Shortform Books

Alfie Kohn’s Unconditional Parenting: Overview & Takeaways

What is Alfie Kohn’s Unconditional Parenting book about? What are the key takeaways you should know from Kohn’s book? In Unconditional Parenting, Alfie Kohn aims to teach you what kids really need from their parents, why using rewards and punishments doesn’t work in the long term, and what you can do to make your kids feel loved and valued for who they are rather than what they do. While Unconditional Parenting has received mostly positive reviews, some critics have noted issues with Kohn’s advice. Keep reading for an overview of Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn, including the book’s key takeaways.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story—Book Overview

What is Nikole Hannah-Jones’s The 1619 Project about? What role did slavery play in American history? The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story is an anthology of essays edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones and co-created with the New York Times that seeks to reframe American history with the institution of slavery at its core. The essays also explore how the institution of slavery has impacted our economy, laws, society, and the livelihoods of Black Americans. Below is a brief overview of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.

What Is the Goal of Communication? The Secret Motive

What is the goal of communication—really? Why did Sheila talk to you at the office Christmas party? Why did she nod her head at almost everything you said? Hidden motives are a byproduct of humanity’s social nature, so it’s no surprise that they show up in our most fundamental forms of communication. Both our speech and our body language are full of messages other than the ones we’re directly aware of. Keep reading for an enlightening discussion about the hidden goals of conversation and body language.

It Is Better to Be Feared Than Loved: Machiavelli Explains

Is it truly better to be feared than loved? Why does Machiavelli think so? This assertion from The Prince has become an adage over the centuries. You’ve probably heard it, but you might not know what Machiavelli means and what his argument is. Continue reading to understand why Machiavelli believes that it is better to be feared than loved.

What Is Moral Virtue? Virtuous Actions + Reasons

What is moral virtue? Is it simply being good, or is there more to it than that? In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle concludes that happiness comes from consistently making the right choices over the course of a lifetime (rational activity aligned with virtue). Not only must the actions be right, but the motives behind them must also be right. Keep reading to understand how, in Aristotle’s view, virtuous actions and virtuous reasons add up to moral virtue.

Stolen Focus by Johann Hari: Book Overview

What is Stolen Focus by Johann Hari about? What are the main takeaways of the book? If you’ve been struggling to concentrate, you should know you’re not alone. In Stolen Focus, Johann Hari makes the case that we have a societal attention crisis: We’re all losing our ability to concentrate, which means we can’t progress on our individual goals. Read below for a brief overview of Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus.

Set Weight: Why Dieting Doesn’t Work

What exactly is the “set weight”? What role does your set weight play in fat gain? What happens when you fall below your set weight? Your set weight is the default weight your body seeks to maintain—it’s a homeostatic mechanism. Once you fall beneath that set weight, your body will compel you to eat and regain any weight you’ve lost. That’s why many people see excess weight come back once they get off a diet. Here’s how your body seeks to sustain your set weight, preventing you from keeping the lost weight off.

The Top 3 Mindfulness Exercises for Anxiety

What are the best mindfulness exercises for anxiety? Can you practice these exercises every day? In Unwinding Anxiety, Judson Brewer argues that you can defeat anxiety with mindfulness. Brewer provides a set of mindful exercises you can use to improve your life by overcoming anxiety. Read below for three mindfulness exercises to cope with anxiety.

Discovering God With Julia Cameron’s Advice

Do you want a relationship with God? How can Julia Cameron’s book Seeking Wisdom help you discover God? In Seeking Wisdom, Julia Cameron teaches you how to unblock and maximize your creativity through spirituality. Cameron explains that to maximize your creative potential, you must first get in touch with divinity through prayer. Read Cameron’s advice on discovering God from Seeking Wisdom.

The Difference Between Correlation & Causation

What’s the difference between correlation and causation? What are the consequences of mistaking correlation for causation? Just because two variables are correlated doesn’t mean one is causing the other. Correlation quantifies a relationship between two variables, but it doesn’t explain that relationship. This is a crucial distinction to keep in mind, as equating correlation and causation can lead to misinformed decisions. Here’s why correlation does not imply causation.