The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the book Mistakes Were Made about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me), Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson argue that we self-justify to relieve cognitive dissonance. This is the discomfort triggered when we do things that don’t align with other beliefs, actions, and values. Read below for a brief overview of the Mistakes Were Made book.
What’s the catch in Catch-22? What’s a dinkus? How do Shortform book guides generate a more well-rounded appeal than basic summaries do? Hannah could tell you. Based in North Carolina, she’s a book guide writer at Shortform. We interviewed her recently to learn a bit about the books she reads in her free time.
What kind of company is Berkshire Hathaway? What is Berkshire Hathaway’s business philosophy? Berkshire Hathaway is a multinational holding company run by Warren Buffett. Buffett takes the time to explain the reasoning and philosophies behind everything he does as Berkshire’s CEO so that his shareholders can fully understand the company that they own. Keep reading to learn about Berkshire Hathaway’s business philosophy.
Should you invest in bonds? How do bonds compare to stocks in terms of return on investment? Historically, bonds have generated significantly lower returns than equity investments, or stocks: Annual returns on bonds have been 5.3% since 1900, while annual returns on stocks have been 9.5%. Despite that, the founder of the Vanguard Group Jack Bogle argues that bonds do belong in your portfolio. Here’s why you should invest in bonds, according to Bogle.
What are thinking habits? How do thoughts become habitual? Just like physical habits, we can develop thinking habits. When you think the same thought over and over again, it literally becomes hardwired into your brain thanks to neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to change in response to stimuli. Here’s how thinking habits form, according to Joe Dispenza.
What are team topologies? How do you know how much work to assign to a team? How can you set teams up for success? Team Topologies, by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais, is a manual for restructuring your organization’s approach to software design. The authors recommend four types of teams and discuss various modes of interaction among teams that help them function effectively. Keep reading for our Team Topologies book overview, including an exercise to help you put the principles into action.
Are you struggling to stay on top of all your tasks and responsibilities? What’s the best way to streamline your to-do list so you can tackle your workload more effectively and efficiently? If you want to feel in control of your life and on top of your to-do list, you need a system. Having a productivity system allows you to determine how to tackle an item when it lands in front of you rather than waiting until you’re up against a deadline. Here are three productivity systems to help you take control of your time and workload.
Why is advice-giving a common habit in the workplace? How can you stop giving unsolicited advice at work? In The Advice Trap, leadership coach Michael Bungay Stanier argues that when we use advice-driven leadership at work it creates an unproductive work environment and a lack of team confidence. To stop giving unsolicited advice, Stanier offers four steps to break the advice-giving habit. Read on to learn how to stop giving unsolicited advice, according to Stanier.
Do you have social anxiety? How do you face your fears of being the center of attention? Being seen and heard in public could be terrifying for some people. For Shonda Rhimes, writer of Year of Yes, she had to work hard to overcome her social anxiety to become the acclaimed writer she is now. Check out how to overcome social anxiety fast with Rhimes’s advice.
What is a personal network? Why is having a personal network important? A personal network consists of relationships with people who have similar issues and are supportive of one another. Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo discusses how a personal network can improve your life and push out the critics. Keep reading to learn how to ignore the critics and build a supportive environment.