Shortform Books

Sun Tzu: History & Principles of War

The Hero With a Thousand Faces: Book Overview

Who was Sun Tzu, and why is he important? What was Sun Tzu’s military philosophy? Sun Tzu is an influential figure in ancient Chinese history. Sun Tzu’s book The Art of War, written over two thousand years ago, remains an iconic text on military strategy and conflict resolution. Sun Tzu’s principles guide you through the steps required to become a competent leader and fighter. They also teach you how to determine victory, when to engage in combat, and when to use intelligence and intimidation to dissolve conflict without confrontation. The following are some historical examples that augment Sun Tzu’s principles

The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Book Overview

How often have you or your organization come up with an amazing plan, showed it off, admired it, been sure that it’s the solution to all your problems—only to have it die a slow death over the following months? In hindsight, what do you think prevented you from putting your plan into motion? In their book The 4 Disciplines of Execution, Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, and Sean Covey say this isn’t uncommon, because strategy (making the perfect plan) is much easier than execution (actually carrying out your plan). McChesney, Huling, and Covey’s system—or 4 Disciplines—addresses this challenge with a framework

Josh Waitzkin: The Key to Athletic Success Is Creativity

What is the key to athletic success? What do the world’s greatest athletes do differently? According to American tai chi champion Josh Waitzkin, when it comes to competing in the top league, it’s not skill or technical mastery that makes an athlete stand out—it is creativity. Your creativity is a unique asset—just like every musician makes their own music, you’ll express your skill in a way unique to you. Here’s how to find your creative style as an athlete.

How to End a Story: Tips for Nonfiction Writers

What makes a good story ending? What are some things you should consider when writing the ending for a nonfiction piece? Beginning and ending stories are some of the hardest things to do for a writer. A good ending should leave the reader feeling satisfied and give them something to think about. An ending shouldn’t simply summarize what a reader has already read. Here’s how to end a story right, according to writer and literary critic William Zinsser.

How Music Affects the Brain: The 4 Cognitive Benefits

How does music affect the brain? What are the benefits of music’s impact on the brain? In his book Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina theorizes that listening to music can affect your hormones, cognition, and mental health. Medina believes that music can go so far as to improve your social and language skills. Let’s take a detailed look at how music affects the brain.

Josh Waitzkin: How to Learn Better and Faster

Does learning come easy to you? Would you like to learn better, faster, and more effectively? According to Josh Waitzkin, effective learning comes from your deep commitment to your growth process. In his book The Art of Learning, he explains how to learn more effectively, drawing from his long experience as a world-class chess competitor. Here’s how to learn better and faster, according to Josh Waitzkin.

Learning Proper Form: Practice Makes Perfect

Why is proper form so important? How do you train yourself to maintain the correct form without constantly thinking about it? When you are learning a new move, it’s important to practice it with proper form from the get-go. If you practice with improper form, you don’t just risk injury, but also make it harder to retrain yourself as your body gets used to an incorrect form. Here’s how to learn the proper form for any move or exercise.

The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

What’s the book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra about? What are the main takeaways? In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Chopra redefines success, arguing that your entire reality springs from an invisible, spiritual world of consciousness pulsing with energy that connects everything in the universe. He explains that true success comes from aligning with the flow of this spiritual energy. Read more for a concise overview of this book.

The Art of Learning: Quotes by Josh Waitzkin

A little boy with a surprised look holding a book

Are you looking for The Art of Learning quotes by Josh Waitzkin? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin explores his approach to all learning in a memoir-esque format. He explores the fundamentals of his learning method and mindset, building incrementally through intermediate to advanced strategies. Here’s a selection of The Art of Learning quotes by Josh Waitzkin.

Accountability Meetings: Tips for Leaders

Do you hold accountability meetings with your employees? How often do you meet, and what do you discuss? In The 4 Disciplines of Execution, Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, and Sean Covey recommend holding a weekly accountability meeting—what they call a WIG (Wildly Important Goal) session. At each WIG session, team members will report what they’ve accomplished last week and what they plan to accomplish in the coming week. Keep reading to learn about the 4DX accountability meeting.