Shortform Books

Personal Change Management: 4 Ways to Navigate the New You

How can you embrace and foster positive change in your life? What should you expect in your journey of transformation? When you commit yourself to a life of integrity, you’ll change. Martha Beck shares four ways to leverage that transformation for maximum impact: embrace the unknown, embrace unity and connectedness, find a higher purpose, and spread alignment (integrity) to others. Read more to understand these aspects of personal change management and learn how to put them to work in your life.

The Problems With the Fiat Money System

What exactly is fiat currency? Where do fiat currencies derive their value? The fiat currency derives its value solely from government decree, like U.S. dollars, British Pounds, or most other national currencies in use today. Fiat currencies have no intrinsic value because they are not backed by any commodity (e.g. gold or silver). Saifedean Ammous discusses the social and economic problems with the fiat money system and how bitcoin could solve those problems.

Organize Tomorrow Today: Book Overview

What is Organize Tomorrow Today about? What is the key message to take away from the book? If you often find yourself overwhelmed by your task list and obligations, Organize Tomorrow Today can help. You’ll learn how to increase your productivity by prioritizing, preparing for, and executing your tasks every day. Below is a brief overview of the key takeaways from Organize Tomorrow Today: 8 Ways to Retrain Your Mind to Optimize Performance at Work and in Life.

Matter and Antimatter: Why the Universe Isn’t Just Empty Space

What was the universe like during the Big Bang? Why is there matter in the universe today and not just a void? In his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the Big Bang and explains how matter and antimatter battled each other during the process. He uses simple terms to help anyone understand this fascinating moment in the history of the cosmos. Keep reading to learn how the war between matter and antimatter ended up, resulting in the universe we have today.

How Scientists Can Avoid Selection Bias in Research

What is selection bias in research? How does it affect scientific findings? Selection bias is when researchers sort participants into different groups to get their desired result. According to Ben Goldacre in Bad Science, this unethical tactic can cause a systematic error that could’ve been avoided with randomization. Let’s look at why selection bias in research is a growing issue.

How to Spend Less Money: Tips for Cutting Your Expenses

Guaranteed Basic Income: Creating A Better Tomorrow

Are you an irresponsible spender? Do you often find yourself wondering where your money actually goes? Does your credit card bill often come as a surprise? Many people are guilty of overspending and living beyond their means. When you spend all—or more than—the money that you earn, you damage your long-term financial prospects. You could have put that money to better use by saving or investing it. With this in mind, here are a few tips on how to spend less money and become financially responsible.

A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy (Overview)

What’s a good life? How can you live one? According to William B. Irvine, those are the basic questions at the heart of Stoic philosophy, an ancient Greek and Roman school of thought whose answers, he says, are just as relevant today as they were almost 2,000 years ago. In his book A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, he shares those answers. Keep reading for an overview of the book, including a brief history of Stoicism, a description of its philosophical tenets, and a step-by-step guide to Stoic techniques designed to help you live

What Are the Negative Effects of Alcohol Advertising?

What are the negative effects of alcohol advertising? How does alcohol marketing harm people? Holly Whitaker’s book Quit Like a Woman points out the many ways people are encouraged to drink, even if it ends in horrible consequences. Alcohol marketing is used to persuade vulnerable people into drinking, but it could result in alcoholism. Check out how alcohol companies advertise addiction to sell their products.

The Future of Globalization: Dying Out or Rising Up?

What will be the future of globalization? Is it coming to an end or simply taking on a new form? Some say that globalization is ending and that you only have to compare current economic and political conditions to those of the past to see the writing on the wall. Others argue that globalization is simply shape-shifting and that ideas and technology are driving its future form. Read on to learn more about the debate over the future of globalization.

Shortform Reads: Not All Self-Help Books Are Fluff

What book caused Vincent to wager $1,000? What book can teach you the real importance of forgiveness? Vincent is a Shortform book guide writer from North Carolina. We interviewed him recently to learn about his tastes and how books have impacted his life.