Shortform Books

Strategic Management: Strategy Design and More

What exactly is strategic management? How do businesses develop strategies? What goes into a business strategy? In the most basic terms, strategic management involves setting objectives and devising strategies to attain them. According to Richard P. Rumelt, one of the most influential thinkers and strategic management and strategy design, a good organizational strategy must have a “kernel”—an underlying structure consisting of three components: 1) diagnosis, 2) guiding policy, and 3) action plan. Read more about the two primary truths about an organizational strategy and the kernel at the heart of any good strategy.

The Psychology Behind Your Sexual Imagination

What do sexual fantasies tell us about ourselves? What do they symbolize? And why do we keep them to ourselves? Our sexual imagination is a gateway to our sexuality—erotic fantasies reveal a lot about our inner sexual worlds. According to psychotherapist Esther Perel, sexual fantasies are unlike regular fantasies in the sense that they are symbolic, not literal. Further, sexual fantasies are often in contradiction with our self-image which is why people tend to keep them to themselves. Keep reading learn about the psychology behind sexual fantasy and what your sexual thoughts reveal about you.

Lung Disease: Causes, Types, and Prevention

What are the most common causes of lung disease? What are the different types of lung disease? On average, 296,000 people die from lung disease every year. Within lung disease are three sub-diseases: 1) lung cancer: 160,000 deaths per year; 2) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 140,000 deaths per year; 3) asthma: 3,000 deaths per year. Keep reading to learn about lung disease causes, types, and prevention.

The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth: Timeline & Events

How did the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators unfold? What was the ultimate fate of the assassins? The hunt for John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices lasted for several days after the assassination of Lincoln. Chasing Lincoln’s Killers tells the chilling tale of the assassins and the sympathizers who helped them flee from Washington, through Maryland, and ultimately to Virginia. Read more to learn the exciting story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.

Scarce Skills: Cash Them in to Get a Job You Love

Do you have scarce skills that are in high demand? How can they be developed? Scarce skills equal career capital. You can develop them to the point where you’re so good people can’t ignore you. Then you can cash them in to get the job you want. Read more to learn how to develop and leverage scarce skills.

CBT Therapy Techniques to Improve Your Mental Health

What are some effective CBT therapy techniques? How can these CBT therapy techniques help you improve your mental health? Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat mental health disorders and challenge negative thinking patterns. Using effective CBT therapy techniques can help you apply the principles of CBT to your own life, improving your mental health. Find the 27 best CBT therapy techniques below.

Neuro Associations: Why You Make Bad Decisions

What are neuro associations? Why do we often decide not to do things that we know would benefit us? Why do we snack on chips when we know fruit is better for us? The answer lies in our pain and pleasure neuro associations. The driving force behind all of our decisions—and, thus, our actions—is the motivation to avoid pain and seek pleasure. Understanding our neuro associations can help us to understand why we do the things we do and prevent us from making bad decisions in the future. Learn more about neuro associations below.

Why Difficult Feedback Affects Your Identity

How to Communicate Effectively in 11 Steps

How do you react to negative feedback? Does criticism make you act defensive? Why do you think that is? According to communication experts Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen, the reason some people react defensively to difficult feedback is that it challenges their identity—who they feel they are. You can even be triggered by feedback that isn’t directly about you, but is instead about someone close to you. Because your identity is formed in part by comparison to others and the success of your peers can reflect on your own. Keep reading to learn how your identity story influences your criticism

Untruth #3: The Untruth of Us Versus Them

Why is the “us versus them” mindset so destructive? How has intersectionality contributed to the problem? In what ways have these problems contributed to call-out culture? Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, co-authors of The Coddling of the American Mind, discuss the three “Great Untruths” in modern society. The first of those untruths is the untruth of “us versus them.” In their book, they discuss where this mindset originated from and what the implications are. Keep reading to learn what Haidt and Lukianoff have to say about the dangers of the “us versus them” mindset.

Brené Brown’s 10 Practices for Living Wholeheartedly

What advice does Brené Brown give about living wholeheartedly? How can living wholeheartedly help you live your best life? In Brené Brown’s lecture, The Power of Vulnerability, she discusses the importance of living wholeheartedly. Brown shares 10 practices that you can use in your life to start living wholeheartedly today. Continue reading for Brené Brown’s advice on wholehearted living.