Shortform Books

Sun Tzu’s Five Factors of Successful Military Action

What are Sun Tzu’s teachings about attaining victory? Can you really win a war without fighting? Much of Tzu’s teachings revolve around the concept that victory without direct fighting is the most advantageous way to win. Part of attaining this type of battle-free victory involves five factors of successful military operations: the Way, the weather, the terrain, the leadership, and discipline. Sun Tzu’s five factors can help you assess the likelihood of victory in any circumstance. Let’s consider each in turn.

Individualized Instruction: Fulfilling Students’ Needs

Do you struggle to meet the needs of all your students? How can individualized instruction provide a better learning experience for students? In Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina recommends individualized instruction methods to accommodate each student’s unique way of learning. Two of these methods include smaller class sizes and flipped classrooms, which suit individual students. Learn more on the benefits of individualized instruction, and why it may be necessary for teaching.

Sports Writing Tips: Avoid Doing These 2 Things

Are you a sportswriter or want to be one? Are you looking for sports writing tips? Sports writing is a form of nonfiction that reports on topics involving sports, such as athletes, games, and competitions. Zinsser notes two problems sportswriters face: making the story about them and flaunting their knowledge. Here’s why you should avoid both.

Zappos’s Culture: The 3 Major Principles

A Cooperative Business Model for Companies

What is Zappos’s company culture? How is it effective in creating a friendly environment for Zappos’s employees? According to Tony Hsieh, the founder and former CEO of the online retail store Zappos, a strong and healthy culture is what makes a company successful. In Delivering Happiness, Zappos’s culture can be defined in three major categories: friendship, support, and innovation. Read on to learn more about Zappos’s culture and its principles.

Will Humans Move to Another Planet? Hawking’s Take

When resources run out on Earth, will humans move to another planet? Should they? What did famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking think? In his final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, Stephen Hawking discusses space colonization. His conclusion was that humans need to colonize outer space because humans are running out of space on Earth, and because humans are at risk for extinction otherwise. Here’s why Hawking said humans should colonize space.

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.