Shortform Books

What Is the Athlete Mindset? Tai Chi Champion Explains

What makes a “next-level” athlete? How does mindset affect athletic performance? Elite athletes didn’t become successful thanks to their physical prowess alone. The greatest Olympic athletes also put work into honing their mindset. According to tai chi champion Josh Waitzkin, one of the keys to developing the athlete mindset is to learn how to handle mistakes while winning. If you dwell on the mistake, you’ll lose your cool and your subsequent performance will suffer. Here’s how to develop an athlete mindset, according to Waitzkin.

How to Develop a Skill: The Science of Skill Mastery

How do you develop a skill in the most effective and efficient way possible? Is there a method to make mastering skills easier? According to Josh Waitzkin, the author of The Art of Learning, the fastest and most effective way to master a skill is to build individual elements of the skill into memory “chunks.” Memory chunks are combinations of multiple elements, like how to shuffle, deal, and count cards—and networks of chunks. Here’s how to develop a skill and make it stick, according to Waitzkin.

Battlefield of the Mind Study Guide: 4 Positivity Prompts

What discussion questions are raised by the book Battlefield of the Mind? What exercises can help you apply the book’s principles? Being positive can be difficult. In Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer explains that the devil makes it his mission to corrupt our minds with negative thoughts. Luckily, we have God on our side. Meyer shows us how we can thwart Satan’s attacks and find happiness and fulfillment with God’s positivity as our guide. Continue reading for our Battlefield of the Mind study guide.

How to Improve Creativity: Follow These 3 Steps

Have you wanted to try your hand at creating some form of art? How can you fit creativity into your busy life? According to the “writer who draws,” Austin Kleon, there are three steps you can take to add more creativity to your life. You can do this by prioritizing financial security, setting aside time for your hobbies, and using the right tools. Below, we’ll get into Kleon’s advice on how to improve creativity.

Sun Tzu: Tactics to Gain Military Advantage

What is Sun Tzu’s theory of war? Under what circumstances should you advance and retreat? According to Sun Tzu, if victory is not certain, you should not engage in conflict. Before you advance, you must attain an advantage over your opponent. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu describes several tactics for securing an advantage. Here are Sun Tzu’s tactics to gain an advantage in a battle.

Why Is It Important to Know Your Competitors?

Why is it important to know your competitors? What can you learn about yourself? Robert Greene, the author of The 33 Strategies of War, says that clearly identifying your competitors is not just a prerequisite for developing a plan to overcome them. Seeing the contrast between you and your competitors helps to unify and motivate your forces. It also can reveal a clearer path to victory. Read more to learn why it’s important to know your competitors.

On Writing Well: Book Overview (William Zinsser)

What is William Zinsser’s book On Writing Well about? How can Zinsser’s tips help you improve your nonfiction writing? No matter your current skill level, William Zinsser believes anyone can practice the craft of writing. On Writing Well offers a back-to-basics approach, focusing on honing essential writing skills rather than trying to employ complex stylistic techniques. Here’s a brief overview of the key ideas discussed in On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser.

Memoir Writing Tips From William Zinsser

How are memoirs different from autobiographies? What is the main focus of a memoir? In his book On Writing Well, William Zinsser discusses how to write a memoir. He says that memoirs, in contrast to autobiographies, should have a narrow focus on a specific event in one’s life. Here are some memoir writing tips from William Zinsser.

How Human Curiosity Aids in Childhood Development

Why are babies so curious? Do you think human curiosity has helped you learn and mature? Human curiosity, also known as epistemic curiosity, is about seeking and gaining knowledge. In his book, Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina explains human curiosity as the innate human desire that is with you since birth—it even imitates the steps in the scientific method. Here’s how human curiosity is developed through the early stages of life.

Stephen Hawking: Evolution Explained

How did humans come into existence on Earth? Why do monotheistic religions challenge Stephen Hawking’s evolution theory? In his book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, Stephen Hawking gives a brief overview of how humans got here. He begins his timeline in the present day and goes back to the singularity that created time. Here’s Stephen Hawking’s evolution timeline—and why many religions disagree with him.