Shortform Books

Working Backwards: Book Overview and Takeaways

How does the Working Backwards book describe Amazon’s guiding principles and strategies? What tools do the authors present as Amazon’s keys to success? In Working Backwards, authors Colin Brayr and Bill Carr describe how Amazon’s tools like the deep thinking document, the six-pager, and a rigorous hiring process have helped it get ahead in the industry. Learning more about these strategies can help strengthen and grow any business. Keep reading to learn about the tools and strategies that have led Amazon to success.

The Theory Behind Intermittent Fasting: Returning to Natural Eating

What is the theory behind intermittent fasting? Where does the idea come from? The theory behind intermittent fasting is that our early ancestors ate with fasting cycles, and that our shift into eating three meals a day goes against our natural instincts and needs. A look at this backstory gives insight into when intermittent fasting might be helpful. Learn more about where the idea of intermittent fasting came from in recent history.

Poverty, by America Reviews: Reactions From NYT, NPR, & WSJ

Does Poverty, by America offer an accurate view of poverty in the US? What criticism has it received? There’s a growing canon of recent social science works exploring the phenomenon of poverty in America. One of these books is Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America. Upon its release, critics hailed it as an important and timely contribution to the conversation. Read more to see several top Poverty, by America reviews as well as some general information about the book.

How to Call BS: 3 Practical Strategies for Refuting Bullshit

When you recognize lies and misinformation, do you call them out? Do you have the guts to do it but lack the skills to counter false claims? Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West acknowledge that identifying bullshit alone isn’t enough to mitigate its spread. To that end, they share several techniques for calling bullshit so that others don’t fall for it: Construct a reductio ad absurdum, provide counterexamples, and use clarifying analogies. Read more to learn how to call BS and keep misinformation at bay.

John Meriwether and Salomon Brothers’ Contribution to LTCM

How did John Meriwether get his start with the investment firm Salomon Brothers? What role did Meriwether play in forming LTCM? In When Genius Failed, Roger Lowenstein writes that hedge fund manager and arbitrage expert John Meriwether was pivotal in the conception and formation of LTCM. He formed the arbitrage group at the investment firm Salomon Brothers, where he had previously worked. Let’s look at the rise of John Meriwether, Salomon Brothers’ hand in LTCM’s creation, and how they set the stage for LTCM’s rise and fall.

The Mindbody Prescription: Overview and Key Takeaways

What are the key takeaways from The Mindbody Prescription? How does author Dr. John Sarno explain the connection between mind and body? In The Mindbody Prescription, Dr. Sarno explains how repressed emotions can lead to physical feelings of pain, a disorder he calls tension myositis syndrome (TMS). Learning these concepts supports the healing process. Keep reading to discover how the mind and the body are connected, and how to diagnose and treat TMS.

How Amazon Became Successful By Doing Things Differently

What explains how Amazon became successful? What did the company do differently? Amazon became successful by creating a strong business culture based on giving value to the customer before all else. If you take a close look at Amazon’s guiding principles and strategies, you’ll see that many of its tools can be used in other businesses too. Continue reading to see how Amazon grew from a startup into the successful business it is today.

Healthy Fasting for Weight Loss: Switching Energy Sources

What does healthy fasting for weight loss look like? How does it work? Healthy fasting for weight loss is carefully planned to encourage the body to burn fat over carbohydrates. Understanding how this works can help you lose more weight faster. Continue reading for more on why intermittent fasting is effective for weight loss.

Matthew Desmond: Poverty Goes Well Beyond Numbers

What does it feel like to be poor? What aspects of poverty can’t be quantified? It’s easy to regard poverty as a black-and-white, by-the-numbers matter. But, according to Matthew Desmond, poverty is far more than that. It’s a tangible experience he knows firsthand, and he argues that it’s important for policymakers (and everyone else) to look beyond the numbers. Keep reading to understand the lived experience—and the consequences—of poverty from Desmond’s perspective.

How to Be Skeptical: 3 Ways to Identify Bullshit

Do you tend to believe everything you hear? Would you like to foster healthy skepticism without falling into the trap of cynicism? Let’s be frank: The modern world is replete with bullshit—a phenomenon that professors Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West define as the use of misleading evidence to persuade an audience. But, we aren’t defenseless against this bullshit, they argue. Read more to learn how to be skeptical and identify bullshit in its many forms.