Shortform Books

Sam Harris on Determinism: Every Event Is Caused by Other Events

What’s determinism? Why does Sam Harris adopt this philosophy? Does it necessarily imply fatalism? According to Sam Harris, determinism is the way the world works: We don’t (and can’t) have free will. Like other determinists, he believes that what we feel about our agency misleads us; what we experience when we’re thinking about a decision doesn’t indicate the true causes of our thoughts and actions. Read more for Harris’s explanation of the determinist perspective in the debate over free will.

How to Change Bad Habits: 3 Tips to Build Good Behaviors

Do you suffer from your own detrimental behaviors? How can you change bad habits? How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith provide three main tips to help women effectively overcome bad habits. However, they can help anyone of any gender. Find out how to change bad habits you want to get rid of.

The Solution to Capitalism: Should We Fix It or Ditch It?

What’s the solution to capitalism? Does capitalism need to be replaced or can it be improved? Capitalism has come under scrutiny in recent years, and while capitalism is theoretically sound, it’s misunderstood and implemented poorly. Thankfully, Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia has the solution to capitalism. Here’s how Mackey and Sisodia would fix capitalism with an improved version.

How to Write Complex Characters Your Readers Can Relate To

How is it possible that people can relate to a fish named Nemo? Why is Annie Wilkes (the kidnapper in Stephen King’s Misery) so terrifying? You’re not one-dimensional, nor is anyone else. Real people are complex, and fictional characters must reflect that complexity if they’re going to be true to life and relatable. We’ve put together some insights into complex characters from Stephen King, Robert McKee, Lisa Cron, and Thomas C. Foster. Keep reading to learn how to write complex characters that will help bring your story to life.

How to Prioritize Yourself and Put Your Needs First

Do you put other people first? What are ways to prioritize yourself? A crucial part of unlearning niceness is prioritizing yourself. This helps you stop being a people pleaser, and finally put yourself first before anyone else. Continue reading to learn how to prioritize yourself.

How to Pay Attention: 3 Techniques to Manage Mind Clutter

Is your memory just plain bad? Do you have a hard time paying attention? Your ability to commit information to memory depends on how well you pay attention to it. According to Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsley, paying close attention to what you’re learning requires you to be present in the moment. Check out how to pay attention and enhance your memorization skills.

The Chatbot Wars Are On! Who Will Win?

Who will win the chatbot wars? What obstacles do they face? How is the battle to dominate conversational AI evolving? ChatGPT’s popularity has ignited intense competition among tech giants to lead the AI chatbot market. Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta are all rapidly developing conversational AI tools and integrating them into products in hopes of reshaping the search engine, productivity software, and consumer electronics markets. Read below for a background on the chatbot wars and who the players are.

How to Improve Learning Capacity and Memory: 3 Strategies

Do you want to keep your memory sharp? How can you improve your learning capacity and memory? In The Silva Mind Control Method, José Silva argues that you can improve your memory and learning ability using the Alpha state. Silva recommends “The Three Finger Technique,” which acts as a trigger to instantly access the Alpha state. Continue reading to learn how to improve learning capacity and memory with this technique.

Is Wokeness Bad? Douglas Murray Counts the Ways

Is wokeness bad? Does it harm society or have the potential to do so? Douglas Murray has a definite response to those questions. He believes that wokeness is hard to challenge without suffering public ridicule and shaming, which is part of the problem. But, we must fight this ideology, or our society could become even more fragmented, chaotic, and conceivably violent. Continue reading to learn why Murray believes wokeness is bad for society.

How to Find Your Freelancer Niche: Take the Path of Trial & Error

How do you go about finding your niche as a freelancer? How can you be sure that you’ve found it? Paul Millerd stepped off the default career path and embarked on “the pathless path” of freelancing. He now helps others find their way. He shares two criteria that you need to look for and shares advice on how to reach those goals. Keep reading to learn how to find your freelancer niche in today’s world.