Shortform Books

8 Ways to Prepare for a Disaster You Should Know

How should you prepare for a disaster? What are the most important things to know? The Covid-19 pandemic brought more than illness—it demonstrated the scarcity that can accompany a disaster. In its wake, and as climate change threatens more disruptions to supply chains as well as more severe weather events, society is discovering the importance of preparing for a disaster. Read on to learn the eight most important ways to prepare for a disaster to keep you and your family safe.

The Benefits of Hands-Off Leadership in Business

Leadership: What are the Major Traits of a Good Leader

What is meant by hands-off leadership? How does taking your hands off your business help you take it to the next level? Hands-off leaders don’t get mired in the minutia of daily operations. Instead, they train their employees to independently run all the daily functions and focus on making improvements to their company’s framework. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of hands-off leadership, according to Mike Michalowicz.

When Helping Hurts: Book Overview & Takeaways

What is the book When Helping Hurts about? What should you take away from the book? Since the 1980s, short-term mission trips have become a popular form of ministry for many evangelical Christian churches throughout North America. Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert express concern that many of these missions do more harm than good. Read below for a brief overview of their book When Helping Hurts.

How to Start Living by Your Values to Achieve Success

How can you start living by your values? Why do value-driven people achieve more success? In You Are a Badass, Jen Sincero argues that many people worry excessively about what others will think of them, which prevents them from pursuing goals. Psychotherapist Russ Harris adds that such worries are a form of fear—you fear the judgment of others and therefore opt out of activities that would otherwise fulfill you. Read on to learn how to start fearlessly living by your values, according to Harris’s advice.

Shortform Reads: For the Love of Culture

What event sparked Emily’s love for reading at a young age? What book made her rethink how she writes poetry? Emily is a member of Shortform’s marketing and blog-writing team. Currently located in Colorado, she spent several years of her life in Japan, giving her a wide range of cultural experiences that impact her reading and writing.

Procrastination and Self-Esteem: What’s the Connection?

What’s the connection between procrastination and self-esteem? How does unhealthy self-esteem prevent you from getting things done? Everybody procrastinates, but some people do it more than others. According to psychologists Lenora Yuen and Jane Burka, self-esteem plays a key role in an individual’s tendency to procrastinate. Keep reading to learn about the link between procrastination and self-esteem.

Ibram X. Kendi: A New Theory of Racism

What is Ibram X. Kendi’s theory of racism? What comes first—racist ideas or racist policies? In his book Stamped from the Beginning, Ibram X. Kendi presents a new theory of racism. Common wisdom holds that racist ideas lead to racist policies, but Kendi argues that the opposite is true. Keep reading to learn about Kendi’s theory of racism.

The Top 2 Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

What are the top health benefits of a plant-based diet? How can a plant-based diet help you maintain your weight? In How Not to Diet, Michael Greger discusses why adopting a plant-based diet is the healthiest and most effective way to maintain a healthy weight. He gives two benefits of this diet that can help you be your healthiest self. Let’s go into detail on the two health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Could You Survive a Disaster? Learn How Much to Prepare

Could you survive a disaster, whether natural or manmade? How prepared should you be? There is a range of preparations you can make now to keep your options open in the event of a disaster. To survive a sudden crisis, it’s important to consider your access to power, water, grocery stores, hospitals, or other services. Read on to learn how much you should prepare to survive a disaster.

Project Prioritization: Which Tasks Should You Do First?

How to Have an Effective Strategic Discussion

What are your project prioritization criteria? What are some things you should consider when deciding which tasks to prioritize? Project prioritization involves identifying tasks that move your mission forward. Prioritize tasks that directly support the mission, eliminate tasks that don’t, and make tasks more efficient. Here are two steps for accomplishing this.