Shortform Books

Why Soft Sciences Are Flawed and Available Solutions

Why Soft Sciences Are Flawed and Good Solutions

What are soft sciences? What is the problem with social sciences? Soft sciences are academic disciplines that seek to interpret human and societal behavior using qualitative analysis for which strictly measurable criteria may be impossible to establish. The problem with soft sciences is that the desire to achieve the level of precision in hard science has led to excessive complexity and the overuse of statistical models that ignore real elements of human behavior such as biases and vices. Read on to learn more about the problems with soft sciences and how they can be fixed.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Creativity Is Magic

Is creativity an inborn quality? How do creatives develop novel ideas? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, creativity can come to anyone who gets in touch with what she calls “Big Magic.” This force is bigger than us and cannot be explained scientifically or proven empirically. It is an eternal cosmic entity that creatives must have faith in. In this article, we’ll explore Gilbert’s conception of creativity and two key ways Big Magic might come to you: via ideas and your genius.

Understanding the 3 Stages of a Hero’s Journey

What are the 3 stages of a hero’s journey? How does the legend of Moses illustrate the hero’s rite of passage? The 3 stages of a hero’s journey include separation, initiation, and return. The cycle involves the hero separating from the world he has always known, gaining spiritual power in seclusion, and coming back to share the power with humanity. This is well illustrated in the legend of Moses, where he secluded himself to Mount Sinai, received the tablets of law from God, and returned to share the word of God with the people of Israel. Read on to learn

History Is Biased: There Wasn’t Always War

Are history books an accurate reflection of the past? Is the human past really as bloody as history books portray it to be? According to Nassim Taleb, the author of Skin in the Game, academic accounts of human history give a warped perspective on our past. Historical accounts of the events emphasize conflict, creating an impression that human history is largely a record of warfare. However, history books tend to leave out unremarkable periods of peace, making the past seem more violent than it really was. Here is why history is biased in its representation of the human past.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect: Know Your Abilities

The 25 Cognitive Biases: The Kruger Effect

What is the Dunning-Kruger effect? How dangerous is the Dunning-Kruger bias? The Dunning-Kruger effect is the tendency of poor performers with excessive self-regard to greatly overestimate their abilities and project themselves as more capable than they really are. This cognitive bias leads people to overstep their circle of competence and get bogged down by ventures or responsibilities they are not ready for. Read on to learn more about the Dunning-Kruger effect.

The Slight Edge Quotes by Jeff Olson

Are you looking for The Slight Edge quotes by Jeff Olson? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In his book The Slight Edge, motivational speaker Jeff Olson argues that success and failure are both a result of the “slight edge.” The slight edge is the idea that success is built over time with small disciplines executed on a consistent basis. Here is a selection of The Slight Edge quotes with explanations.

Invest in Your Employees to Make More Money, Faster

Do you own a business? How do you use your earnings? How can you use that income to generate even more income? If you run a business, you may be tempted to save your income for a rainy day (or to put in your pockets). However, the authors of Who Not How say that you’ll actually make more money, and faster, if you use that money to invest in hiring more employees. Here is why you should invest in employees rather than saving your money.

Association Bias: Why People Shoot the Messenger

The 25 Cognitive Biases: The Availability Bias

What is association bias? How can you curb bias from association? Association bias is the tendency to be easily influenced by irrational opinions about the relationship between two objects or events. It’s this bias that makes us associate high prices with quality. You can curb this bias by looking for facts that contradict your initial appraisal. Read on to learn more about association bias.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

What is The Five Dysfunctions of a Team about? What are the five most common dysfunctions of a team, according to its author Patrick Lencioni? The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable explores how teams fail to work cohesively together through a dynamic, five-part model of dysfunction. The five dysfunctions are 1) absence of trust, 2) fear of conflict, 3) lack of commitment, 4) avoidance of accountability, and 5) inattention to results. Below is a brief overview of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni.

Vision and Values: Insights From the Book Scaling Up

What does the book Scaling Up say about your business’s vision and values? How do they impact growth? In his book Scaling Up, Verne Harnish discusses what you need to do to successfully guide your business as it grows from a small company or sole proprietorship into a firm employing hundreds or thousands of people. He argues that, first, you must articulate a clear vision for what you ultimately want your company to be—anchored by a core set of values. Keep reading for insights from the book Scaling Up.