Shortform Books

Jill Bolte Taylor’s Whole Brain Living: Book Overview

What is Jill Bolte Taylor’s Whole Brain Living about? How do the different parts of our brains work together like a team? When neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a stroke on the left side of her brain, her life as she knew it dissolved as she lost access to basic cognitive functions. Taylor’s key insight from her experience is that we can choose to access different parts of our brains. Read below for an overview of Whole Brain Living and how to improve your emotional well-being.

How to Reframe Self-Limiting Thoughts to Become Rich

Do you want to become rich and financially stable? Why do you need to adjust your self-limiting thoughts? You may not realize it, but you’re the number one reason why you’re not making more money. This is because you have negative beliefs about yourself and money that are setting you back. Below we’ve listed steps on how to reframe self-limiting thoughts, according to Rachel Rodgers’ book We Should All Be Millionaires.

How to Analyze a Business Model Like Warren Buffett: 3 Metrics

How does Warren Buffett choose his investments? What does he look for in a business model? Investment professional Robert G. Hagstrom lays out Warren Buffett’s investment strategies in his book The Warren Buffett Way. One of the steps in Buffett’s process is to evaluate a company’s business model. He looks for three things: simplicity, predictability, and a competitive edge that will last. Read more to learn how to analyze a business model like Warren Buffett does.

The 4 Characteristics of a Good Business Idea (John List)

How can you know your idea will scale? What should you look for, and what should you avoid? Economist and professor John A. List says that a viable business idea has four characteristics. It has a scalable audience, it’s not dependent on talented individuals, it anticipates spillover effects, and it keeps costs under control. Read on to learn about these four characteristics of a good business idea.

How to Reduce Political Polarization Individually & Together

Do you recognize efforts to sow division between you and your fellow citizens? If so, how do you respond? In Why We’re Polarized, progressive journalist, political commentator, and podcaster Ezra Klein explores the history and roots of polarization in America and its impact on the two major political parties. Then, he discusses how to reduce political polarization through institutional and individual actions. Keep reading to find out how Americans might be able to stem the tide of polarization.

Expert Advice on How to Build a Career That’s Worth Investing In

Are you just getting started in your career or contemplating a new one? How can you do your best to head down the right path? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss passes along life and career advice that he received from experts in a variety of fields. Some of the insights cover how to build a career that you’re happy to invest in. Read on to get several practical tips that will help you carve out a fulfilling career path.

Stick to Your Values: Advice From Wozniak, Alba, & Hsieh

Are you clear on what you value most? How does that translate into your life and career choices? Alex Banayan interviewed some of the world’s most successful people for his book The Third Door. One theme that kept coming up was the importance of staying true to yourself and what matters most to you, even if that means making difficult choices. Keep reading to learn why it’s important that you stick to your values on your journey toward success.

The Impact of the French Revolution on America

What was America’s role in the French Revolution? Why were American parties split on helping the French? According to Ron Chernow’s book Alexander Hamilton, the French Revolution was a tough time for America. The Federalists wanted to side with the British for economic reasons, whereas the Republicans advocated for helping the French for democratic reasons. Let’s look at the impact of the French Revolution on America.

The Distracted Mind: Book Overview and Takeaways

What is The Distracted Mind about? What is the negative impact of technology on human brains? In The Distracted Mind, Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen define the distracted mind and the ways that technology has exacerbated it. They also discuss their proposed strategies for alleviating this condition by taking steps to improve our brain’s cognitive control and by modifying our environment. Read below for a brief overview of The Distracted Mind.

Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella: Overview

Do you want to improve your golf game? Why is your mental state almost as important as your form? How can you prevent a bad shot from ruining the rest of your game? If you’ve ever talked yourself out of choosing the right club or agonized over whether to try to muscle it over a water hazard, Bob Rotella’s Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect is here to help. In this book, Rotella provides a framework for improving the mental side of your golf game. Read below for a brief overview of Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect.