Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Do Humans Have Free Will? To an Extent …

Do humans have free will? Or is human behavior simply a product of genetics and conditioning? Society and popular culture often tell us that we are the products of our conditions and conditioning—our upbringing, environment, era, culture, and other external influences. Whether we act of our own accord or out of conditioning is a contentious question. Philosophers and scientists argue about this to this day. Keep reading to learn about the free will conundrum and how you can choose to act freely (at least, to an extent).

Levitsky and Ziblatt: Is Democracy Dying in the U.S.?

Is democracy dying? Is America sliding into authoritarianism? What can be done to salvage democratic norms? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, democracy operated successfully throughout most of the 20th century, despite some challenges. But, they warn, democratic norms are under siege today and may be slipping away entirely. In this article, we’ll explore some key structural transformations in United States politics over the past few decades that are pushing democratic norms to the brink.

Money Is Freedom to Pursue Life on Your Own Terms

As you advance in your career, do you have less free time or more free time? What would you do with more free time? American investor and financial educator Robert Kiyosaki has been both rich and poor. Rich is better, he says, because money is freedom—the more money you have, the freer you are to pursue life on your own terms. Here is what Kiyosaki has to say on money being a means to an end—the end being freedom, and why you shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting more money.

The Win/Win Paradigm: When Does It Work?

What is the Win/Win paradigm? Do you think a win/win outcome is possible in any situation? The Win/Win paradigm is one of Stephen Covey’s six paradigms of human interaction. The Win/Win paradigm aims to find a solution that benefits both sides, where everyone is happy with the decision and committed to the plan. However, the Win/Win paradigm may not be right for all situations. Read more to learn about the concept of Covey’s Win/Win paradigm, when Win/Win is appropriate, and when it’s not viable.

Brian Tracy: Goal-Setting Starts With a Mindset Shift

How to Believe in Your Goals and Change Your Life

Are you still unclear about what you want from life? How do you set goals if you don’t even know what you want? According to motivational speaker Brian Tracy, goal-setting starts with changing your mindset. Tracy suggests four mindset-shifting methods for those who are unclear about what they want or those who let negative thoughts keep them from setting goals. Keep reading to learn about Tracy’s four mindset-shifting methods.

Donald Trump’s “Fake News” Strategy

Why did Trump condemn mainstream media? How did Trump’s “fake news” accusation become a propaganda tool? It’s not a secret that Donald Trump didn’t shy away from throwing around unfounded accusations. Trump’s infamous “fake news” was a good example of that. The former president effectively weaponized the term against mainstream media that gave unfavorable coverage to his administration. Here is what really lies behind Donald Trump’s favorite phrase.

Principled Living: The Key to Finding Meaning

You can heal with love. Discover how the love you feel in your heart can improve your physical health and help you overcome illness.

What does it mean to live a principled life? Do you uphold any personal principles of behavior? As the name suggests, principled living means abiding by certain principles or core values when making decisions and interacting with others. Many self-help gurus advocate that living a meaningful life entails defining and living by certain non-negotiable principles. Read on to better understand principled living, with ideas drawn from various popular sources.

How to Set and Achieve Goals: 12 Steps to Success

How do you set goals to work towards? What are some things you should consider when embarking on a goal? We all have things we are striving for, but not everybody has goals. Most people have dreams—abstract desires that aren’t specific or actionable enough to be goals. A goal is a target that you’re working towards with intention. In his book Goals!, Brian Tracy explains how to set and achieve goals in 12 steps. Keep reading to learn each step in detail and to discover some practical ways to apply his tips to different areas of your life.

How Did Donald Trump Win Against All Odds?

How did Donald Trump win the election when all odds were against him? What were the key factors that helped him secure the Republican nomination in June 2015? When Trump launched his campaign for the Republican nomination in June 2015, he was a novelty candidate who stood little chance of actually winning. A total outsider to GOP politics, he had no close institutional ties to the party and seemed to lack even the most basic grounding in conservative ideology—not to mention his anti-immigration rhetoric that many leaders in the Republican Party considered to be extreme and outlandish. Here is how

What Makes You You? It’s Up to You

What makes you you? Do you think what you are is determined by internal factors (thoughts, feelings, moods) or external factors (your circumstances and social identity)? There are many different views about what makes someone who they are. Some argue that one’s self is a repertoire of their internal world (their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, etc.). Others say that you are the product of a combination of your genetics and conditioning. Continue reading to understand what makes you you.