Shortform Books

Resource Theory: Identify & Cater to What People Value Most

What’s resource theory? How can you leverage it to deepen relationships? In Captivate, Vanessa Van Edwards provides strategies to help you become a social superstar. She explains how you can apply Uriel G. Foa’s resource theory to understand people better, communicate with them effectively, bring out the best in them, and ultimately connect with them on a deeper level. Read more to learn how to identify what people value most in life and then use that information to strengthen your relationships.

The 3 Future Work Skills You Need to Thrive in the 21st Century

What skills do you bring to the table? How can you compete in this economy—and in the economy of the future? The world is changing fast. Thomas L. Friedman, in his book The World Is Flat, explains that the increasingly globalized nature of the world requires workers to have three skills to keep up: cooperation, integration, and versatility. Continue reading for a discussion of these future work skills and an exercise that will help you consider your career in the globalized world.

The 2 Causes of the Influx of Migrants to the U.S.

Why are so many migrants crossing the United States border? What does the Biden administration have to do with it? Border state governors are busing thousands of immigrants to northern cities to pressure the Biden administration to stop a surge of border crossings. Critics call the gambit cruel and inhumane. But neither side has a plan to fix the underlying problem. Let’s take a look at what’s causing the influx of migrants in the first place.

How to Transition to a Hands-Off Management Style

What are the benefits of hands-off management? Is the hands-off approach right for your business? Adopting a hands-off approach to running your business enables you to reorient your focus from getting mired in the daily work towards improving your company’s framework. However, there are many things to consider before you relinquish your management responsibilities and hand them over to your team. Mike Michalowicz shares three steps for switching to a hands-off management style.

How Can We Reduce Poverty? The 3 Effective Methods

How can we reduce poverty? What is the right way to approach poverty alleviation? In When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert discuss how to practically approach poverty alleviation. This includes some common problems they’ve observed with current approaches and how to design more effective interventions. Continue reading to learn how we can reduce poverty the right way.

Confidence in Public Speaking: Beat Anxiety & Speak Boldly

Why is public speaking so scary? What could you accomplish if you overcame that fear? Public speaking anxiety is legendary. But, public speaking is extraordinarily powerful—both for the audience and the speaker. The audience gains knowledge and gets inspired. The speaker gets their message across, spreads their influence, and develops skills for success. Keep reading to learn about the power of public speaking and several misconceptions and truths that surround it. We’ll also share practical tips on how to gain confidence in public speaking by attacking the speech and attacking your fear.

Why Did the Church Reject the Gnostic Gospels?

What is Gnosis? Why did the Church reject the Gnostic Gospels? The Gnostic Gospels are a collection of books purportedly written by followers of Jesus, likely between AD 120 and 150. Although the writers themselves professed to be devotees of Jesus and claimed to be revealing truths from him, leaders of the early Christian church omitted these books from the Biblical canon. Here’s why the Gnostic texts were excluded from the official Christian canon.

How to Build a Growth Hacking Team

What are some things you should consider when putting together a growth hacking team? What roles should your growth team include? A dedicated team is a key component of hacking your business’s growth. According to Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown, a growth hacking team should be interdisciplinary and involve members from multiple departments of your business. Here’s how to build a successful growth hacking team that will help you skyrocket your business’s development.

How to Read Someone’s Personality & Play to Their Key Traits

How can you show support to a person who’s neurotic? How can you effectively work alongside someone who isn’t very open? Vanessa Van Edwards aims to help you connect more comfortably with others and build deeper relationships. In this context, she examines how to identify and cater to people’s personality traits so you can communicate with them as effectively as possible. Continue reading to learn how to read someone’s personality and use that knowledge to navigate your relationship.

Infrastructure in America: How We Can Thrive Amid Globalization

Does the infrastructure in America allow us to compete in the world? What, if anything, needs to change? Thomas L. Friedman argues that developing the infrastructure to connect and innovate in a globalized world is vital for America. He identifies two key areas in which the U.S. needs to build and maintain a strong infrastructure: internet technology and services, and scientific research and development. Read more to learn Friedman’s argument.