Shortform Books

Active Recall Studying: The Most Effective Way to Learn

What is active recall studying? How might this method help you learn and remember almost anything? Active recall is the act of retrieving information from your memory to deliberately strengthen the neural pathways to it—making sure that it stays accessible in your memory. Author Barbara Oakley asserts that, of all the common study methods that have been researched, active recall studying is the most effective. Read more to learn about active recall studying and how it can help you learn.

How to Understand Your Customer & Get Their Attention

What are your customers thinking? How do they operate in the marketplace? Seth Godin explains that customers follow four steps as they navigate the market. When you understand what’s going through their mind and how they make choices, you’re better positioned to get your message through to them. Continue reading to learn how to understand your customer.

Male and Female Anatomy: Similar but Different

What is the difference between the male and female reproductive systems? How do these differences develop? Both men’s and women’s genitalia have the same origins, stemming from the same embryonic tissue. However, these organs ultimately develop in unique ways, take distinct shapes, and serve different functions depending on a person’s sex. Let’s explore the differences between male and female anatomy.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis: Book Overview

What is Michael Lewis’s The Big Short about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In The Big Short, Michael Lewis takes us inside the madness, corruption, and greed at the heart of the 2007-2008 financial crisis. It tells the story of an eccentric collection of investors who saw the folly of the subprime mortgage-backed securities market—and found a way to bet against it. By focusing on individuals who saw these securities for what they truly were, the author forces us to seriously question the wisdom (and motivations) of the financial elites who wield so much

What Are the Disadvantages of Employment?

What are the disadvantages of being an employee? Apart from depending on your employer for income, are there any other downsides? People who generate income from employment are usually motivated by security (so much so that they are willing to sacrifice their freedom). According to financial educator Robert Kiyosaki, because of economic changes over the past half-century, employment is no longer a secure way to generate income. Here is what Kiyosaki has to say on the disadvantages of employment.

Robert Kiyosaki: The Key to Financial Freedom

What does it mean to be financially free? Do you think you have what it takes to achieve total financial freedom? To Robert Kiyosaki, financial freedom means never having to work again. In his book Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant, he says that everybody should strive to transcend job security and achieve financial freedom. However, he admits that not everybody is ready for the risks and the sacrifices the path of financial freedom demands. Here is what Kiyosaki has to say about financial freedom.

Use Second-Order Thinking to Make Better Choices

What is second-order thinking? How can you use second-order thinking to prioritize decision-making? Second-order thinking is a process that you can use to make better and more deliberate decisions. During second-order thinking, you think about the consequences of your choices in order to make more informed decisions. There are four categories of second-order decisions: rules, presumptions, standards, and routines. Continue reading to learn more about each type of second-order decision.

Is Time Speeding Up? No, You’re Just Getting Older

Why does time speed up as we age? Does the time really pass faster as we get older or does the mind play a trick? The reason you find time speeding up as you get older has to do with how your brain processes novel information. Your brain responds more actively to novelty than it does to routine, which is why it feels like time is speeding up as you get older. Here’s why time seems to speed up as we get older.

How to Appeal to Your Customers’ Perspective

Do you understand your customers’ perspective? Do you know how to appeal to that worldview? Seth Godin argues that it’s vital to understand your customers’ perspective—their worldview. He discusses what a worldview is, why it’s important, and how to appeal to a perspective using frames, euphemisms, and oxymorons. Read more to learn about the customers’ perspective.

5 Mnemonic Strategies to Help You Remember Anything

Does your memory need a boost? What techniques can help? If you want to remember a person’s name, a grocery list, or information for a test at school, certain techniques can come in handy. The books A Mind for Numbers and Moonwalking with Einstein discuss five mnemonic strategies you should add to your memory toolbox. Read more to learn about these mnemonic strategies.