Shortform Books

The Milgram Study and the Dangers of Blind Obedience

What is the focus of the Milgram study? Why is the experiment so important? The Milgram study was carried out by Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram to explore the tendency of people to obey orders from authority figures even when they contradict their personal values. The experiment is important because it helps us understand why seemingly decent people will blindly follow flawed leaders to do bad things. Read on to learn more about the discoveries of the Milgram study.

How to Find the Right Person for the Right Job

Why is it better to hire an expert to do a difficult job for you rather than trying to do it yourself? How can you go about finding the right person for the right job? In their book Who Not How, Sullivan and Hardy say that you will always be better off hiring somebody to do a job for you than trying to figure it out yourself. Not only are you guaranteed to get a better result, but it may even end up cheaper than if you try to do it yourself and end up making the situation worse. Here’s

Instant Gratification: The Psychology of Self-Sabotage

Why are humans wired to prioritize instant gratification? How does instant gratification lead us astray from our goals? Human nature is embedded in an “immediate-return environment” inherited from early humans and the animal kingdom, where survival and goals were daily concerns. These days, however, instant gratification works against us, not for us. In this article, we’ll explore the psychology of instant gratification, why it’s so hard to resist, and how it leads us astray from achieving success.

Cognitive Inertia: The Status Quo Bias

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Cognitive Inertia

What is cognitive inertia? How do you overcome status quo bias? Cognitive inertia is the tendency to resist change and ignore new information that contradicts prevailing beliefs. You can overcome inertia by considering counterarguments to your position and forcing yourself to act in ways that contradict your stale beliefs. Read on to learn more about cognitive inertia.

Scale Your Business: 4 Strategies to Stimulate Growth

What strategies can help you successfully scale your business? What practical actions can you take to keep your organization growing? Scaling Up’s Verne Harnish offers four strategies for scaling your business. He discusses how to form a strategic thinking group, adapt to changing circumstances, evolve the structure, and move beyond the founder. Read more to learn these strategy tips to successfully scale your business.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind: Book Overview

What is The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy about? What is the key message you can take away from the book? In his book The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Joseph Murphy claims that all of your life experiences are the result of the interaction between your conscious and subconscious minds—your subconscious mind creates your life experiences according to your habitual conscious thoughts and ingrained beliefs. Murphy argues that you can use your conscious mind to imprint positive thoughts upon your subconscious mind. Below is a brief overview of the key takeaways.

Isabel Wilkerson: The Subjugation of the Lowest Caste

In what ways are the lowest caste often mistreated in hierarchical social class systems? What are some examples of mistreatment from United States history? In order to maintain their power, the dominant caste will often mistreat the lower castes in order to keep them in their place and maintain power. Two major ways they go about doing this are by giving the lower caste members menial and subordinate tasks, and by terrorizing them physically and psychologically. Continue reading to understand how the lowest class in a caste is mistreated.

7 Life Lessons From Charlie Munger’s Speeches

What life lessons can we learn from Charlie Munger’s speeches? Why is Warren Buffet so important in Munger’s life? Charlie Munger’s speeches highlight moral character, hard work, focus, good partnerships, and a great sense of humor as the secrets to his success in life. His partnership with Warren Buffet is also crucial because Buffett serves as an invaluable ally for testing out his thinking. Read on to discover more valuable life lessons from Charlie Munger’s speeches.

Social Class Mobility and Economic Inequality

What is social class mobility? How does social class mobility contribute to economic equality? Social class mobility refers to the degree to which people are able to move between classes within the economic stratification system. According to Nassim Taleb, the author of Skin in the Game, social class mobility is a more telling representation of a nation’s economic inequality than static inequality (the inequality of a population at a point in time). In this article, we’ll explore why social class mobility is a better metric to track when measuring economic inequality.

How to Build a Latticework of Mental Models

Why should you build a latticework of mental models? Can mental models help you deal with your cognitive biases? Building a latticework of mental models will help you become a versatile problem solver. You will use multidisciplinary learning to combine ideas across different disciplines to find solutions. Mental models will also help you recognize the psychological biases that could influence you, leading to better decision-making. Read on to discover how to build your own latticework of mental models.