Shortform Books

3 Ways Science and Society Are Woven Together

How can we get rid of stereotypes and racism? How can we give more political power back to the people? How can we use science to advance civilization? The more we apply scientific thinking and values to the world at large, the better the world will be. That’s the view of Carl Sagan. In The Demon-Haunted World, he argues that scientific understanding and principles can eliminate bigotry, fight tyranny, and bolster democracy. Keep reading to learn more about this important connection between science and society.

Ravikant: 3 Types of Leverage in Financial Management

What’s leverage? How can you use this principle to build wealth over time? The Almanack of Naval Ravikant shares Ravikant’s ideas on leverage. He argues that leverage is a key component of building a passive income. He explains how you can leverage labor, money, and products that can be replicated without further inputs. Keep reading to learn about three types of leverage in financial management.

The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch: Overview

What is David Deutsch’s book The Beginning of Infinity about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In The Beginning of Infinity, David Deutsch makes a counterargument to the belief that there is a finite amount of knowledge in the universe. Deutsch rejects the idea that humanity will someday know everything there is to know. Read below for a brief overview of The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch.

The Gap and the Gain: Overview & Key Takeaways

What does “the gap and the gain” mean? What’s the difference between these two ways of measuring progress and success? You might need to make one simple shift in your thinking. That’s the core idea of The Gap and the Gain that was developed by entrepreneurial coach Dan Sullivan. In the book, organizational psychologist Benjamin Hardy connects Sullivan’s ideas to scientific concepts that help explain why we tend to focus on the future and how we can train ourselves to focus on the past instead. Hardy and Sullivan argue that making this change can drastically improve your quality of life.

Earth’s Place in the Universe: Do We Matter?

What is Earth’s place in the universe? How big is the universe? Is our planet significant? The late astronomer and scientist Carl Sagan described Earth’s place in the universe—both physically and significantly. He paints a picture of just how vast the universe is and how inconsequential our blue-green planet is. Here’s why humans should be humbled by the size of the universe.

Gender Inequality in Healthcare: What Is the Cause?

How does the gender data gap affect medicine? Why is there gender inequality in healthcare? In Invisible Women, Caroline Criado Perez contends that many people have a male-as-default mindset. This mindset creates a gender data gap in the drug creation process—meaning we don’t know how medicines affect women because we don’t test them on women. Keep reading to learn how the gender data gap affects women’s healthcare, especially with drugs and vaccines.

The Dating Timeline: The 3 Phases of Relationships

What does a typical dating timeline look like? How do you feel about your partner during these different phases? In Getting the Love You Want, Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt give a basic timeline of dating that is similar to a novel’s structure. These stages include the honeymoon phase, an unwelcome transition, and the beginning of the conflict. Keep reading for an in-depth look at Hendrix and Hunt’s three-phase dating timeline.

Endurance by Alfred Lansing: Overview and Takeaways

What is Endurance by Alfred Lansing about? What should you take away from the book? Endurance tells the story of British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his 27 men who in 1914 set out to cross Antarctica on foot. But their ship became trapped between massive ice floes, forcing them to begin an 11-month journey through ice and open ocean. Keep reading for a brief overview of Alfred Lansing’s Endurance.

Find Your Why: Examples From the Book (Simon Sinek)

What are the best examples from Find Your Why? How does Simon Sinek explain discovering your purpose? In this article, we’ll break down Sinek’s book Find Your Why by taking a closer look at the book’s best examples for understanding and living your purpose. These Find Your Why examples explain the practical process Sinek advocates for finding your purpose. Read on for an overview of the best Find Your Why examples Simon Sinek gives for discovering and living your purpose.

What Is Love, According to Plato’s Symposium?

What is love, according to Plato’s Symposium? How does each of the Symposium speakers define love? Plato’s Symposium is a fourth-hand account of a philosophical dialogue that takes place between characters from fourth century BCE Athens at a party. Each character gives a speech, attempting to answer the question “What is love?” Let’s examine the main arguments of each speech regarding the nature of love.