Shortform Books

How to Rest Your Mind: Healing From Directed Attention Fatigue

Is your mind always “on”? How often does it get a chance to rest and repair? How can you invite such opportunities? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols explains that water—looking at it, being near it, and being in it—reduces stress and allows the mind to heal. He discusses the theory of directed attention fatigue and shows how water can give your mind a break and a chance to rejuvenate. Keep reading to learn how to rest your mind by engaging with water.

The Effects of Chronic Stress: When “Red Mind” Is in Overdrive

Why do humans have stress responses? When do these responses cross the line from being helpful to being harmful? What impact does chronic stress have on our minds and bodies? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols advocates the Blue Mind state—a serene experience that we sometimes have when we’re around water. The opposite is the Red Mind state, and he explains what happens when we’re in that state on an ongoing basis. Read more to learn about the effects of chronic stress.

How to Begin a Speech: Dale Carnegie’s Timeless Strategies

What common mistakes do people make when beginning a presentation? What must you do well before your speech to help it get off to a strong start? How you begin your speech sets the tone for the entire presentation. In Public Speaking for Success, author and lecturer Dale Carnegie shares practical strategies you can use to grab your audience’s attention and make them want to hear more. Keep reading to learn how to begin a speech in a way that people won’t soon forget.

The Origins of Zen Buddhism: Indian & Chinese Traditions Meet

Where did Zen come from? What ideas did Zen borrow from Taoism, Confucianism, and Mahayana Buddhism? Zen created a synthesis of Chinese and Indian traditions. It continues to be practiced by millions of people around the world today. To find the origins of Zen Buddhism, we must go back to sixth-century China. Keep reading to learn how Zen Buddhism got its start in a culture already rich with ideas.

What Is Permission Marketing & Why Is It So Profitable?

What is permission marketing? Why is it more effective than old-style “Interruption Marketing”? Seth Godin says that the primary advertising method of the 20th century is no longer the most effective approach. He advocates building relationships through what he calls “permission marketing.” He explains what it is and why it’s so much more profitable in today’s brand-saturated market. Keep reading to understand what permission marketing is as well as the philosophies that are behind it.

The Meditation Journey: Why Distractedness Is Progress

Are you fairly new to meditation, or are you considering getting started? Do you get discouraged and wonder whether you should be experiencing more results sooner? If you’ve started on your meditation journey or you’re thinking of taking the first step, Sam Harris has some advice for you. In Waking Up, he shares some insights that will help you know what to expect from this spiritual practice. Read more to find encouragement for your meditation journey.

Should You Trust Your Intuition? How to Vet Your Unconscious Self

Should you trust your intuition? How well has it worked for you in the past? Tim Ferriss’s Tribe of Mentors contains life advice from experts in a wide variety of fields. The book also presents an alternative to taking others’ advice: trusting your intuition. But, even that choice comes with considerations, as some say that it’s vital to continually challenge your intuitive assumptions. Read on to explore the universally relevant matter of trusting your intuition.

Jennette McCurdy’s Childhood Life Before iCarly

What was Jennette McCurdy’s childhood like before fame? How did McCurdy deal with her mother’s mental and physical illnesses? Before she was Sam Puckett on iCarly, Jennette McCurdy was just a young girl with a mother who had big dreams—and big problems. In her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, McCurdy details how her mother’s childhood dream manifested into her daughter’s life. Continue reading to learn more about Jennette McCurdy’s childhood chase for fame.

The Top 5 Memory Improvement Tips to Keep Your Mind Sharp

Do you need help retaining or recalling information? What are the best memory improvement tips that will keep your mind as sharp as ever? If you’re always using the excuse, “My memory isn’t what it used to be,” just know that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of tips and tricks to keep your memory in tip-top shape. Whether you want to memorize your credit card information or remember your doctor’s appointment, these memory improvement tips will help you out.

How to Not Get Distracted: 2 Strategies to Stay Focused

Do you get distracted easily? How can you become more resistant to interference? The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen has potential remedies for the detrimental effects of interference. Although there are no foolproof cures, Gazzaley and Rosen contend that we can minimize our susceptibility to interference by taking steps to improve our cognitive control and minimize potential sources of interference. Check out how to not get distracted and stay on track.