Shortform Books

Barbra Streisand’s Acting Career on Stage and Screen

A woman standing on a stage in bright lights.

When did Barbra Streisand begin acting? Did she worry about being typecast? How has she combined her other talents with acting? Barbra Streisand isn’t just an amazing singer; she’s also an accomplished actress. In fact, she began acting professionally before she started her singing career. Over the years, she’s enjoyed remarkable achievements in the theater and the movies. Continue reading to learn the highlights of Barbra Streisand’s acting career.

What Causes Seasonal Depression (+ Tips for Treating It)

What causes seasonal depression? How common is the disorder? What are some ways to prevent or treat the symptoms? When the days get darker and colder, it’s hard not to feel a little down. But sometimes the “winter blues” are something more—seasonal depression—a surprisingly common form of depression. Keep reading to learn what causes seasonal depression, who it affects, and what you can do to help it.

The Anarchy by William Dalrymple: Book Overview

A young woman reading a book outside in a city.

How did a trading company, ostensibly formed for commerce, come to rule most of the Indian subcontinent and its millions of people for over 50 years? What impact did it make? The Anarchy by William Dalrymple charts the rise of the English East India Company (EIC) during the 17th and 18th centuries. Dalrymple explains how it rose from a small outfit of merchants into the imperialist superpower that established British colonial rule in India. Continue reading for an overview of this fascinating book.

How to Recover Your Lost Creativity, Ideas, Desires, & Dreams

A cartoon of someone writing in a notebook with creative hobbies surrounding them.

Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Did your creativity get squashed at some point? Julia Cameron says it’s not too late to reconnect to your inner artist and find what’s been lost—creativity, dreams, and desires. These elements are all still inside you somewhere, and she encourages you to go after them. Continue reading to learn how to reconnect to your creativity and recover what’s been lost.

The 2 Components of the Traditional Economics Theory

A hand holding a pink piggy bank in front of coins in a field.

What is the traditional economics theory? What two claims does the efficient market hypothesis consist of? In Misbehaving, Richard H. Thaler discusses two key components of traditional economics to back up why he’s against it. These components are the premise of constrained optimization and the efficient market hypothesis. Learn more about the foundations of the traditional economics theory below.

Dopamine and Impulsivity: What Causes Impulsive Behavior?

A man affected by dopamine and impulsivity as he sits on the couch and eats potato chips.

How are dopamine and impulsivity related? What causes impulsive behavior? Dopamine and impulsivity are connected because dopamine makes you want things and makes you feel like achievements will make you happy. Once you understand how this works, you can see how this causes impulsive behavior when unchecked. Here are some ways that dopamine affects emotions and behaviors.

Who Is in U2? Bono, Mullen, the Edge, and Clayton

Who is in U2? How many members does the group have? Where did “The Edge” get his nickname? U2 is made of four musicians: Paul “Bono” Hewson, Larry Mullen Jr., David “the Edge” Evans, and Adam Clayton. A look at who is in the band and how they came together gives you a good understanding of what kind of group U2 is. Read more for some background on each of U2’s four members.

The Best Silent Spring Quotes Exposing Dangerous Pesticides

A young man reading a book outside in a field.

What are the most insightful Silent Spring quotes about pest control? Do pesticides pose a threat to humanity? In Silent Spring, biologist Rachel Carson condemns the widespread use of pesticides in the 20th century, arguing that these chemicals threaten to devastate the natural environment and poison animals and humans alike. Carson advocates stricter regulation of pesticides by the US government, limited spraying, and the use of biological controls. Below we’ve provided a few Silent Spring quotes for better context.

Is Society Collapsing? Signs of the West’s Potential Downfall

Is society collapsing? What’s pointing to a potential downfall of Western civilization? A societal collapse refers to the theoretical idea that a human civilization and its cultural identity will either become primitive or disappear. While no one knows for sure whether Western society will collapse, there are shocking signs that raise the question. Keep reading to learn about four signs that could point to a future societal collapse.

Mughal Trade: When England Deferred to a Mighty Empire

Numerous ships docking near a city as part of the Mughal Trade.

How wealthy was the Mughal empire? Why were the English the deferential party in the Mughal trade relationship? In The Anarchy, William Dalrymple charts the rise of the English East India Company. He sets the stage by discussing conditions in India during the 17th century and what made it so attractive to British merchants. Read more to understand how England took notice of the wealth in India and began trading within the powerful Mughal empire.