Shortform Books

The 2 Weapons of the Devil: Negativity & Selfishness

How does the devil wage war against us? What are his tactics, and what’s his goal? The “battlefield of the mind” is not a metaphor. Christian author Joyce Meyer explains that, whether we know it or not, we’re engaged in a constant and literal battle for the well-being of our minds. On one side of the battle is Satan, who tries to corrupt our minds and lives with his negativity. In fact, the two primary weapons of the devil are negative thoughts and a selfish mind. Continue reading for details on these ideas as well as Meyer’s suggestions on what

The 4 Rules for Consistent Writing

Do you struggle to keep consistent as you write? What are some things to consider to ensure your writing is consistent in terms of tone, argument, point of view, and tense? If you want to maintain consistency in your writing, you need to ask yourself these four guiding questions: What’s the main idea? What point of view will you use? What tense will you use? And what tone will you have? You must make these decisions ahead of time so you don’t lose focus part-way through. Here’s how to maintain consistency while writing.

The Art of Learning: Review & Critical Reception

Is Josh Waitzkin’s The Art of Learning worth reading? What is Josh Waitzkin’s philosophy on learning? In The Art of Learning, chess prodigy and tai chi World Champion Josh Waitzkin outlines his philosophy on learning, skill mastery, and competition. Waitzkin builds from basic to advanced strategies for both the psychological and technical sides of skill-building, showing that your growth as a competitor parallels your growth as an individual. Below is our The Art of Learning review, including background, context, and critical reception.

The Art of Learning: Book Overview

What is Josh Waitzkin’s book The Art of Learning about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin argues that a passionate commitment to learning leads to both competitive success and a fulfilling life. He explains what he learned in becoming the U.S. Junior Chess Champion as well as World Champion in Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands, arguing that excellence comes from unwavering focus, tenacious training, and creative self-actualization. Here is a brief overview of The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin.

How to Steal Like an Artist: 4 Steps to Boost Creativity

Want to know how to steal like an artist? What steps can you follow to increase your creativity and start creating art? Steal Like an Artist is a brief primer on Austin Kleon’s top 10 pieces of advice for aspiring creatives. We’ve reorganized his 10 ideas into a four-step creative process beginning with the first step: organizing your life for maximum creativity. Here’s how to steal like an artist, according to Austin Kleon.

How to Get Success in Life: 5 Strategies of War

Do you know how to get success in life? What strategies of war could you use to compete and win? Robert Greene asserts that life is a war between you and the forces or entities that seek to control you, hold you back, or destroy you. To be successful—whether in the military, business, or even your personal life—you need to win the war, and to win the war you need winning strategies. Keep reading for details on five of these strategies.

Sun Tzu: Enemy Quotes (The Art of War)

What are some of the greatest quotes by Sun Tzu? Are they applicable today, outside the battlefield? According to Sun Tzu, the key to winning the battle is to know your enemy. When you know your enemy, you can anticipate their actions beforehand. You can also determine whether you stand the chance of winning a battle and regroup accordingly. Here are some of Sun Tzu’s enemy quotes with explanations.

The Signs of Stress at Work and Home

Are you stressed out? What are the major signs of stress at work and home that you should look out for? In his book, Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina describes work and home as the two environments people are most likely to experience signs of stress. At work and home, stress can make you lose sleep and cause damage to your relationships. Luckily, there are ways to reduce this stress. Here are the indications of stress at work or home and how to avoid them, according to Medina.

How to Conduct a Good Interview: Tips for Writers

How can an interview bump up your nonfiction writing? What are the dos and don’ts of a good interview? When writing nonfiction, incorporating quotes and perspectives from other people can bump up the piece by adding engagement, emotional appeal, and humanity. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind when writing an interview. Here’s how to conduct a good interview, with tips from American writer William Zinsser.

Are We Still Evolving? Yes—Perhaps Faster Than Ever

Are we still evolving as humans? Why did Stephen Hawking predict that human evolution will soon accelerate? Before he passed away, Stephen Hawking wrote that he believed humans were going to soon enter a new stage of evolution. Hawking believed that humans will move past the slow, Darwinian evolution phase and will speed up their evolution through genetic engineering. We may even become superhumans one day. Here’s what Hawking had to say about the future of evolution.