Shortform Books

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.

Alexander Hamilton on Slavery: Did He Own Slaves?

Was Alexander Hamilton against or for slavery? Why is his work as an abolitionist complicated? Ron Chernow’s biography Alexander Hamilton does point out that Hamilton advocated for slaves’ rights, but he wasn’t exactly innocent in the matter. Many reports claim that Hamilton bought and owned slaves. Continue reading to learn more about Alexander Hamilton on slavery.

Dr. Bruce Lipton: What Epigenetics Reveals About Cells

What are Dr. Bruce Lipton’s views on epigenetics? What has his research found about the behavior of cells? According to The Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton, epigenetics can show us how our environment and thoughts influence our cells. He further claims that cell behavior is a mirror to human behavior. Keep reading to learn more about Lipton’s research on epigenetics.

Bill Gates Talks About the Importance of Knowledge in Business

Are you trying to establish credibility in your field? How did Bill Gates do it when he was starting out? Alex Banayan interviewed successful people from a wide range of fields to discover what insights, tricks, and motivations helped them find success. He chose interviewees who started out as unknowns and, thus, lacked credibility. One of these is Bill Gates, who shared how he got people to invest in him. Continue reading to learn what Bill Gates has to say about the importance of knowledge in business, especially as you seek to build credibility.