Shortform Books

What Are Game Mechanics? Raph Koster Explains

What are game mechanics? What are the most common gameplay paradigms? How do you innovate a game? A Theory of Fun for Game Design author, Raph Koster, explains that the holy grail of game mechanics should provide never-ending challenges, require a varied skill set, and have a difficulty curve that adjusts to your skill level. Unfortunately, a lot of games fall back on cliched game mechanics. Keep reading for Raph Koster’s explanation of game mechanics.

Scientific Skepticism: 10 Doubt-Mongering Tactics

How do people deliberately cultivate unhealthy, scientific skepticism? How do they create debate when an issue is already settled? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at some of the techniques that are used to stir up scientific skepticism. These doubt-mongering tactics have been deployed in several important “debates” such as tobacco use, nuclear disarmament, acid rain, the ozone layer, climate change, and the pesticide DDT. Read on to learn how merchants of doubt sow seeds of detrimental scientific skepticism.

The Key to Making Better Decisions: Forget Experience

Do you find it hard to make decisions? What is the key to making better decisions? Clayton Christensen shows how economic theories can help us with making better decisions in his book How Will You Measure Your Life? Find out why experience isn’t the best guide for your decisions and why you should use theories instead. Keep reading to learn about making better decisions.

Harness the Force of Love to Change Your Life

Harnessing the Force of Love to Change Your Life

What is the force of love? Why is love the most powerful force in the universe and how can you harness it? The force of love is the universal energy that inspires every positive action in the universe. It is a limitless desire that every human heart craves, making it the most powerful force in the universe. You can harness this power to live a happier, healthier life. Read on to learn how you can understand and harness the force of love.

How to Deal With Energy Vampires in the Workplace

What is an energy vampire? Can knowing how to deal with energy vampires improve your success in the workplace? An energy vampire is someone who drains the positive energy from people around them. In the workplace, an energy vampire can be very disruptive, damaging team morale and the success of projects. Knowing how to deal with energy vampires can help you focus on the right thing and increase positivity in the workplace. Read on to find out how to deal with energy vampires.

The Shooting of Terence Crutcher: Case Study

What can we learn about police brutality by studying the shooting of Terence Crutcher? Is using case studies a helpful approach to police brutality? In her book Biased, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt discusses police brutality by examining the shooting of Terence Crutcher. She breaks down the incident into five parts and examines what went wrong and what should have been done differently. Then we discuss whether using individual case studies is an effective approach to ending police brutality. Here is Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt’s breakdown of the shooting of Terence Crutcher.

The ABCs of Sales: Attunement, Buoyancy, & Clarity

What are the modern ABCs of sales? How can you use attunement, buoyancy, and clarity to close more sales? The old ABCs of sales were to “always be closing.” However, this kind of pushy, sales-focused method doesn’t work in the modern-day. The new ABCs of selling are attunement, buoyancy, and clarity. Continue below for definitions and tips for the modern ABCs of sales.

Donald Trump as a Leader: Why He Was Unfit

Was Donald Trump a good leader? What do you think are the most important personal qualities a leader must have? In A Warning, a book about Trump’s presidency written anonymously, the author discusses the behind-the-scenes of Trump’s presidency. He notes that Donald Trump is not fit to run a nation because his views aren’t consistent as they aren’t connected to any core beliefs or principles. Here is what Anonymous has to say about Donald Trump as a leader.

The Emergent Approach (and When to Use One)

What is an emergent strategy? How can an emergent approach in business lead to success? What is the difference between a deliberate and emergent strategy? An emergent strategy is a business strategy that adjusts as the situation changes. Rather than being static, an emergent approach changes as events unfold. The emergent approach for business is an important tool and you should know when to use one. Read on to learn more about the emergent approach in business.

Remembering Repressed Memories: Sacks’ Research

Is remembering repressed memories a good thing or a bad thing? What did Oliver Sacks’ patients teach him about the brain and memory? Oliver Sacks, psychologist and author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, wrote about four patients with sensory and memory issues. Sacks explores the upsides and dangers of remembering repressed memories and the side-effects of treatment. Continue reading for Oliver Sacks’ research on memory and sensory.