Shortform Books

The World Without Us by Alan Weisman: Book Overview

How permanent are the changes we’ve made to our planet? Have we left scars that will never heal, or is nature resilient enough to erase any damage we’ve done? The World Without Us by Alan Weisman is a thought experiment that’s designed to answer those questions. He contemplates the world before people and speculates what the world would be like if the human race disappeared. Keep reading for an overview of this book, and discover Weisman’s conclusions for his thought experiment.

What Is Stochastic Terrorism? Why Violence Is Trending

What is stochastic terrorism? What’s behind the rise in violence and hate crimes in the United States? From racially motivated mass shootings to threats to elected officials to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, political violence and hate crimes have been on the rise in the U.S. Some psychological experts point the finger at stochastic terrorism. Read on to learn what stochastic terrorism is and why it could be to blame for this uptick in violent acts.

Why a Sales Conversation Is the Easiest Step in the Process

Where do people often go wrong in sales conversations? When is the right time to have them? A sales conversation is easy once you’ve created demand and primed the market. Do the groundwork—and the conversation with your prospective buyers is a cinch. In Oversubscribed, Daniel Priestley walks you through the prep work and then discusses how to have a sales conversation when the time is right. Read on to learn how to have a sales conversation that ultimately leads to sales conversion.

What Are Pop-Rules & Why Are They Essential for Events?

What are pop-up rules? Why do you need to create directives when planning an event? According to Priya Parker in her book The Art of Gathering, pop-up rules (or “clear directives” as Priya calls them) are specific instructions about how you’d like your guests to behave during the event. For example, this could be a particular type of dish they should bring. Let’s look at why pop-up rules make or break an event.

What Is a Self-Protective Attitude? The Behaviors & Risks

What is a self-protective attitude? How do we act when we’re too self-protective? What are the risks? In his book Transcend, Scott Barry Kaufman explains what happens when we go too far to protect our egos and self-esteem. According to him, we can develop a self-protective attitude because self-esteem is so important to our psyches, demonstrating unhealthy behaviors to protect our opinions of ourselves. Keep reading to learn about self-protective attitudes and how they can lead to unhealthy behaviors.

How to Connect With Your Higher Self: 4 Transformative Tips

What is your higher self’s purpose? How do you connect with your higher self? According to Be Your Future Self Now by Benjamin Hardy, your higher self is the version of you that is living to your fullest potential. Even though reaching your higher self is challenging, Hardy provides four recommendations that will help you on your self-improvement journey. Learn how to connect with your higher self with these four recommendations.

The 4 Commitments in Life: Living on the Second Mountain

How committed are you to your neighbors? Your work? How can commitments see us through tough times? In The Second Mountain, David Brooks endorses the relationalist worldview, arguing that it’s more satisfying that its counterpart (individualism). He outlines the four commitments in life that he believes are crucial to relationalism—your vocation, marriage, community, and belief system. Read on to learn about the four commitments that constitute relationalist living.

The Health Effects of Overworking: Don’t Die for a Paycheck

How does overworking affect your health? Can you really die from working too much? Owerwoking and burnout are very common in today’s fast-paced society. It may be good for the economy, but it can wreak serious havoc on one’s health and even kill. Here’s a look at the health effects of overworking.

Why You Should Always Wear Your Glasses On A Date

Are you planning to go on a date with someone you really like? Are you struggling to figure out what to wear or what to do about your glasses? Dressing for a date can be challenging and even more complicated if you wear glasses. However, we are here to shift your mindset since glasses can offer a perfect accessory for your date. If you are afraid that your glasses give you a dorky look or your date may lose interest, it is time to live in the present and learn how to look attractive in your glasses. Read on to

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön: Overview

Are you stuck in a state of uncertainty and suffering? What’s When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön about? In When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chödrön provides guidance on how to find courage and compassion amid pain, loss, and uncertainty. She shows us how to cultivate self-awareness and acceptance and face life’s challenges with grace and resilience. Read below for an overview of Pema Chödrön’s self-improvement book When Things Fall Apart.