Shortform Books

Developing a Growth Mindset: 4 Ways to Excel and Thrive

Do you believe you’re incapable of growth? What’s the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset? As you’ve gotten older, you’ve probably discovered certain abilities that you excel at and ones you struggle with. But this doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with what you have. A growth mindset helps you improve by embracing challenges and learning new things. Let’s look at what a growth mindset is and four ways that developing a growth mindset can be a smooth process for you.

The Impact of Western Individualism: 3 Surprising Ways It Harms

How does an entire culture maintain a false idea about the nature of existence? How is that illusion hurting us? Many people in the West internalize the idea that each of us is an individual—an entity separate from others and our surroundings. Philosopher Alan Watts claims that this “ego illusion” manifests in Western society through paradoxical cultural expectations for each person to be an individual. Keep reading to understand Watts’s take on Western individualism and to learn three ways it harms people and the environment.

What Do Affirmations Do & Are They Effective?

What do affirmations do for us? Are positive affirmations always effective? How can you use them most effectively? Author Gary John Bishop distilled years of research and experience as a life coach and personal development consultant into his book Unfu*k Yourself. In the book, he explains the power of positive affirmations and what they can do for your self-talk and overall mindset. Read on to learn what affirmations do for you and how to make the most of them, according to Bishop.

How to Be Innovative at Work: Principles of Success

How can you be innovative at work? How do you manage crucial projects that require innovation and creativity? Vijay Kumar’s book 101 Design Methods suggests that to create a successful project that will make your business soar, you need to manage innovation effectively. To do this, you need to follow a few principles to make your company as cohesive and communicative as possible. Keep reading to learn how to be innovative at work, one step at a time.

Think Like a Monk Exercises to Find Happiness & Calm

Do you sometimes feel like you’d like to get away from it all? Do you then realize that you can’t actually do that? Former Vedic monk and award-winning content creator Jay Shetty claims that the route to happiness and fulfillment is to Think Like a Monk. According to him, monks are the calmest and happiest people in the world because they live with a sense of purpose that aligns with their true, inner selves. Continue reading for two Think Like a Monk exercises that will help you apply the principles in the book.

How to Deal With Shame: The 4 Steps to Move Past Mistakes

Do you feel like a terrible person because of a mistake you made? How can you deal with shame in a healthy way? A common reaction people have when they’ve done something wrong is to feel shame. It’s a completely normal emotion to feel in these types of situations, but it can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Luckily, there are ways to overcome shame. Continue reading to learn how to deal with shame and accept your mistakes.

Scarcity: Book Overview (Mullainathan and Shafir)

What is Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir’s Scarcity about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In their book Scarcity, behavioral science researchers Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir explain how scarcities of time and money temporarily change our brains: They make us more efficient with a limited resource in the short term, but they also decrease our mental bandwidth, distorting the way we process information and make decisions. Below is a brief overview of Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir.

Why Is Child Labor in the U.S. on the Rise? A Look at the Issues

Why is child labor in the U.S. on the rise? How much has child labor increased in recent years? Between 2015 and 2022, the number of children employed in violation of child labor laws in the U.S. tripled from 1,012 to 3,876. Most minors in these exploitative work situations are migrant children who have fled violence and poverty in their home countries to pursue better circumstances. Keep reading to learn what’s behind this increase in child labor violations in the U.S.

How to Become One With the Universe: 3 Steps to Cosmic Unity

Are you trapped by religious dogma? Do you think more in terms of “I” than “we”? How often do you do things just for fun? Philosopher Alan Watts argues that the ego illusion—the false sense of being an individual separate from everyone and everything else—causes destruction and hardship in Western society. He provides recommendations for how people can escape from the ego illusion and achieve cosmic unity. Continue reading to learn how to become one with the universe, according to Watts.