Shortform Books

Is Donald Trump a Threat to Democracy?

Is Donald Trump a threat to democracy? How does Trump contribute to the erosion of democratic norms in the United States? According to Ziblatt and Levitsky, the authors of How Democracies Die, Donald Trump exhibits clear authoritarian tendencies that threaten American democracy. His impingement on democratic norms was evident from the first year of his presidency. In this article, we’ll consider a couple of examples of Trump’s violation of democratic norms.

The Fear of Money Is the Biggest Obstacle to Wealth

Does thinking of and handling money make you nervous? Why do people fear money, fear spending it, or fear not having enough? The fear of money haunts many people. After all, money is core to survival, impacts virtually every part of our lives, and is the difference between freedom and freefall. So, the fear of money makes sense. But if you want to change your financial situation, you need to overcome your fear of money and develop a healthy relationship with it. Here is how the fear of money impairs your financial progress.

The Partisan Advantage and Constitutional Hardball

What causes constitutional hardball? What happens when one side of a political system breaks the unwritten democratic norms to secure a partisan advantage over its opponent side? In their book How Democracies Die, authors Levitsky and Ziblatt argue that when one party secures a short-term partisan advantage by breaking unwritten democratic norms, the other party is likely to retaliate. These tit-for-tat dynamics create a so-called constitutional hardball that erodes democratic values of mutual toleration and institutional forbearance. Here is how breaking the unwritten democratic norms to secure a partisan advantage jeopardizes democracy.

A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley: Book Overview

Have you read A Mind for Numbers? What do you know about the book’s author and publication? Because the world is increasingly dependent on technology, being competent in technical subjects such as math and science is beneficial both for your career and life in general. A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley aims to help you learn math and science well enough that they become intuitive. Keep reading to learn about the book’s author, publication, context, and more.

The Psychology of Commitment and Relationships

Does committing to one relationship make you happier—or more anxious? Why do relationships require so much time commitment? In the book The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz explores the connection between commitment and relationships. He argues that, just like in other areas of your life, you will be happier with limited choices rather than seeking the freedom to be with whomever you want, whenever you want. Here’s an overview of Schwartz’s ideas about relationships.

Why Do We Remember Certain Things But Not Others?

Why do we remember certain things but forget others? What makes an experience memorable? According to Chip and Dan Heath, the authors of The Power of Moments, there are two psychological factors that make an experience memorable: 1) the peak-end rule and 2) novelty and unexpectedness. Once you understand the psychology behind memorable moments, you can engineer small, everyday moments to stand out in your memory just as much as special moments. In this article, we’ll explore what makes a moment memorable, and how you can engineer memorable moments on demand.

Why We Have Different Levels of Sexual Sensitivity

What determines a person’s sexual responsiveness? Why are some people more sensitive to sexual stimuli than others? We all have different levels of sexual sensitivity: some people are more responsive to sexual stimuli than others. How sensitive a person is to stimuli in the environment determines their sexual needs. According to sex researcher Emily Nagoski, this boils down to the sensitivity of the Sexual Excitation System (SES) vs. the Sexual Inhibition System (SIS). Keep reading to learn about the two systems’ role in sexual sensitivity.

The Future of Democracy in the United States

What does the future hold in store for the representative government in the United States? Do you think democracy will recover or will the country inevitably slide into authoritarianism? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, there are three possible scenarios for the future of democracy in the United States: 1) recovery, 2) authoritarian takeover, and 3) worsening party polarization. In this article, we’ll explore what they believe might lie ahead for American democracy.

Ethical Wealth: Is It Good to Strive for Riches?

Is there such a thing as ethical wealth? In other words, do you think it’s moral to strive to be wealthy? Some people argue that wanting wealth and taking part in our capitalist system is immoral. According to financial educator Robert Kiyosaki, wealth is just a means to an end, the end being the freedom to do what you want with your time. While the means by which wealth is acquired can be immoral, wanting wealth in itself is not—no one can be blamed for wanting freedom. Here is why it’s good to want wealth, according to Kiyosaki.

Focused Thinking vs. Diffuse Thinking (+Examples)

How does your brain work? What’s the difference between focused thinking and diffuse thinking? A key theme of the book A Mind for Numbers is that alternating between modes of thinking (focused thinking and diffuse thinking) can help you learn new things and problem-solve effectively. To understand how to do this and why it works, you first need to understand a few things about how your brain works. Keep reading to learn about the two modes of thinking.