Shortform Books

What Skill Do You Want to Learn? How to Take the First Step

What skill do you want to learn? How should you go about choosing among the countless options? Skill acquisition expert Josh Kaufman provides a step-by-step process for mastering the basics of any new skill with only 20 hours of practice. His system favors efficiency, so the first step is to choose a skill wisely and then attach a specific goal to it. Continue reading to learn how to take the first step toward learning a new skill in a way that sets you up for success.

Barriers to Teamwork: Why We Avoid Working in Teams

What are common barriers to teamwork? Why do people avoid teams, even when teams are more effective than working alone? Barriers to teamwork include ego, insecurity about performing, underestimation of task difficulty, and overall personality. If you can understand where these come from, you can begin to understand how to overcome them. Discover why people may resist working in teams and how you can encourage teamwork.

Community Traditions: Creating Customs That Connect People

Why are community traditions and customs important? What’s the process of introducing a custom to people? According to Charles Vogl, communities must institute formal and informal customs that mark meaningful moments. Common customs include celebrations of progress, fun traditions, cultural demonstrations, and moments of silence. Discover more about creating traditions that people will practice for generations.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline’s Marriage & Messy Divorce

How did Britney Spears and Kevin Federline’s relationship ruin the pop star’s reputation? Why did Spears want a divorce from Federline? Spears and Federline were married for three years and have two sons together. The tabloids followed their messy divorce through many custody battles and arrangements, leading to an infamous moment in Spears’s career. Let’s look at how Spears’s relationship with Federline led to a nasty fallout.

5 Reasons to Stop Chasing Success: It’s a Treadmill to Nowhere

Do you tend to fixate on your goals? What do success stories often leave out? Common self-help advice encourages you to set and relentlessly pursue goals designed to realize your ideal version of yourself. Oliver Burkeman notes that striving to achieve such goals creates five adverse effects that prevent you from attaining true happiness and success. Keep reading to learn how chasing success too often leads to failure and dissatisfaction.

Exploitation of the Poor: 4 Ways the Rich Keep Them Down

Why are some people poor? Are they keeping themselves down, or are they victims of others who don’t want them to succeed? In Poverty, by America, social scientist Matthew Desmond explores how and why the commonly cited explanations for poverty fall flat. Then he turns his attention to what he believes does explain the persistence of poverty in America. Read on to learn why Desmond thinks the exploitation of the poor is a reality in the US.

How to Enjoy Work: 3 Ways to Turn Drudgery Into Delight

Does work drain you or energize you? Do you look forward to starting your work day, or do you dread it? If all of your enjoyable moments in your day are outside of work hours, Grace Beverley has some good news for you. She says that you don’t need to quit your job or find a new one to find satisfaction throughout your day; you can simply make your current work more enjoyable. Keep reading to discover how to enjoy work by following Beverley’s recommendations.

How to Prepare to Learn a New Skill: 5 Tips for Efficiency

If you want to learn a new skill, should you just dive in? How can you maximize your chances for success and keep from squandering resources? Once you’ve chosen a new skill to learn, Josh Kaufman suggests you conduct research to learn about the skill and prepare what you need to practice it. Acquiring knowledge and information about the skill beforehand allows you to practice smarter and avoid wasting time and energy on ineffective techniques. Read on for Kaufman’s advice on how to prepare to learn a new skill before you start practicing.

How to Build a Strong Team: Advice for Managers

What are the best strategies for how to build a strong team? Can choosing team members wisely help you achieve your goals? To build a strong team, you need to evaluate what roles you need to fill and make sure that each new member adds to the greater picture. By understanding what these roles are and what they require, you can learn to build a stronger team. Discover how to assemble an effective team with these strategies.

How to Build Connections With Others Through Lore & Emblems

Does your community have a sense of identity? Do you know how to build connections with others? There are a few key characteristics that enhance connections between community members. In The Art of Community, Charles Vogl discusses the value of sharing community lore and explains how emblems and keepsakes foster a sense of belonging. Find out how to build connections with others through these elements of communities.