Shortform Books

Hyper-Growth Startups: Outpacing Competitors

What’s a hyper-growth startup? What makes them grow so fast? How are they funded? In their book, The Unfair Advantage, Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba explain what hyper-growth startups are. They discuss how these businesses get started, how they’re funded, and what type of product or service they typically involve. They also provide some insight into the chances of success and what it’s like to be part of one of these businesses. Keep reading to learn the basics of hyper-growth startups.

Survivorship Bias in Statistics Skews Results

What is survivorship bias in statistics? How does survivorship bias skew our interpretation of the research findings? Any time a portion of a study sample is able to “leave” the study, we should be wary of survivorship bias. Survivorship bias occurs when we draw conclusions based on the “survivors” of a certain treatment or intervention. Keep reading to learn about survivorship bias and how it affects research findings.

3 Ways to Stay Motivated That You Can Try Today

What are the most effective ways to stay motivated? How can you stay motivated even when feeling overwhelmed? Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Steven Kotler believes the key to staying motivated involves how your brain functions when under stress. According to Kotler, adopting a positive attitude sustains motivation by generating more “reward chemicals” in the brain. Keep reading to learn Kotler’s three ways to stay motivated by maintaining a positive mindset.

Brain Diet: What to Eat for a Healthy Brain

What’s the best diet for the brain? What foods should you eat to keep your brain healthy and your mind sharp? What foods should you avoid? A healthy diet is a vital part of brain health. While there’s no general consensus on the best brain diet, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that you should eat certain foods regularly and avoid other foods as much as possible. Learn which foods are good for your brain and which ones can be potentially harmful.

The Mistreatment of Black People in Healthcare

How are Black people mistreated in the healthcare industry? How does racism manifest in healthcare? The American healthcare industry fails to provide adequate care and treatment to Blacks. Nikole Hannah-Jones, the author of The 1619 Project, links mistreatment of Black people in healthcare to medical practitioners’ racist beliefs that cause them to underestimate Black illness and not provide necessary treatments. Here’s how the effects of slavery echo across the American healthcare industry.

Why Do We Lie? How We Hide Our Motives

Why do we lie about our motives? Why do we seek to deceive others and ourselves about the reasons for our behaviors? At first glance, the idea of hidden motives may seem convoluted. The answer, according to Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson, is that, as a cooperative social species, we evolved to advance our own interests while appearing as selfless as possible—and it’s easier to deceive others if we’ve already deceived ourselves. Let’s explore this theory about why we tell lies about our reasons for doing what we do.

Lifestyle Startups: An Intro to the Basics

What’s a lifestyle startup? Is it the right kind of business for you? Entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba explain what lifestyle startups are and why they’re usually self-funded. They offer a bit of insight into what it takes to make this type of business profitable. We include some pros and cons of small business ownership to help you know what kind of business is right for you. Continue reading to learn the basics of lifestyle startups.

If You Like Normal People, Read These 6 Books

Have you read Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People or watched the Hulu adaptation series? What are books you should read if you liked Normal People? Released in 2018, Normal People follows the relationship between teenagers Marianne and Connell from secondary school into college. The novel and television series adaptation has received wide critical acclaim for its representation of complex relationships and exploration of power dynamics and communication. Here are a few books to pick up if you enjoyed Normal People, from self-help books to fictional stories.

7 Ways Netflix’s Maid Differs From the Book

What are the main differences between Stephanie Land’s memoir Maid and its Netflix adaptation? How did the changes expand the story? In her memoir Maid, Stephanie Land recalls the period of her life when she was working as a housekeeper and single-handedly providing for her daughter, all while living below the poverty line. In 2021, Netflix adapted the memoir into a miniseries starring Margaret Qualley, making significant changes to the overall story. Here are the biggest changes Netflix’s Maid makes to Land’s book.