Shortform Books

Technology & Inequality: Transcending Biology

How does technology affect inequality? What can future technology give to the wealthy and take away from the poor? With the rise of technology, the inequality gap is becoming wider. There’s even speculation that advances in tech will eventually create a useless class, just like mass industrialization created the working class. Making matters worse, developments in biotech could enable wealthy elites to become biologically superior and turn into a separate species. Keep reading to learn how advances in technology contribute to inequality going forward.

Deep Work Checklists: Plan Your Day Effectively

Looking for advice on how to plan your day effectively? How can planning your day in 30-minute chunks help you be more productive? In Cal Newport’s Deep Work, he suggests that you make a checklist for the work day and for your end-of-day shutdown. Following these checklists will help keep your deep work schedule on track. Keep reading for Cal Newport’s deep work checklists.

The Top 3 CEO Roles and Responsibilities

What are the roles and responsibilities of a CEO? What qualities make a good CEO? A good CEO should be able to do three things well: articulate their vision, get the team to work on the vision, and achieve results. The role of a CEO is also to be a good decision-maker and to have the courage to do what is necessary, even if it’s difficult. Keep reading about the roles and responsibilities of a CEO.

Quality of Life: Meaning and How to Find it

What is the quality of life meaning? How does Robert Pirsig explain quality? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig gives the idea of quality of life meaning in a few key ways. He also highlights the importance of striving for quality of life. Read more about the quality of life meaning according to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Explain the Meaning of Life Using Storytelling

How would you explain the meaning of life? What’s the logic behind your meaning-of-life story? Throughout human history, people have come up with countless stories to explain the meaning of life. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem to matter to most people if their stories are logically sound. As long as they give their life a function and conceptualize it within a larger scope, the explanation is deemed satisfactory. Keep reading to see how people attempt to explain the meaning of life using storytelling and consider the logical flaws of these explanations.

How to Foster Team Trust in a Complex Organization

How do you establish team trust in a complex organization? What can you do to get team members of specialized, self-contained units to function cooperatively? In Team of Teams, Stanley McChrystal shares his advice on how to develop team trust in an organization composed of multiple teams, drawing from his experience as a general officer in the U.S. Task Force. To this end, he established several programs aimed at fostering cooperation between task force units that didn’t normally overlap. Keep reading for McChrystal’s advice on how to build team trust in a complex organization.

Celebrate Small Wins to Achieve Big Dreams

What Is the Secret to Living a Happy Life?

Do you celebrate your small wins? Or do you wait until you achieve a significant breakthrough? Why is it important to every success, no matter how small? A popular 1968 Harvard Business Review article reported that people are motivated by achievement and progress, even if it’s small. When you celebrate small wins, you create momentum and build confidence in further success. Read about why it’s important to celebrate small wins and how it can help you achieve your big dreams.

Patrick Lencioni’s Death by Meeting Leadership Fable

What is Patrick Lencioni’s Death by Meeting leadership fable about? How can you apply the tips in the book to make work meetings more productive and engaging? Patrick Lencioni’s Death by Meeting leadership fable follows a CEO named Casey who leads long, boring, and unproductive meetings at his company. After Casey’s company is acquired, he is forced to improve his meetings or he could lose his job. Keep reading to learn about Lencioni’s leadership fable and how to lead better meetings.

How to Develop Resilience: The Japanese Way

How does one develop resilience? Is there a secret formula that can help you become better at handling the curve balls that life throws at you? Resilience is the ability to handle setbacks and just keep going. The Japanese link the attitude of resilience to ikigai, or life purpose. They believe that people who clearly know their ikigai—their reason for being—tend to develop resilience in their pursuit of it. Keep reading to learn how to develop resilience the Japanese way.

3 Ways to Cultivate Belonging in the Workplace

Why does belonging matter in the workplace? What can you, as a leader, do to foster a sense of belonging in your organization? Belonging is an important element of inclusion. The key to cultivating a sense of belonging in the workplace is to infuse your working environment with a constant stream of belonging cues. Here are three tips on how to foster a sense belonging in the workplace using belonging cues.