Shortform Books

Understanding Emotions: Everything You Need to Know

What exactly are emotions? How can understanding emotions—how they arise and unfold—help you regulate your mood and psychological states? There is no scientific consensus about what emotions are. However, experts generally agree on three things: 1) emotions originate in the “midbrain,” 2) emotions are accompanied by physical changes, and 3) physical changes in the body prompt urges to act on the emotion. Keep reading to learn about the psychology of emotions, where they originate, and how they unfold.

Christian Pacifism and Contrasting Perspectives

Should Christians practice pacifism? What exactly does pacifism mean? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book The Cost of Discipleship, argues that Christians should practice pacifism to follow Christ’s example. Other Christians—and other religions—handle the matter of pacifism in a variety of ways. Keep reading to learn about Christian pacifism and other perspectives.

Understanding the Genetics of Pain

Why are athletes less sensitive to pain? Does playing sports decrease pain sensitivity? Or is it a matter of genetics? Pain is inevitable in most sports, and managing pain is an important part of being an elite athlete. While some athletes may have a genetic advantage when processing pain, intense athletic competition can make anyone less sensitive to pain. Keep reading to learn about the genetics of pain and why athletes tend to be tougher than an average person when it comes to handling pain.

Why U.S. Foreign Debt Isn’t a Problem

Is the U.S. foreign debt a problem? Does China have economic leverage over the United States? Despite popular belief, economist Stephanie Kelton says that foreign debt is not a problem for the United States. In fact, it may be China that has the real debt crisis. Here’s why the United States shouldn’t worry about foreign debt.

How to Give Feedback to Different Kinds of Employees

How would you deliver negative feedback to an extroverted yet combative employee? How would that differ from the feedback you’d give to a meticulous and rules-oriented person? In his book Surrounded by Idiots, Thomas Erikson says that, when delivering negative feedback, it’s crucial to know the type of person you’re delivering it to. Someone with a Red personality will fight you on every point, while somebody with a Green personality might cry. Preparation is everything. Here’s how to give feedback to employees with different personality colors.

How Does Meditation Help? Lessons From Dan Harris

How does meditation help you in the long-term? What important life lessons can be learned from meditation? In his self-help book 10% Happier, previous self-help skeptic Dan Harris describes the many benefits of meditation. The top lessons he goes over are how to respond rather than act, how to worry productively, and how to be compassionate. Below, we will go over each of the lessons from meditation.

Why the ACTN3 Gene Is Called the “Speed Gene”

What is the function of the ACTN3 gene? Is it true that your ACTN3 genotype determines your running ability? ACTN3 hosts the code for making the protein called Alpha-actinin-3. The “R variant” of the gene results in normal production of the protein, but the “X” variant prevents the protein from being synthesized. While scientists do not know how this happens, there’s a strong correlation between the R genotype and sprinting speed. Tests on athletes from around the world have revealed that the XX genotype is almost nowhere to be found in elite sprinters. Keep reading to learn why the ACTN3

The Top 5 Quotes From The Courage to Be Disliked

Are you looking for The Courage to Be Disliked quotes? Why do Kishimi and Koga believe that happiness is a choice? In The Courage to Be Disliked, Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga argue that every problem you have in life has a single cause: You care too much about what other people think of you. This Japanese self-help bestseller is based on the theories of the 20th-century psychologist Alfred Adler, who believed that every individual has the power to break free from past traumas and find happiness. Below are five quotes from Kishimi and Koga with explanations and context.

The 5 Types of Love & Their Characteristics

What are the 5 types of love? How is platonic love different from romantic love? In his book The Art of Loving, Erich Fromm describes five types of genuine love. Those types are parental love, platonic love, self-love, romantic love, and spiritual love. Let’s explore the characteristics of each of the five types of love, according to Erich Fromm.

Productive Conflict: How to Agree to Disagree

What is productive conflict? How can you resolve conflict without resorting to an argument? According to Ray Dalio, productive conflict is the key to successful cooperation. The only trick is to engage in productive conflict without triggering emotional explosions. Your goal is not to prove that you’re right, but rather to find out which view is true and decide what to do about it. Dalio offers the following tactics for productively disagreeing with others.