Shortform Books

Clinton’s Impeachment: Abuse of Power in Government?

Was the Clinton impeachment an example of abuse of power in the government? Why should we take abuses of power like this seriously? In the 1990s, the rise of pundit-like political figures like Newt Gingrich changed the political landscape. This paved the way for further party polarization, and abuse of power in government wherein one party uses government systems to harm another, such as the Clinton impeachment. Keep reading to find out why the Clinton impeachment was an abuse of power in government.

Habit Change: Mindfulness Is Better Than Autopilot

Why is habit change so difficult? Why do most people fail when they try to replace their old, self-defeating habits with new, positive habits? Habit change is hard. With some habits, it may even seem impossible. This is because many bad habits are involuntary—they were created unconsciously. So, changing them requires awareness, conscious effort, and intentionality. Read about the psychology of habit change.

Surviving a Plague: How Yellow Fever Vanished

What was surviving a plague like for Matilda in Fever 1793? What caused the end of the yellow fever outbreak? Yellow fever is spread through mosquito bites, so when the first frost-covered Philadelphia in Fever 1793 and killed the insects, Matilda knew she had survived the plague. The question, then, was what to do now that it was over. Keep reading to learn what Matilda did after surviving the plague in Fever 1793.

Men and Marriage: Why They Avoid It

Why do men avoid marriage? How can you turn your boyfriend into your husband? If you’re in a committed relationship, then the next obvious step is marriage. However, Steve Harvey explains in his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man that even committed men avoid marriage because it means changing their way of life and officially taking them off the market. To avoid this, Harvey says you should set the expectation early in a relationship. Continue on to learn more about men and marriage, according to Steve Harvey.

What is God’s Plan for Your Life? Learn to Embody Love

Are you trying to figure out what God’s plan for your life is? How can you work to become love? According to Bob Goss in Everybody, Always, God knows that you won’t always know how to act or what to do, but he loves you anyway and he wants you to love others. God only has one mission for you and that’s to love the people who are in front of you. Keep reading to learn what God’s plans for your life are.

Public Shaming: Effective But Unacceptable

Do you think public shaming is an effective form of punishment? What are the potential consequences of public shaming for the victimized? Although the methods have changed, public humiliation is still used as a way to inflict punishment for contemptuous behavior, and for a reason—it works. However, public shaming can have serious consequences for the victim because people who’ve been publicly shamed may lose their friends, family, and career, potentially forever. Keep reading to learn about public shaming, its history, and the consequences for the victimized.

What Men Think According to Steve Harvey

Do you ever wonder what men think about? What are the three things men need to figure out in order to feel like a man? Why do men feel the need to be the best? In his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Steve Harvey reveals the secrets of what men think. Harvey wants to help women understand what motivates a man to act the way he does so she can navigate the relationship better. Continue on to learn Steve Harvey’s insight into what men think.

What Is Direct Learning? Learn While Doing

What is direct learning? How can learning directly produce long-lasting results? How does direct learning affect knowledge transfer? Direct learning is an idea that says you learn best when you practice a skill in the environment that you will use it in. Many people avoid direct learning because it pushes you out of your comfort zone and it takes more effort than traditional learning methods. Keep reading to learn how direct learning can help you learn faster and retain more information.

Refined Foods: Why Do We Still Eat Them?

Are refined foods really bad for you? And if so, why do we eat so much of them? Refined foods are almost empty of nutritional value without fortification and lead to massive influxes of glucose and fructose in the body. And even though their damaging effects are pretty much common knowledge these days, we still eat them in abundance. Why? Part of the answer can be found in history. Read about the rise of refined foods and how they function in the body.

Matthew McConaughey as Van Zan the Dragon Slayer

Why did Matthew McConaughey take the role of Denton Van Zan the dragon slayer in Reign of Fire? How did he prepare for the role? The role of dragon slayer Denton Van Zan was influential in how McConaughey was starting to feel about life. After years of partying and hedonism, McConaughey began to wonder about other ways he could spend his time. Read more about Matthew McConaughey and the role of Denton Van Zan the dragon slayer in Reign of Fire.