Shortform Books

How Physics Teaches Us the Importance of Understanding Others

Why is eyewitness testimony so unreliable? Is it possible to use leverage to get what you want—without taking unfair advantage of others? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish draw on models from science to help you figure out yourself and the world around you. They show how the theory of relativity can help you understand somebody you disagree with, and they explain how you can use leverage to get what you want in life. Keep reading to learn the importance of understanding others in a way that benefits everyone.

The Secret: Book Club and Reflection Questions

Have you read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne? How can you apply the lessons in the book to your personal and work life? At the heart of The Secret is the concept of the Law of Attraction—use your thoughts to attract the things you want. If you focus on thoughts about who you want to be or what you want in life, you will attract those ideas and things back as your life experience. Below, we’ve put together some The Secret book club questions for you to consider.

How Privacy Advocates Are Battling Big Tech

What are the purpose and mission of privacy advocates? Why are they chiefly concerned with big tech companies? In The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Shoshana Zuboff explores the concept of “surveillance capitalism”—a term she created to describe the invasive and controlling data collection practices of tech giants. She warns of the potentially disastrous outcomes for our society if we don’t advocate for change in this area. Keep reading to learn how Zuboff says privacy advocates are fighting back against surveillance capitalism.

How to Evaluate a Stock’s Money-Making Potential

Do you have a stock you’ve been eyeing for a while but are hesitant to start investing? What are some things you should consider before buying a stock share? Investing your hard-earned money in stocks is a big decision. Therefore, it’s important to do your due diligence and evaluate the current performance as well as the profit potential of the company you want to invest in. Here is how to evaluate a stock’s money-making potential, according to Peter Lynch.

Problems of Renewable Energy: Green Trash

What is one of the biggest problems of renewable energy? How could renewable energy actually be bad for the environment? Many believe using renewable energy is the future and the answer to environmental harm caused by human activities. In fact, the amount of trash generated by renewable technologies, particularly spent solar panels and discarded wind turbines, threatens to overwhelm landfills. Keep reading to learn how experts explain one of the worst problems of renewable energy: green trash.

How to Make a Pitch Worth Remembering

Do your pitches need some work? Do you know how to make a pitch that people will remember? Whether you work in sales or you’re giving a presentation at work or in school, it’s important to know how to give a convincing pitch. Joel Schwartzberg’s book Get to the Point! can help you write up and present great pitches. Here are a few tips on how to make a pitch that won’t waste anyone’s time.

Why Is Rent So Expensive? Economists Weigh In

Why is rent so expensive at the moment? Who has been most affected by rising rent prices? Will prices drop? Demand for affordable housing has surged even as luxury rentals have emptied, leading to quickly rising prices in the market segment that can afford them least. Economists claim that, for lower-income households, the cost to rent is disproportionately higher. Keep reading to find out why rent is so expensive and what the solution is, according to economists.

The 2 Big Dangers of Isolation & How to Overcome Them

What are the biggest dangers of isolation? What are the psychological consequences of cutting yourself off from others? How can you stop isolating yourself? Bestselling author and psychologist Anna Lembke takes a unique perspective on the dangers of isolation by connecting them to society’s fixation on pursuing “high-dopamine” activities. She claims that prioritizing instant gratification feeds into the dangerous cycle of isolation. Keep reading to learn the two dangers of isolation and Lembke’s advice for overcoming them.

She Comes First: Quotes on Improving Your Sex Life

What are some She Comes First quotes? What can we learn from these quotes about healthy sex? In She Comes First, Ian Kerner claims that traditional beliefs about sex benefit men, not women. To make sure women experience pleasure during sex, their partner should make sure she has an orgasm first. Read below for She Comes First quotes that explain why female orgasms should take priority.

We Are Stronger Together: Social Lessons From Science

What strengths do you have that you could be combined with the strengths of others to accomplish something great? How might you help yourself by helping others? Everything we do affects—and is affected—by other people. If you join forces with others, you’ll be capable of much greater things than you could achieve on your own. Two scientific models, alloying and cooperation, show you how to do just that. Keep reading to see how science shows us that we are stronger together.