Shortform Books

Why Assisted Living Care Is Not What It Used to Be

What is assisted living? Why is it so hard to find institutions that provide assisted living care? It’s easy to find organizations called “assisted living” facilities. However, these facilities fail to provide care that lives up to the original assisted living model. According to Atul Gawande, the author of Being Mortal, this is because the assisted living model of care is at odds with institutional priorities. Here’s why the original assisted living model of care is not widely practiced, according to Gawande.

Leading With Empathy: Why Listening to Employees Matters

How important is it for a leader to have empathy? How can a leader let employees know that their needs matter? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes that empathy is central to good leadership. In his book Hit Refresh, he argues that leaders must continually solicit employee feedback and listen to their points of view with sincere caring. Keep reading to understand Nadella’s approach to leading with empathy.

Why the Modern Space Race Is More Relevant Than Ever

Is the modern space race still happening? Why is it so relevant in 2022? What does the future hold for space travel? Existing space programs have produced marvels from GPS to water purifiers to the robotic arms that perform brain surgery. The modern space race promises even more, including a network of satellites to monitor climate change and maybe even the ability to generate solar power in space to be used on Earth. Keep reading to find out why the modern space race has the potential to change how you live on Earth.

Beating the Procrastination Habit With Positive Self-Talk

Are you a chronic procrastinator? How does anxiety feed your procrastination habit by making you dread work? According to Neil Fiore, the author of The Now Habit, procrastination results from anxiety about work. Once we procrastinate, we typically feel bad and tell ourselves we’re lazy. That negative self-talk creates more anxiety, which, in turn, only makes it harder to get back to work by creating even more pressure. Here’s how to beat your procrastination habit with positive self-talk.

How a Traumatic Childhood Can Alter Your Beliefs

What are some of the effects of a traumatic childhood? How does it shape you as an adult? According to holistic psychologist Nicole LePera, traumas in childhood take many forms, including feeling unloved or powerless as a child. LePera found that those who experienced such feelings in childhood displayed certain self-destructive patterns as adults. Keep reading to learn how a traumatic childhood could still be impacting you as an adult, according to LePera.

Business and Climate Change: Good (& Bad) Responses

How does climate change affect business? What are the dangers of extreme weather? How are businesses responding? Many businesses are committing to sustainability policies to help delay the climate change problem. These policies range from serious emission-reduction programs to headline-seeking PR stunts, but some are too little, too late. Read on to learn how business and climate change are connected, including how corporations are responding.

Leonardo da Vinci: Book Overview and Takeaways

What is the book Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In his book Leonardo da Vinci, Walter Isaacson narrates the life, accomplishments, and struggles of the Italian painter, engineer, and scientist. He traces Leonardo’s evolution, finds explanations for his flaws, and extracts lessons from his life and work that you can apply to your own. Read below for a brief overview of Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.

Thomas Hunt Morgan’s Contribution to Genetics

What is Thomas Hunt Morgan famous for? How did Morgan’s discovery advance our understanding of heredity? Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866 -1945) was an American zoologist and geneticist. He is most known for his experimental research with the fruit flies by which he made two crucial discoveries about genes. Specifically, he discovered the phenomena of genetic linkage and crossing over. Keep reading to learn about Thomas Hunt Morgan’s contribution to genetics.

Is the Current Labor Shortage Due to Jobless Benefits?

Why is there a labor shortage? What’s causing the shortage of workers? Could jobless benefits be the cause? As the economy starts to recover from the pandemic, some analysts contend that unemployment benefits are so generous that they discourage work. Many recipients make more through their benefits than they did in their previous jobs, so observers argue they have little incentive to seek work. Keep reading for our analysis of the current labor shortage and what factors are to blame.

Shortform Reads: Using Books as Therapy & Motivation

What book’s cover caught Edel’s attention faster than any other? What author has she chosen as her therapist? What book does she read once a year? Edel could tell you all about it. Based in the Philippines, she works in customer support at Shortform. We interviewed her recently to learn a bit about her relationship with books.