Shortform Books

Qualities of a Good Doctor: Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s Philosophy

What are some of the qualities of a good doctor? How can doctors achieve good relationships with patients, get results, and learn how to be a good doctor? Through his experiences in medical school and his love of literature, Dr. Paul Kalanithi spent his life searching for meaning and connectedness. He formed philosophies about how the qualities of a good doctor, and worked on applying and developing further even when he was diagnosed with lung cancer so he could have the characteristics of a great doctor.

Teledyne History: How Rapid Expansion Built an Empire

What is Teledyne, and why is the company featured in The Outsiders as one of the most successful companies of all time? Teledyne is an industrial conglomerate founded in 1960, currently involved in businesses ranging from aerospace electronics to digital imaging. CEO Henry Singleton was the founder and its CEO until 1991. Under Henry Singleton’s leadership, Teledyne saw significant growth. Learn about Teledyne and how Henry Singleton helped it becomes successful.

Paul Kalanithi—Lessons Shep Nuland Taught Me

What can your mentors teach you? Can those lessons apply to greater questions of life, death, and the mysteries of the universe? Paul Kalanithi believed so, and relied on educators like Shep Nuland to help him form his core values. Shep Nuland was an influential mentor for Paul Kalanithi. Shep Nuland was an American surgeon, educator, and writer who worked with Paul Kalanithi while Kalanithi studied at Yale Medical School. Shep Nuland helped guide Paul in his education and form his philosophy about treating patients and life and death.

Capital Allocation Process: Winning Strategies of Great CEOs

What is capital allocation, and how does it work? Why does a strong capital allocation strategy make for a great CEO? Capital allocation is the practice of distributing and investing a company’s resources in a way that will make further profits. For the Outsider CEOs, an unorthodox capital allocation strategy was the building block on which they developed other strategies that resulted in higher profits.

Henry Singleton (Teledyne)—How He Built His Empire

How did Henry Singleton take Teledyne from a new company to one of the biggest conglomerates of the twentieth century? What strategies did he use? Henry Singleton was the co-founder of Teledyne. He founded the industrial conglomerate with a colleague at the age of 43, after working for other similar companies. Teledyne is currently involved in businesses ranging from aerospace electronics to digital imaging. Find out how Henry Singleton built this company using aggressive growth strategies.

4 When Breath Becomes Air Themes—Life, Death, Self, Purpose

Do you wonder about the meaning of life, and want to know how to maximize living in the now and find your purpose? Paul Kalanithi’s book, When Breath Becomes Air, is written in two parts. In this touching memoir, Paul Kalanithi, a doctor, deals with a terminal cancer diagnosis. As a person who was meant to be saving livese, he’s now faced with losing his own. The When Breath Becomes Air themes cover these matters of life and death.

What Is Medical School Like? A Doctor’s Firsthand Experience

Have you ever wondered: what is medical school like? Are there first-person perspectives that capture the pressures and high stakes learning environments? Paul Kalanithi’s memoir details his journey through medical school, through his cancer diagnosis. In When Breath Becomes Air, Paul discusses his journey to becoming a doctor, including a firsthand answer to the question, what is medical school like?

CEO Personality Traits: 3 Top Characteristics for Success

What makes a great CEO? Is it their education, experience, or just natural business instincts? What are the most important CEO personality traits? In The Outsiders, William Thorndike claims that a certain personality may be part of what makes a great CEO. When examining the top CEOs of all time, certain CEO personality traits are clearly shown to benefit management style and company success.

Books About Doctors: Dr. Kalanithi, On Getting Cancer

What makes someone a good doctor? Do you think doctors can impart wisdom about life? What can you learn from books about doctors? Paul Kalanithi believed doctors could impart wisdom about life. After his diagnosis, Paul Kalanithi set to writing a memoir about his experiences as a doctor, and his views on life and death. When Breath Becomes Air is a book about the meaning of life, and also became one of the defining books about doctors and their role as gatekeepers.

Books Published Posthumously: When Breath Becomes Air

What are books published posthumously, and what kind of books are usually published in this way? Books published posthumously are books that are published after the author has died. Though they are commonly about the experience of the end of life and thoughts on dying, that is not always the case. Books published posthumously can range in genre and subject matter. When Breath Becomes Air is one such book. It’s a memoir that details Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s experience with cancer.