Shortform Books

Setting Healthy Boundaries: The 3-Step Process

Why is it important to set boundaries with people? Where is the fine line between healthy and unhealthy boundaries? How do you establish where your personal boundaries lie and communicate them effectively? By setting healthy boundaries, you minimize the chances that people will transgress or violate your standards by doing something you don’t tolerate. Although setting boundaries can be awkward and uncomfortable, it’s essential to ensure harmonious relationships. Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab explains how to set healthy boundaries in three steps.

How to Overcome Perfectionism: Strategies and Tips

Are you a perfectionist? What are the dangers of striving for perfection in everything you do? Despite recognizing the impossibility of perfection, many people still hold themselves to unrealistic expectations in many aspects of their lives. However, striving for perfection is unhealthy as it can lead to negative outcomes such as procrastination, toxic comparisons, and burnout. Here’s how to overcome perfectionism and learn to set yourself realistic standards.

The Best 3 Ways to Express Empathy in a Conversation

Do you want to show others how you really feel? What are some ways to express empathy? When someone opens up to you, you might not know how to respond at first. Thankfully, Bento C. Leal’s book 4 Effective Keys to Effective Communication demonstrates ways to express yourself empathetically to other people. Find out how to express yourself with empathy so there’s no confusion or misunderstanding.

How Did Chris Hadfield Become an Astronaut at the CSA?

How did Chris Hadfield become an astronaut? What does it take to become an astronaut? Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield had a rich career that spanned 21 years. In An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, he looks back on his early days at the Canadian Space Agency and how he trained to go to space. Keep reading to learn about Chris Hadfield’s early career.

Information Sharing in the Workplace: 3 Steps to Accessibility

What’s the importance of information sharing in the workplace? How do you create an accessible business? Sharing information in the workplace has proven to encourage employee ownership. According to Jack Stack and Bo Burlingham’s book The Great Game of Business, there are three main steps to creating an accessible business: explaining the business, explaining the numbers, and keeping employees updated. We’ll dive into these three steps below.

Nietzsche on Happiness: Balancing Joy & Discomfort

What is Friedrich Nietzsche’s happiness philosophy? What are his thoughts on pursuing happiness? In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Friedrich Nietzsche explains his views on life, love, happiness, and ultimately human existence. According to Nietzsche, you should focus on finding happiness and joy for yourself while allowing room for discomfort. Read on to learn about Nietzsche’s philosophy of happiness, including a brief learning exercise.

Human-Centered Organizations: Why We Need Them

What are human-centered organizations? How do they operate differently from traditional companies? Authors Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini argue that fostering human-centered ideals, like employee innovation and inspiration, results in happier workers and more successful companies. In their book Humanocracy, they describe how to build human-centered organizations. Keep reading to learn more about human-centered organizations, according to Hamel and Zanini.

What Is Section 230? Social Media Immunity Explained

What is Section 230 in terms of social media companies? Why is it being challenged? U.S. Code Section 230 is a law saying companies that provide access to information via the internet are not liable for content posted by third parties. If the Supreme Court rules that Section 230 doesn’t apply to social media companies, they will likely block all controversial content to limit their liability. Read on to learn about Section 230 and how these changes may transform social media as we know it.

The Fresh Start Effect: The Power of New Beginnings

What is the fresh start effect? How can you use the fresh start effect to your benefit? The fresh start effect is the human tendency toward action during special occasions or temporal landmarks. Just as people feel more optimistic and capable at the start of a day/week/year, they also feel more optimistic and capable when they’re at the beginning of a project or a new job. Keep reading to learn about the fresh start effect and how you can use it to your advantage.

The Best John Rawls Quotes From A Theory of Justice

Are you looking for John Rawls’s quotes from A Theory of Justice? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In A Theory of Justice, John Rawls explores the best and most just way a society can distribute social goods like rights, wealth, and power. He argues that people can and should determine the distribution of these goods entirely through reason, rather than by appeals to one’s identity—sex, race, religion, etc. Below is a selection of passages highlighting some of the key ideas.