Shortform Books

Bored Body Language: 2 Ways to Tell if Someone Is Checked Out

Can you tell when someone is bored or impatient? Do they just look at their watch or twiddle their thumbs? Retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro knows how to read people, and he wants to help you learn to interpret nonverbal communication. In his book The Dictionary of Body Language, he teaches you how to read emotions by understanding subtle cues in people’s physical behavior. Continue reading to learn how to detect bored body language in people and determine that they’re probably checked out.

What Are the Elements of a Narrative? The 4 Ingredients

What are the elements of a narrative? What story ingredients do our brains expect to find? Writer and producer Lisa Cron contends that humans require stories to engage our brains in the way our brains process information. She believes that we developed certain expectations for narratives. So, if a writer wants to engage readers’ brains, they must provide these expected elements. Keep reading to learn what these essential ingredients are and why they meet readers’ cravings.

The 3 Narcissistic Manipulation Tactics to Keep an Eye Out For

What are common narcissistic manipulation tactics to look out for? How do narcissists keep their victims from leaving them? The main goal of a narcissist is to gain adoration from others, which reinforces their feeling of superiority. In Power, Shahida Arabi describes the tell-tale signs of a narcissist trying to manipulate you into giving them that attention. Keep reading to understand these tactics so you can be better equipped to deal with narcissists in a relationship.

Increase Productivity in the Workplace: Focus on These 4 Areas

What are areas that will increase productivity in the workplace? How important is a manager’s encouragement at work? The Unicorn Project by Gene Kim’s recipe for a productive workplace contains elements that are applicable in any organizational setting. These include a focus on the needs of the customer, an environment in which candor is rewarded, a culture dedicated to improvement, and management that enables employees to find a sense of flow and pleasure in their work. Let’s dive into management practices that focus heavily on increasing productivity in the workplace.

The “Good Inside” Parenting Toolkit: 5 Essential Tools for Parents

When should you employ validation with your child? Do you take time for silliness in your family? Why does your child need boundaries? Dr. Becky Kennedy’s book Good Inside is a parenting manual to help you make changes in your child’s behavior while building a positive relationship. Her approach stems from the principle that you and your child are good people at your core—you’re “good inside”—even when you’re struggling. She shares tools to help you implement this principle. Continue reading for five “Good Inside” parenting tools and one bonus strategy.

Value Creation in Negotiation: 4 Steps to Getting What You Want

What’s value creation in negotiation? Why is value important for both parties? When negotiating, your goal should be to get the best possible deal for yourself while strengthening your relationship with the other party. To achieve a good deal and a stronger relationship, you must not only claim but create value. Keep reading to learn more about value creation in negotiation, according to Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman’s book Negotiation Genius.

Attachment Theory Parenting + the IFS Model: Dr. Becky’s Recipe

Do you feel like you’re a bad parent or that you have a bad kid? Does parenting seem like an endless struggle to control your child’s behavior? Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist and a mother, aims to encourage parents who feel this way. In her book Good Inside, she shares her effective parenting approach, which is based on attachment theory and the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. Keep reading to understand the power of blending attachment theory parenting with the IFS model.

Details in a Story: How Much Can the Reader’s Brain Handle?

Do you confuse your readers by adding too much detail or the wrong kind of detail? What should you include, and what should you leave out? Lisa Cron discusses how to use details in a story, explaining that details should be concrete rather than abstract—and enough but not too much. Cron shares her advice on how to use details to enhance your plot rather than distract from it, explaining that your protagonist helps you determine what to include. Continue reading to learn how to strike the right balance when it comes to using details in a story.

How to Have a Good Conversation: 3 Principles to Follow

Why should you give your full attention while someone is talking to you? What are the basic principles of having a good conversation? Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott explains that your behavior, body language, tone, and communication style are critical to courageous conversations. Scott discusses three principles to follow that will establish mutual trust and understanding with the other person(s) so you can have an effective courageous conversation. Let’s dive into how to have a good conversation.

What Causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder in Children?

Do all narcissists act the same? What causes narcissistic personality disorder in children? Power by Shahida Arabi says that the clinical definition of NPD includes feeling superior to others, a desire for constant admiration of their superiority, a lack of empathy, and more. Narcissists tend to control and abuse their romantic partners in strategic and sadistic ways. Below we’ll look at the possible causes of narcissistic personality disorder, stemming back to childhood.