Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

The Death of Amadou Diallo: What We Get Wrong About Police Shootings

In 1999, New York City Police officers shot Guinean Amadou Diallo 41 times when they mistook him for a rape suspect with a gun. Were the officers racist? Was it an accident, the inevitable, if tragic, consequence of officers having to make quick decisions in stressful situations? And how can we prevent these types of police shootings in the future? Learn about the Amadou Diallo case and discover the details we often forget when we try to answer the question, “How could this happen?”

Purge Subconscious Bias: The Harvard Unconscious Bias Test

What is subconscious bias? How do our actions reflect prejudices that are either subconscious or unconscious? Can the Harvard unconscious bias test tell us the biases our conscious minds refuse to acknowledge? Subconscious bias is a prejudice we’re unaware of, and the Harvard unconscious bias test, officially known as the Implicit Association Test, is a tool used to understand how unconscious associations affect our beliefs and behavior. Learn how subconscious bias affects our everyday actions and how the Harvard unconscious bias test can help you identify your unacknowledged prejudices.

Millennium Challenge 2002: What Did We Actually Learn?

What was Millennium Challenge 2002? What can we learn from the war game about balancing structure and spontaneity to make excellent snap decisions? Millennium Challenge 2002 was a war game planned by the military’s Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). During this battle, Paul Van Riper proved that snap decisions, if made in a structured environment, can be far more effective than deliberation. Read on to learn how you can apply these lessons, too.

The Getty Kouros—Real or Fake? The Controversy, Explained

What was the Getty kouros? Why is the Getty kouros so controversial? And, most importantly, is the Getty kouros statue real or fake? The Getty Kouros is a statue of a nude male, which the Getty Museum in California bought in 1983. Keep reading for the story of how the museum acquired the Getty kouros and the subsequent heated debate over its authenticity.

Effective Decision Making – Surprise: Think Less

What is the secret to effective decision making? How can I make sure that every decision I make is a good one? The key to effective decision making is spontaneity. We’re taught to believe that the best decisions are those that are well-thought-out and take the most time to make, but snap judgments may actually lead to more successful decisions. Here’s how to make good decisions.

Sensation Transference: Why Coke Tastes Better in a Can

What is sensation transference? As a seller, how can I create a product that takes advantage of sensation transference? As a buyer, how can I be more aware of how sensation transference affects my buying choices? When the way a product looks influences the way we experience it, we’re experiencing sensation transference. If you create products, learn how to make yours one everyone wants to buy. If you’re a consumer, learn how to avoid falling into the trap of sensation transference.

Implicit Racism: 80% of Us Are Guilty – Here’s How to Fight It

Could you be harboring implicit biases about people based on their race? It’s disheartening to learn that implicit racism is far more prevalent than we like to think. And as much as you believe in racial equality and treating everyone with compassion and respect, you may be judging others based on racial stereotypes without even being aware of it. Learn to become aware of and address signs of implicit racism.

The Truth About Why We Make Bad Decisions

Why do we make such bad decisions sometimes? What can we do to make better decisions? The truth is, the fact that we don’t always know what we want or like is why we make bad decisions. Keep reading to discover how we can be oblivious to our own preferences and why this hurts our decision-making process.

The 2 Types of Decisions: How to Make Successful Decisions in Any Situation

Do you spend a lot of time making decisions? Do you ever wonder if there’s an easier way to make a choice? There are many types of decisions, and the best decision-making strategy in one situation may not be successful in another. We’ll look at the two basic types of decisions and discover why sometimes the best type of decision is the one that takes the least amount of conscious thought.

Intuitive Decision Making: The Secret to Life Success?

What is intuitive decision making? What is the adaptive unconscious? How can I use the adaptive unconscious to make the best decisions? Learn why snap judgments and your adaptive unconscious may be the most useful tool in your decision-making toolbox.