Shortform Books

Do You Want to Master a New Skill? Heed These 5 Lessons

Do you want to master a new skill? Besides the ins and outs of the skill itself, what should you know? In Mastery, George Leonard contends that pursuing mastery can yield a lifetime of rich experiences and personal growth. He shares five lessons to help you start on the master’s path today: get instruction, see your skill as a practice, submit to the process, visualize learning, and push to the edge. Continue reading to understand each of these lessons in more depth.

How to Stop Blowing Things Out of Proportion

Do you tend to blow things out of proportion? How can you embody a more realistic mindset? When you blow things out of proportion, you’re looking at something with an exaggerated view. When it comes to a simple task, you might think it’s too difficult or big to handle. Find out how to stop blowing things out of proportion, according to Immediate Action by Thibaut Meurisse.

Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War: A Strategic Leader

What was it like to follow Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War? What kind of leader was Grant? In 1862, Grant was promoted to Major General of Volunteers, making him the second-highest general in the Western Theater. Contrary to Grant’s critics, author Ron Chernow argues that Grant was a cunning strategist and leader in the Civil War, both on and off the battlefield. We’ll focus on two key examples of Grant’s leadership in the Civil War: the Vicksburg campaign and his post-victory treatment of Confederates.

How the Mighty Fall: Book Overview and Takeaways

Why do so many companies crack under pressure? How can a floundering company recover? While Jim Collins’s book How the Mighty Fall is a warning to companies that have grown complacent, it also serves as motivation for those in the throes of decline. Collins says that by staying vigilant about the threat of failure, you can rechart your course, keep pushing forward, and ensure your company’s survival. Read below for a brief How the Mighty Fall book overview.

How to Set Up a Small Business Using a Lean Canvas

How do you set up a small business? What are some small business growth strategies that you can integrate into your business model? To set up a small business, you need to draft a business model that’s flexible and adaptive. You should take into account your customer wants and needs both in your initial plan and as you grow. Learn how to set up a small business using these strategies from Ash Maurya’s Running Lean.

Dr. Peter Attia: Your Diet Now Impacts Your Health in Later Life

How much protein should you eat? What about carbs and fats? When is fasting a good idea? According to Dr. Peter Attia, diet is an important factor for your physical and mental capabilities in old age. Normal metabolic function is essential if you want to avoid deadly chronic diseases, and how you eat has an impact on your metabolism. Continue reading to get Attia’s insights on protein, carbs, fats, and fasting.

How to Communicate With Big-Picture vs. Detail-Oriented People

Do you tend to see the forest or the trees? What if people around you see things differently than you do? Each individual makes sense of the world in a unique way. One area in which people usually fall into one category more than another is the way they view things—either in broad strokes or in fine detail. In turn, this informs the way they operate. Shelle Rose Charvet explains how to communicate with both types. Read more to understand big-picture vs. detail-oriented people and speak their language.

Ulysses S. Grant on Slavery: Was He Opposed to It?

What was Ulysses S. Grant’s stance on slavery? Was he in full support of abolitionism? Ulysses S. Grant was the General of the Union Armies during the Civil War, fighting to preserve the United States as a constitutional union. Despite having a personal opposition to slavery, Grant wasn’t fully committed to the idea of abolitionism. Read more about Ulysses S. Grant on slavery below.

How to Get Your Energy Back: 4 Tips for Boundless Enthusiasm

Are you too tired to do what you want to do, much less what you need to do? Do you ever suffer from decision paralysis? In his book Mastery, George Leonard writes about living a fulfilling life. He argues that the master’s path is the only guaranteed way to do it. A life of mastery is one lived in disciplined dedication to your chosen skill, craft, or art. It’s in this context that he discusses energy, and his insights are broadly applicable. Keep reading to learn how to get your energy back and channel it toward a life of fulfillment.

Overconfidence Bias in Decision-Making: A Company’s Downfall

How does overconfidence affect decision-making? How does overconfidence hurt businesses? In his book How the Mighty Fall, Jim Collins claims that one of the reasons why companies fail is because managers or workers are overconfident that the company can only go uphill. Companies should always be prepared for the worst, and believing otherwise will only hurt them. Let’s look at how overconfidence bias in decision-making hurts companies.