Shortform Books

How to Present a Speech: Advice From John C. Maxwell

Does the thought of public speaking make you nervous? Do you have something to say but don’t know how to get your message across? According to John C. Maxwell, anyone can master public speaking, connect with their listeners, and make a lasting impact with their words by following the 16 laws he’s developed from a lifetime of public speaking. He shares several pieces of advice on how to present a speech confidently and effectively. Read more for these nuggets of wisdom from Maxwell’s book The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication.

How to Memorize Lists: 4 Steps to Remember Data in Order

Do you need to memorize information in a sequence for school or work? Do you always forget which US president came after James Buchanan? Your brain has a natural affinity for associations. The Memory Book shows you how to use this skill to connect sequential pieces of information. This enables you to remember a full list of words in their original order. Read more to learn how to memorize lists and use this skill in real life.

How to Set Goals in Life: 3 Areas You Should Focus On

Do you have trouble staying committed to your values? How can you set value-based goals? One way to commit to living your values is to choose goals that are important to you. Therefore, they’ll feel more meaningful than the goals other people expect from you. Focus on the following three areas to learn how to set goals in life.

An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology: Learn the Basics

What is cognitive psychology? When did psychologists begin to focus on emotion and memory? After World War II, psychologists began to focus less on behavior, and more on emotion and memory due to scientific advances. They started to perceive the brain as an information hub that people knew barely anything about. Continue reading for an introduction to cognitive psychology from The Psychology Book.

Why Vermont’s Death With Dignity Law Sparked Debate

Why is Vermont’s “Death With Dignity” law so controversial? What are the pros and cons of physician-assisted death? Vermont has become the first state to remove the residency requirement for physician-assisted death, sparking renewed debates around “Death with Dignity” laws. This change means that terminally ill individuals from outside the state can now seek life-ending care in Vermont. In this article, we’ll discuss the details of the law and the pros and cons.

Opportunity Lurks Where Responsibility Has Been Abdicated

Where does life’s meaning come from? What does your conscience tell you to do? Do you listen? In Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life, Jordan B. Peterson lays out his philosophy and rules for living a life of excellence in a world of hardship and chaos. Beyond Order Rule 4 is this: Notice that opportunity lurks where responsibility has been abdicated. Read more to learn why assuming personal responsibility for your life will bring you meaning and fulfillment.

The History of LSD: From Creation to Criminalization

A Closer Look at the Effect of Placebo Antidepressants

What does the history of LSD look like? What role does LSD play in modern Western culture? In How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan looks at the complicated role of psychedelics—most importantly LSD and psilocybin—in modern Western culture. As we’ll see, this is a history fraught with tension between experimenters and authority figures, a conflict between freedom and control. Find out more about the history of LSD, dating back to 1938.

The Top 4 Problem-Solving Tools to Keep Under Your Belt

Are you trying to find a solution to a dire issue? What are the best problem-solving tools to use? Problem-solving is something you do every day, whether you notice it or not. Whether you have a broken coffee machine or you’re trying to beat out the competition in the market, there’s always an issue in need of fixing. We’ll first look at the five steps to problem-solving and then explore problem-solving tools to make the process easier.

How to Be a Strong Man at Work and in Relationships

Are you a man who feels weak? How can you be a strong man, emotionally and physically? A strong man embraces ownership of every aspect of his life. Specifically, Stefan Aarnio’s book Hard Times Create Strong Men argues that you must be strong in two main spheres: your work and your relationships. Find out how to be a strong man so you can thrive in these two areas of your life.

Tenets of Postmodernism: A Focus on the Expression of Power

What’s postmodernism? What’s deconstruction? What’s the difference between cultural hierarchy and class hierarchy? In Cynical Theories, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay show how, over time, social justice went from a positive force to its current form. The first phase featured liberals and Marxists taking a material approach. In the second phase, postmodernism, the focus shifted to culture. Read more to learn about the tenets of postmodernism and how it shaped social justice.