Shortform Books

Gin Stephens: Intermittent Fasting Versus Dieting

Does intermittent fasting help with fat loss? How does fasting compare to dieting in terms of weight loss? Many people resort to dieting by restricting their calories in an effort to lose weight. But dieting is not an enduring solution. As many dieters can attest, the excess weight often comes back once the diet is over. According to Gin Stephens, intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and keep it off long-term. Here’s why fasting is a better approach to weight loss than traditional dieting, according to Stephens.

Why the Zettelkasten Method of Note-Taking Is the Best

What is the Zettelkasten method of note-taking? How does Zettelkasten compare to the traditional methods of note-taking? An important part of your education or your job might be taking notes. The Zettelkasten method can not only help you remember important ideas but also helps you to organize your notes to move your research forward. In this article, we’ll dive into five specific features of the slip-box system that make it superior to traditional methods.

The Modern Dilemma: How to Work Less and Live More

Work Related Depression: Why Is It Endemic?

Do you feel like your work has consumed your life? Do you want to work less and live more? If you feel burdened with work, you are not alone. Many people feel like their work consumes not only their time but also their energy and morale. Understandably, you can’t just call it quits without a backup plan or a safety net in place. What you can do is to allocate your time better, minimizing soul-sucking tasks and maximizing activities that bring you joy. Here’s how to work less and live more.

Ben Horowitz: What You Do Is Who You Are

What’s an intentional culture? What can you learn from historical cultures to apply to your own workplace? Ben Horowitz’s What You Do Is Who You Are argues that culture is the way employees make decisions and act based on their perception of underlying premises and shared beliefs. Culture derives from what leaders state explicitly and also what they enforce implicitly by example and through the organization’s incentive structure. Leaders’ actions and messaging inform employees’ behavior. Therefore, Horowitz argues that it’s important to be intentional about the culture you’re designing. If you’re not intentional in shaping your culture, your employees will

What Is Western Influence? Amartya Sen’s Take

What is Western influence? How does Westernization affect traditional cultures in the East? Westernization is the idea of non-Western societies adopting certain aspects of American and European cultures and values. Amartya Sen discusses the concept in Development as Freedom, where he explains that traditional cultures aren’t necessarily at risk because of Western influence. Read below to learn more about Westernization, and determine if it’s as influential as many people say it is.

Mastery by Greene: Overview & Key Takeaways

What are the principles put forth in the book Mastery? What can you apply to your life to become a master in your field? Mastery is a self-help guide that describes the path to intellectual and creative excellence. Robert Greene explains how to achieve such mastery in three stages, and he argues that pursuing it yields a fulfilling life and great creative power. Here’s an overview of Mastery by Greene.

How Does Trauma Affect the Brain of a Child?

How does trauma affect the brain of a child? Can childhood trauma impact brain development? Childhood trauma can have serious detrimental effects on the developing brain. If you think of the brain as a growing city, imagine trying to build structures on top of a damaged foundation. Eventually, the foundation may crack. Here’s how trauma affects the developing brain.

How to Beat the Competition in Business: 8 Strategies

A chess board representing organizational conflict

Are you looking to grow your business? Do you want to know how to beat the competition in business? When selling a product, you’re going to have more than a few competitors out there. Luckily, William M. Luther’s book The Marketing Plan has advice on how to succeed in competitive markets. Here are Luther’s four strategies to beat the competition, plus four more strategies from other business experts.

Nathaniel Branden: The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

What’s Nathaniel Branden’s The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem about? What’s the key message to take away from the book? In The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, psychotherapist Nathaniel Branden presents a roadmap for improving your self-esteem. You’ll learn exactly how to behave to improve your self-esteem, including by living with awareness and taking responsibility for your actions. You’ll also learn why so many techniques people recommend for raising self-esteem just don’t work. Along the way, you’ll discover what self-esteem actually is, why it matters, and how others affect it. Below is a brief overview of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by