Shortform Books

William Deresiewicz’s Excellent Sheep: Book Overview

Are prestigious schools the best schools? What should parents and students look for when selecting a college? In his book Excellent Sheep, William Deresiewicz claims that elite US colleges and universities are so selective and profit-oriented that they perpetuate social inequality and deprive students of high-quality learning. He argues that the solution is to make high-quality college education accessible to all American students. Keep reading for an overview of the book, along with an exercise to review the content.

The Tipping Point: Discussion Questions and Book Quiz

Are you looking to further your understanding of The Tipping Point? Do you understand all of the lessons from the book? The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers) focuses on how to push ideas or products to a tipping point in order to create a social epidemic. He identifies three factors that can be adjusted to tip an idea to a social epidemic: the messenger, the message itself, or the context of the message. Below, we’ve put together some The Tipping Point discussion questions and a quiz, with answers.

Social Media’s Influence on Society: We’re Even Lonelier

What is social media’s influence on society? What negative influences do experts say we should be concerned about? In her bestselling book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, author Shoshana Zuboff explains the cause and effect of tech giants intrusively monitoring and using our data for profit (i.e. “surveillance capitalism”). Zuboff further explains social media’s harmful role in this system. Keep reading to find out how social media is influencing society and our mental health, according to Zuboff.

What Is the P/E Ratio in the Share Market?

What is the P/E ratio in the share market? How is it calculated? The P/E ratio is an indicator of the stock price to the company’s earnings per share. You can also think of it as how long it will take the company to recoup your investment. Here is how to use the P/E ratio to evaluate the future potential of stocks.

Online Mental Health Care: What Are the Risks & Benefits?

Wondering if you should try online mental health care? What are the risks and benefits of using “telepsychology”? The recent boom of online mental health care has led to widely accessible online prescriptions. While there are notable benefits of accessible prescription medication, some worry about the potential for medication abuse and unnecessary over-prescription. Read on for a brief overview of the risks and benefits of online mental health care in 2022.

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: Overview & Takeaways

What do Stoics believe? Perhaps more importantly, how do they live on a day-to-day basis? The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman is presented as a daily devotional to share insights from the ancient Stoic philosophers on how to live a good life. They explain that Stoicism isn’t merely a set of beliefs—it’s a way of life. Read more for our overview of The Daily Stoic, including an exercise designed to help you put Stoic principles into practice today.

7 Strategies to Make a Good Pitch (Get to the Point)

4 Steps to Improve Sales Processes and Revenues

What is a good pitch? How can you powerfully pitch your point? A good pitch is the key to getting your point across. In the book Get to the Point!, Joel Schwartzberg argues that knowing how to pitch to your audience can help build rapport. Check out these seven strategies to help keep the audience focused on your point.

Behavioral Patterns in Psychology: Learn to Accept Yourself

What is the psychology behind toxic behavioral patterns? How can accepting your patterns lead to change and healing? In her book Dopamine Nation, Stanford University psychiatrist and addiction treatment expert Anna Lembke explains why you develop unwanted behavioral patterns, the psychology of self-awareness, and how to take back control of your life. According to her, acceptance and self-honesty lead to healing. Read on to learn more about behavioral patterns in psychology and how to change them, according to Lembke.

Understanding Female Sexual Anatomy for Better Sex

What is the female sexual anatomy? How does knowing about female anatomy make sex better? To make sure your female partner has a satisfying orgasm, Ian Kerner in She Comes First says you must understand her sexual anatomy. This is where her pleasure points are, how to stimulate them, and how her body reaches orgasm. Read more for a better understanding of female sexual anatomy.

How to Bring About Change: Lessons From Biology & Chemistry

Do gun buyback programs work? How did Barack Obama accelerate his 2008 presidential campaign? Change is hard. But, The Great Mental Models Volume 2 provides two models from science that can help us initiate and accelerate change in our own lives and even in the world around us. Authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish discuss what we can learn from incentives and catalysts. Keep reading to learn how to bring about change in yourself and others.