Shortform Books

The Third Door: Alex Banayan Uncovers the Mindset of Success

How do people like Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates succeed? What lessons from their lives and careers can you apply to your own? In The Third Door, Alex Banayan writes that success is like a nightclub with three doors. He argues that the third door is the best—and really, only—route to getting ahead of the crowd. He learned this from interviewing (and trying to interview) several wildly successful people. Continue reading for an overview of Banayan’s book, and find out what “the third door” is.

How to Choose a Topic & Develop Ideas for Maximum Impact

Have you been asked to give a speech or write an article? How should select the subject matter and flesh out what you’re going to say? In Public Speaking for Success, Dale Carnegie shares advice on how to choose a topic and develop ideas. While his tips are provided in the context of public speaking, they’re applicable to essays, books, and more. Continue reading to learn how to figure out what topic and ideas you should present.

Warren Buffett’s Intrinsic Value Formula: How He Finds Good Deals

How does Warren Buffett determine what companies he should invest in? Why does he look for a margin of safety? One of Warren Buffett’s investing strategies is to buy stock in companies that are undervalued. In order to identify such companies, he calculates a company’s intrinsic value. Then, he translates that value into a margin of safety. Keep reading to learn Warren Buffett’s intrinsic value formula, as described in The Warren Buffett Way by investment professional Robert G. Hagstrom.

The Polarization of Political Parties: Why the GOP Is Impacted More

How has growing political polarization in America affected Democrats and Republicans? Why are these parties impacted differently? The Democratic and Republican parties are different, not just in their platforms, but in their culture and makeup. Ezra Klein says that this explains why political polarization affects these two major parties differently. Continue reading to understand the polarization of political parties in America.

Get It Right: The Importance of Accurate Data in Market Research

Are you skilled at knowing when data is misleading? Can you recognize false positives? When you test your ideas in various markets, you get data that can be invaluable. But, inaccurate data will send you off in the wrong direction. In the context of market research, economist John A. List discusses the importance of accurate data and shares strategies on how to recognize false positives. Read more to learn how to get more accurate data in market research.

Seth Godin: A Marketing Strategy Based on Permission

What’s the best way to approach prospective customers? What’s the most profitable level of permission you can get from customers? In Permission Marketing, Seth Godin establishes the broad basics of his approach: Make long-term investments in your customers, and personalize offers for each individual. Then, he gets more specific and outlines the steps you can take to set up and profit from a permission marketing campaign. Keep reading to learn the basics of Seth Godin’s marketing strategy as presented in Permission Marketing.

The Unexpected Side Effects of Global Warming

How will global warming affect coffee and wine production? How does hot weather affect your libido and mental health? Aside from causing extreme weather events and the loss of polar bear habitats, there are other side effects of global warming that directly impact your day-to-day life. Hotter tempers, lower productivity, and even mornings without coffee may be in our future. Here, we discuss the impact that rising temperatures have on mental and physical health, leisure activities, and our daily routines.

Work Hard to Achieve Your Goals—and Know When to Rest

Do you have defined professional and personal goals? How much work are you willing to put in to reach them? How much effort are they worth? Tim Ferriss collected advice from experts in various fields, and many of them spoke about the importance of hard work, especially in the pursuit of worthy goals. Some also highlighted the importance of working smart and not overdoing it. Read more to get inspired to work hard to achieve your goals and to find wisdom about where to draw the line.

Why a Core Purpose Is the Foundation of Your Career

Do you want to take your career to the next level? Do you have a core purpose? Your core purpose is your overarching goal for your career and the “why” behind everything you do in your leadership journey. In Discover Your True North, Bill George examines why a core purpose is important for those looking for a management position in their career. Continue reading to learn how to identify your purpose and set your career on the right path.

The Origins of Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Papers

What are the contents of Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Papers? Why did he write the Federalist Papers? The Federalist Papers are known as Hamilton’s best-known piece of work. They consist of 85 essays that describe, in detail, what each clause of the Constitution states so that it wouldn’t be misinterpreted. Let’s look at why Hamilton wrote the Federalist Papers and the impact they had on America at the time.