Shortform Books

Max Weber’s Iron Cage: Are We Trapped Beyond Hope?

What’s Max Weber’s “iron cage”? Was his analysis and prediction about the modern world accurate? Max Weber’s classic work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism discusses the socio-economic and religious roots of modern capitalism—and of our productivity-focused culture. He ends the book with a reflection on the materialist bent of the modern world. Let’s take a look at Weber’s view, Steven Pinker’s perspective, and some wisdom from a Chinese proverb.

Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Would you say that your organization has a safe working environment? Why is it important to ensure psychological safety in the workplace? Safe work cultures prioritize learning and critical thinking over profit and end results. Creating psychological safety in the workplace starts with fostering an environment where employees feel like they can take risks when interacting with others without fearing negative consequences. With this in mind, here’s how to cultivate a sense of psychological safety in the workplace.

Getting in Touch With Your Emotions: Why It’s Important

How do your emotions affect your circumstances? How do they impact your well-being? In The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman argue that getting in touch with your emotions is an important aspect of living a virtuous life. For the Stoics, clear thinking leads to well-regulated emotions and is negatively affected by unregulated emotions. Read more to understand why getting in touch with your emotions is so important.

Tips for Staying Focused and Resisting Distractions

Do you have difficulty staying focused? How can you resist the pull of distractions and get your mind to focus? With so many things vying for our attention these days, it’s hard to stay focused on one thing at a time. Distractions are literally at our fingertips, only a click away. Fortunately, it’s in your power to shut off anything that interferes with your ability to stay focused and get work done. Here are a few tips for staying focused and keeping distractions at bay.

Returning to Work After the Pandemic: Employer Challenges

What are some challenges of returning to work after the pandemic? How is the workforce changing post-pandemic? Returning to work after the pandemic is proving difficult, not just for employees, but also for employers impacted by the labor shortage. Businesses looking to bring workers back to the office face two challenges: a worker shortage, and changed expectations and priorities among the workers they currently employ. Keep reading to learn how companies are dealing with the challenges of returning to work post-pandemic.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Polymath Who Knew Everything

What subjects was Leonardo da Vinci proficient in? Was Leonardo da Vinci a polymath? A polymath is an individual who has extensive knowledge in many subjects. Leonardo da Vinci is a great example of one, having knowledge in mathematics, art, hydrology, and more. Let’s take a look at the subjects Leonardo was advanced in.

How to Change Your Beliefs and Love Yourself

Want to know how to change your beliefs? What are the benefits of adopting new beliefs? Which beliefs about yourself are harmful? Bestselling author Nicole LePera explored how painful childhood experiences led you to develop the defensive beliefs that form the foundation of all your self-sabotaging patterns. LePera claims that childhood beliefs take root in your mind and continue to influence all your patterns as an adult. Keep reading to learn how to change your self-destructive beliefs into positive ones, according to LePera.

Identifying Your Target Audience—Levinson’s Method

How do you identify your target audience for your products or services? What do marketing experts suggest? The bestselling author of Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson, wants business owners to know that it’s cheaper and easier to create a marketing campaign than they may think. According to his advice for defining your target market, you don’t need to fork out a lot of money to make a great campaign. Keep reading to learn how to identify your target audience, according to Levinson’s method.

Why Do Hurt People, Hurt People? James O’Brien’s Story

Why do hurt people, hurt people? Can hurtful people change course by healing their own pain? James O’Brien would have counted himself among the “hurt people hurting people.” He started his own journey by exploring his childhood trauma in therapy. O’Brien claims that only by getting to the root of our pain can we learn to have empathy for others. Keep reading to learn O’Brien’s story of awareness and healing.

The Top Unrealistic Expectations of Women That Cause Stress

What are the biggest expectations of women? Why are women set at such high, yet unrealistic standards? In Burnout, Amelia and Emily Nagoski elaborate that women are expected to always be mild-mannered, humble, pretty, and willing to give their time and more to the people who need them. This is a standard that many men expect of women, but it’s completely unrealistic for any human to live up to. Here are just two unrealistic expectations of women that cause stress and anxiety.