Shortform Books

A Closer Look at the Science of Stress: Is It Bad for You?

Is stress really that bad for you? In what way can stress be a good thing? Most people are led to believe that stress is bad for their health and that they should try to avoid it. Although stress can be harmful, the research supporting this negative view misrepresents stress’s true, nuanced nature. In this article, we’ll discuss the science of stress, when it’s harmful, when it can be beneficial, as well as the different forms stress can take and how these affect you.

Taking Control of Your Life: Advice From Tony Robbins

Do you lack a sense of control over your life? Do you feel torn between different goals, unsure where to channel your energy? According to Tony Robbins, taking control of your life starts with taking control of your mind. In practice, this means aligning all of your thoughts, beliefs, and actions with your goals. In other words, making sure that what you think and what you do are really getting you closer to what you want. Let’s discuss three of Robbins’s tips for how to gain power over your mind by aligning your goals, thoughts, and beliefs.

How Does Cancer Spread to Other Organs in the Body?

How does cancer spread to other parts of the body? Is there a way to prevent cancerous cells from migrating and invading other organs? When cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it’s called “metastatic cancer.” In order to metastasize, cancerous cells must travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. According to Dr. Jason Fung, this process happens in cycles because the immune system will mount its defenses to prevent cancerous cells from spreading. Here’s how cancer metastasizes and invades other organs.

The Evolution of Ideas: Why It Matters Where Ideas Come From

Does it matter where ideas come from? How could that understanding help you solve problems? When you understand where an idea came from, you’ll better understand the idea in the present and where it could go in the future. In The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking, Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird explain how you can leverage this understanding to improve your problem-solving abilities. Keep reading to learn how to understand the evolution of ideas and to use history as a guide to the future.

How to Be a Better Student: 4 Pro Tips

Are you struggling in school? Do you want to learn how to be a better student? If you’re having a hard time in school but you want to reach your full academic potential, you just might not have the right learning habits. Luckily, there are four habits you can pick up if you want to be a better student. Let’s look at how you can be a better student with advice from esteemed academic self-help books.

Razor Blades in Halloween Candy: What Is Halloween Sadism?

How worried should you be about razor blades in Halloween candy or other forms of tampering? What is Halloween sadism? From razor blades in Halloween candy to poisoned Pixy Stix to rainbow fentanyl—fear about tainted Halloween candy persists. However, before you get too worried, you should know how much of this urban legend is true. Read on to learn about the origins of razor blades in Halloween candy, Halloween sadism, and how to tell fact from fiction.

Michael Singer’s The Surrender Experiment: Overview

Looking for an overview of Michael Singer’s The Surrender Experiment? What are the key takeaways and advice from the book? In The Surrender Experiment, Michael Singer explains how to make your life exactly as the universe wants it to be. The book explains the process Singer discovered for surrendering to the opportunities life presents by trusting in the universe. Keep reading for a brief overview of Michael Singer’s The Surrender Experiment.

Understanding the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizers

What role does nitrogen play in crop production? How do nitrogen fertilizers harm the environment? Crops need nitrogen, and the ways farmers supplied nitrogen to crops (e.g. recycling organic materials) are no longer adequate as the global population rises. To provide nitrogen to crops, we synthesize almost 150 million tons of ammonium a year to make fertilizers, a process that’s environmentally harmful. Keep reading to learn about the environmental impact of nitrogen fertilizers.

Facebook and Politics: Scandals, Polarization, & Fake News

What was the Cambridge Analytica scandal? Did Russia really place divisive ads on Facebook? According to Scott Galloway, Facebook is perhaps the worst Big Tech offender when it comes to prioritizing profit over privacy and democracy. He discusses Facebook’s scandals affecting the 2016 election, its polarizing ad model, and its refusal to take responsibility for fake news on its platform. Keep reading to learn about the troubling history of Facebook and politics.

The Pyramid Writing Style: Step-by-Step Formula

What is the Pyramid Writing style? Who invented this style of writing? In her book The Pyramid Principle, Barbara Minto describes a new style of writing: Pyramid Writing. She claims it solves the problem of unclear writing by ensuring that you express your conclusions first. Below we’ll share four goals you’ll accomplish when using the Pyramid Writing style.