Shortform Books

False Scientific Theories: Were Darwin and Lamarck Wrong?

Were Darwin and Lamarck wrong about evolution? How will epigenetics make you think differently about certain scientific paradigms? For much of his career, Bruce Lipton says he’s found himself at odds with the scientific community because his ideas have challenged prevailing scientific paradigms. In particular, he proposed the principles of epigenetics long before it was an established field of study. Let’s look at what Lipton considers false scientific theories, as stated in his book The Biology of Belief.

Lady Gaga: Failure Can Be Turned Into Success

How to Deal With Failure at Work and Build Resilience

How did Lada Gaga respond to the criticism she received for her album ARTPOP? What can it teach you about failure and success? Many of the people whom Alex Banayan interviewed for his book The Third Door overcame difficult challenges in their lives and their careers. He found that, for Lady Gaga, failure is an opportunity to bounce back and avoid derailing progress. Read more to learn how Lady Gaga has dealt with criticism and failure.

How Does Warren Buffett Invest? Tips to Manage Your Portfolio

How does Warren Buffett invest? What’s the best way to adopt his approach? In The Warren Buffett Way, investment professional Robert G. Hagstrom outlines Warren Buffett’s investment strategies. Hagstrom explains why Buffett believes that focus investing is better than modern portfolio theory, and he shares some pitfalls to avoid as a focus investor. Read on to learn how to manage your portfolio like Buffett and to find an exercise that will help you examine your investing habits.

Jill Bolte Taylor: The 4 Characters in Your Brain That Run Your Life

What are Jill Bolte Taylor’s 4 characters of the brain? How do these characters work together to keep the brain active and working? In her book Whole Brain Living, Jill Bolte Taylor cites four “characters” of the brain that have their own way of perceiving and navigating the world. She also introduces where each character resides and what they’re like. Continue reading to learn more about these four characters and their roles in the brain.

Accountability in Business: When Leaders Should Apologize

Should you apologize to your team when you mess up? Is it possible to apologize too much? As difficult as it can be, it seems obvious that leaders should admit their mistakes. However, it’s not so cut and dry when and how they should apologize. In The Voltage Effect, John A. List discusses what accountability in business should look like. Keep reading for List’s advice that can help you be a better leader and teammate.

Learning by Listening: Why Language Is Crucial in Child Education

How do children learn by listening? What are the benefits of reading to your child? Talking and reading to your child are proven methods for improving their skillsets in their developmental stages. Humans learn best through language, so it’s understandable that children’s development depends on oral teaching. Find out how talking, listening, and reading are beneficial for your child, according to The Gardener and the Carpenter by Alison Gopnik.

The 4 Ways a Busy Lifestyle Robs You of Meaningful Experiences

Are you busy in a way that’s fulfilling or in a way that just feels hectic? Do you prioritize your well-being as much as you should? In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, pastor and author John Mark Comer makes a distinction between busyness that’s beneficial and busyness that’s detrimental. He warns against the type of busy lifestyle that leads to weak relationships, disconnection from God, poor health, and a lack of purpose. Read on to learn about the dangers of a busy lifestyle that tends to run you ragged.

Social Atomization: A Sad Consequence of the Attention Economy

Do you enjoy people for the sake of enjoying people? Do you have genuine friendships—or just glorified networking experiences? In her book How to Do Nothing, Jenny Odell argues that doing nothing is meant to solve the problems created by the attention economy—the mindset of placing a monetary value on time and attention. One of these problems is social atomization. Continue reading to understand this phenomenon and how it affects us all.

Hitting Bad Shots in Golf? Here’s How to Recover Like a Pro

Why are you hitting bad shots in golf? What are the benefits of responding positively to your losses? Sore losers never get far on the course. When you hit a few weak shots during a round of golf, you need to brush it off and move on to the next round. Otherwise, the rest of your game could be ruined. Continue reading to learn how to pick yourself up after a bad game, using advice from Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella.