Shortform Books

Robin Sharma: How to Live Every Day to the Fullest

What does it mean to live every day to the fullest? Is it possible to live a full life without taking any risks? People often throw around the phrase “live your life to the fullest” as if it’s something straightforward and simple, but it’s easier said than done. In his book Who Will Cry When You Die?, Robin Sharma makes this advice actionable by providing five tips on how to make each day count. Here is Sharma’s advice on how to live life to the fullest.

Responsiveness: The Key to Strong Client Relationships

Why are client relationships important for a business’s success? What’s the key to building strong, trusting client relationships? Good client relationships are crucial for every service business’ success. Giving your clients canned responses creates an unsatisfying and impersonal experience. If you want to deepen relationships with your clients, treat them with responsiveness. Here is why responsiveness is the key to building strong client relationships.

How to Make an Impact on the World Around You

Do you want to know how to make an impact on the world? How can sharing your values with others make an impact on both of your happiness? According to Jay Shetty, the author of Think Like a Monk, the final step in adopting a monk mindset is to share your values, strength, and compassion with others. It can be difficult to know where to begin, so Shetty describes three opportunities where you can leave a mark. Here are tips on how to make a positive impact.

What Is Social Comparison and Why Is It So Bad?

What is social comparison? Why is comparing yourself to others so harmful? Is social comparison more common today than ever before? Social comparison is the act of comparing yourself to others—whether you know them or not. This act can come in two forms: upward comparison and downward comparison. The motivating factor for any social comparison, however, is the motivation to achieve status. Keep reading to learn all about social comparison and how it affects decision-making and mental health.

5 Strategies for Managing Test-Taking Anxiety

Do you struggle with test-taking anxiety? How might your test performance improve if you successfully managed that anxiety? According to Barbara Oakley, test-taking anxiety can be relieved by managing your time, changing how you view your anxiety, exercising mindfulness, using breathing exercises, and recording your feelings. She describes these strategies in her book A Mind for Numbers. Read more to learn these tips for managing test-taking anxiety.

How to Generate Self-Insight: Risk Failure

What is self-insight? How can you prompt self-insight on demand? Self-insight is your metacognitive understanding of your psyche and behavior (your thoughts, feelings, motivations, etc.). According to Chip and Dan Heath, the authors of The Power of Moments, the best way to gain self-insight is to put yourself in situations that expose you to the possibility of failure. Keep reading to learn how risking failure translates into valuable self-insight.

Your Brain During an Orgasm: Behind the Scenes

What happens in your brain during an orgasm? Does the brain even register orgasms? There is a common misconception that orgasms are primarily a genital response. In reality, orgasms are really about what happens inside the brain. Keep reading to learn about your brain and orgasms.

Stop Trying to Control Others—It Harms You Both

Do you have a bad habit of trying to control others? Why is it so important to take responsibility for yourself? If you have a codependent personality, then you probably try to control those around you, whether it’s intentional or not. However, when you spend your life trying to control others, you’re allowing other people’s lives to control you. To counter this bad habit, you need to start focusing on your own needs. Here’s how you can regain control of your life and stop focusing on others.

The Paradox of Choice: Quotes by Barry Schwartz

What are the most noteworthy The Paradox of Choice quotes? What do these quotes mean in the context of Schwartz’s book? In The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz contends that the vast array of choices presented to us leaves us stressed and indecisive. To lift this burden, Schwartz, a professor of social theory and social action, recommends we learn how to better navigate our choices, from groceries to health insurance. Here are some of the top quotes with explanations.

Understanding Spontaneous vs. Responsive Desire

What is the difference between spontaneous vs. responsive desire? Why are some people spontaneous and others responsive? Spontaneous desire is the immediate desire evoked by a sexual stimulus. Responsive desire is the desire evoked by physical stimulation like kissing or touching. According to sex researcher Emily Nagoski, spontaneous desire doesn’t equate to more interest in sex, nor does responsive desire equate to less interest in sex. These terms simply describe how different people come to experience desire, and this can change from context to context, or even over time. Sex researcher Emily Nagoski explains why some people turned on more