Shortform Books

20 Tim Ferriss Book Recommendations

Tim Ferriss is a famous American entrepreneur, author, podcaster, investor, and lifestyle guru. He is probably most famous for his podcast The Tim Ferriss Show, which is one of the top Apple Podcasts in business, and for his 4-Hour book series. Since Ferriss’s advice is held in high regard, we put together a list of Tim Ferriss’s book recommendations and mentions. Some of these books were directly recommended by Ferriss—whether on his website or his podcast—and others were ones he’s discussed or mentioned. Our list starts with Tim Ferriss’s number one book recommendation, The Magic of Thinking Big. Ferriss said

The Dalai Lama’s Thoughts on Happiness

What is happiness at its core? Do you think happiness is a natural human state? According to the Dalai Lama, happiness is not merely an emotional state, but a mental and intellectual one. It’s about being content with your life on all levels. In his book The Art of Happiness (co-authored with Howard C. Cutler), he proposes that all humans should seek out happiness by training themselves to be happy in four different ways. Here is how to cultivate true happiness, according to the spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

No Rules Rules: Review, Background, and Reception

Are you thinking of reading No Rules Rules? How well was the book received by critics? In No Rules Rules, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and business professor and author Erin Meyer detail how the company achieved this level of success by implementing unconventional management practices that empower employees and promote innovation. Here is our No Rules Rules review.

How to Deal With Rejection: Try This Strategy

How do you deal with rejection? Are you the type of person who keeps trying or gives up hope and moves on? Getting rejected is painful but it’s not always the end-all-be-all—sometimes it may be worth it to keep trying. In their book Algorithms to Live By, Christian and Griffiths suggest using the so-called “Exponential Backoff” algorithm to handle rejection without totally giving up hope. Here is how the “Exponential Backoff” algorithm can help you deal with rejection.

How to Change Bad Habits in 4 Simple Steps

Do you want to know how to change bad habits? What experiments can help you weed out your bad behaviors and replace them with better ones? Bad habits are difficult to kick because they are literally encoded in your brain. According to Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, all successful habit changes begin with a process of experimentation to uncover the specific cues and rewards that drive your habits. He suggests that you follow a four-step process that relies on identifying your routine and experimenting with different rewards so that you can effectively isolate your cue and

3 Simple Steps for Setting Goals—in Life and at Work

Are you clear on your goals? Are you effective at reaching them? In the bestselling classic The Sales Bible, Jeffrey Gitomer outlines three simple steps to set goals. Whether you have sales targets, business objectives, or basic life goals, you can follow these steps to get clarity and focus on what you want to achieve. Keep reading to learn Gitomer’s three simple steps for setting goals.

Game Theory: The Nash Equilibrium Explained

What is the “Nash equilibrium”? How do you calculate the Nash equilibrium? One of the most important concepts in game theory is the “Nash equilibrium”—a theoretical game state in which every player is fully aware of their opponents’ strategies yet sees no need to change their own. The game becomes stable and unchanging because everyone has settled into the best possible strategy available to them. If you can calculate an equilibrium, you can predict the inevitable stable outcome of any game’s rules and incentives. Keep reading to learn about the concept of the “Nash equilibrium” and how it is used in

Why You Must First Fail to Succeed

How to Deal With Failure at Work and Build Resilience

How do you deal with failure? How can embracing failure help you on the way to success? Most of us will do anything we can to avoid failure—it’s embarrassing and painful. However, to achieve success, you’ll need to fail a few times. Every failure teaches you how not to do something and forces you to come up with ideas you wouldn’t have normally thought of. Here is why you must fail to succeed.

The Dalai Lama’s Advice for Anger Management

How do you deal with anger? Is it ever a good idea to express your anger? According to the Dalai Lama, anger is a destructive emotion that stems from ignorance. If you struggle with anger issues, he counsels, you must first understand where your anger stems from and if it’s justified. Then, use patience and tolerance to neutralize it. You may not be able to completely eradicate it, but you can at least reduce your anger’s potency. Here’s how to deal with anger, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

3 Best Practices to Prevent Employee Poaching

Are you worried that another company will poach your best employees? How can you convince employees to stay with your company? Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wrote in his book No Rules Rules that there are three ways to prevent employee poaching: paying top-of-market salaries, eliminating performance-based bonuses, and giving raises that reflect market value. Some of these methods may be difficult but it’s important to remember that good employees are investments, not tools. Here’s an overview of each of the three methods.