Shortform Books

Jason Fung: A New Theory of Obesity

Is obesity simply the result of eating too much and moving too little? Or is obesity a disease? What role do hormones play in obesity? According to Canadian nephrologist Jason Fung, obesity results from a hormonal dysfunction that centers on chronically high insulin levels. Chronically high insulin throws your body’s fat storage out of balance, disrupts your hunger hormones, and drives intractable weight gain. Keep reading to learn about Fung’s theory of obesity.

The Rise of Centralized Government in Eurasia

What did Eurasia’s government system look like? What factors contributed to the structure of their government? Eurasia’s society developed faster than most at the time thanks to their understanding of food production and their population density. These factors, along with a few more, led Eurasia to create a centralized government. Here’s why Eurasia developed a centralized government and how it was advantageous.

4 Activities to Harness God’s Creativity

How can you harness God’s creativity? What can increase creativity? In Seeking Wisdom, Julia Cameron advises boosting creativity through faith in God. In addition to praying, you should try to harness God’s creative energy through these four activities. Learn Cameron’s techniques to be more creative through God.

How Can Toxic Chemicals Enter Your Body?

How can toxic chemicals enter your body? What do these chemicals do to your brain? According to Johann Hari in his book Stolen Focus, toxins from food and the environment disrupt your brain’s chemistry. This makes it harder to focus. Read more about what happens when too many harmful chemicals enter your body.

What Is Regression Analysis in Statistics?

What is regression analysis in statistics? What can a regression test tell us about the relationship between two variables? Regression analysis is an inferential statistic that can help us infer relationships between variables that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to study. Regression analysis quantifies the direction, magnitude, and significance of an independent variable’s relationship to a dependent variable. Here’s a look at what inferential analysis does and the statistics involved.

The Challenges in Program Evaluation Research

What is program evaluation research? What types of program evaluations are there? Program evaluation refers to any situation where we’re interested in measuring the outcome of an event, which we refer to as a “treatment.” “Treatments” encompass academic interventions, social programs, political policies, fitness regimens, business tactics, clinical trials, and so on. Keep reading to learn about program evaluation research design and major challenges.

Building Self-Trust, According to Stephen Covey

Why is building self-trust important? What do experts say is the best way to build self-trust? Stephen Covey, author of The Speed of Trust, says building self-trust is the first step in gaining trust from others. If you don’t trust yourself, then you could be engaging in certain behavior Covey says you should avoid. Keep reading to learn how to build self-trust, according to Covey’s expert advice.

How to Be More Engaged in Your Goals (According to Science)

How can you be more engaged in your goals when you feel unmotivated? How does practicing full engagement help you succeed? In The Art of Impossible, peak performance expert Steven Kotler draws on extensive neurobiological research to demystify the path to breakthrough success. Kotler focuses on a scientific way to be more engaged, including how the neurochemistry of your brain affects engagement, motivation, and overall happiness. Read on to learn how to be more engaged in your goals (and feel good!), according to Kotler’s scientific approach.

Shortform Reads: The Good, the Bad, and the Obscure

What author might have discovered the “holy grail of physics”? What books are fun bedtime reading for the whole family? Timothy could tell you. Based in Idaho, he’s a book guide writer at Shortform. We interviewed him recently to learn a bit about his relationship with books, and he has some fascinating recommendations ranging from the classic to the obscure.

Why Is the Black Poverty Rate in America So High?

Why is the Black poverty rate so high in America? Why is the racial wealth gap so hard to close? For the majority of Americans, wealth is something that’s accumulated across generations through inheritance. But Black Americans have historically been left with little to no inheritance, making it much harder for them to gain success and wealth compared to white Americans. Keep reading to learn about the causes of Black poverty in America.