Shortform Books

John Berger: Ways of Seeing Quotes to Consider

What is John Berger’s Ways of Seeing about? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? Ways of Seeing is a collection of seven essays published in 1972. Art critic John Berger argues that the way we see art has been manipulated by a privileged few to maintain their dominance, socially and economically. He believes this has happened throughout history and asserts that it’s time for things to change. Here’s a selection of John Berger’s Ways of Seeing quotes with explanations.

How to Have an Effective Conversation

Do you want to have an effective conversation? What issues often arise when you’re looking to have an effective conversation? When having an accountability conversation with someone, new issues can emerge mid-conversation. To have an effective conversation, it’s important to know when to pivot the conversation to address the emerging issues. The most common issues you will encounter are the person making excuses and getting overly emotional. Keep reading to find out how to address these issues to have an effective conversation.

Why Having Too Many Options Makes You Unhappy

Do you feel stressed out when you have too many options to choose from? Why does limited freedom actually make you happier? People tend to think that the more choices they have, the happier they’ll be. However, an abundance of choices will actually make you unhappy because you’ll always doubt the decision you’ve made. Here’s why having too many options creates a paradox.

Are First Impressions Accurate?—More Than You Think

Are first impressions accurate? How much can you tell about a person’s character based on a first impression? They say that first impressions can be deceiving. However, although first impressions are based on a very small segment of information, they can also be incredibly accurate, even more so than “second,” “third,” or even “fourth” ones. Keep reading to learn about the power of first impressions, and why they are often more accurate than people think.

What Money Can’t Buy by Michael Sandel: Overview

What is Michael Sandel’s What Money Can’t Buy about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book What Money Can’t Buy, Michael Sandel argues that the imposition of the free-market system on society has corrupted the morals and values of its citizens. Many critics enjoyed the book but agreed that the main issue was that Sandel didn’t offer any solutions to the problem he outlines. Continue reading for a brief look at What Money Can’t Buy.

How to Beat Your Competitors and Win the Market

Is your business part of a competitive market? How can you beat your competitors and become the market leader? There are two main strategies for winning your chosen market: cost leadership and differentiation. Different companies have different strengths that contribute to their ability to excel in unique ways. For instance, small companies can often provide a more targeted, boutique service (differentiation) while larger companies can often deliver quality products at a more competitive price point (cost leadership). Let’s take a look at each strategy in more detail.

Making Decisions Under Stress: Practice Makes Perfect

How does stress affect decision-making? How can you avoid making bad decisions in stressful situations? When you’re stressed, your brain’s ability to reason logically is impaired which can lead you to make bad decisions that you’ll likely regret when you come to your senses. However, sometimes you have no choice but to make a decision under stress. As with everything in life, making good decisions under stress takes practice. Here’s how you can practice making decisions under stress by rehearsing your responses to anticipated stressors beforehand.

The Meaning of Mystification: Ways of Seeing Art

What is “mystification” in the context of art? How did the dominant class use art to mystify their privilege? According to John Berger, the author of Ways of Seeing, “mystification is the process of explaining away what might otherwise be evident.” He argues that the dominant class has used art as a medium to “mystify” the disparities in wealth and ensure that the rich get richer and the poor remain poor. Keep reading to learn about the wider meaning of mystification and how it was used in art.

Motivation Barriers and How to Overcome Them

What are motivation barriers? How do you discuss motivation barriers? Can they be overcome? When somebody fails to meet expectations—whether that be at work, in a personal relationship, or with family—it’s often due to a motivational barrier. Motivational barriers can often be overcome by providing the person with consequences and disciplinary actions if they continue to resist improvement. Keep reading to find out how to discuss motivation barriers and overcome them.

Understanding the Priming Effect (Psychology)

What is priming? What are the different kinds of priming? In psychology, the priming effect occurs when exposure to a previous stimulus influences one’s reaction to the subsequent stimulus. Priming has been extensively researched in studies of a wide range of social and psychological phenomena, including memory, motivation, stereotyping, and prejudice. Learn about the psychology of priming.