking Machine by Stephen Witt: Book Overview

Most people know Nvidia as the company behind expensive graphics cards for gamers, but it also helped create the technological foundation for the AI revolution. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s contrarian bet on parallel computing made this happen. In The Thinking Machine, Stephen Witt details the rewards Huang reaped by spending over a decade investing in academic computing tools that seemed commercially worthless. That positioned Nvidia perfectly for the moment when AI systems needed massive parallel processing power. Witt also provides an inside look at Huang’s unconventional leadership methods and the potential threats to Nvidia’s success. Keep reading for a full

I Used Shortform for a Month—Here’s What Happened

Working on the blog team at Shortform, I spend a lot of time writing about books, ideas, and how people learn. But, outside of work, I’ve always thought of myself as a fairly engaged reader, too—that’s a big part of why I was drawn to working here in the first place. So, I decided to challenge myself: I’d use Shortform every single day for a month. I wanted to put myself in the shoes of a Shortform subscriber and see how it actually fits into daily life. Week 1: Getting Oriented I wanted to experience the app the same way

Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step

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What if the key to breakthrough thinking lies in doing the opposite of what we usually do? Edward de Bono’s Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step introduces a revolutionary approach to problem-solving that challenges our conventional thought patterns. Instead of following predictable logical sequences, lateral thinking encourages us to explore unexpected connections, embrace temporary confusion, and generate multiple possibilities before settling on solutions. Continue reading to get an overview of this groundbreaking book and discover how shifting your mental approach can give you access to creative insights you never knew were possible.