Shortform Books

The Colorado River Agreement: Everything We Know

What is the Colorado River Agreement? Is it too late to save the river? The Colorado River is rapidly drying up due to mismanagement and the ongoing drought in the Western US. The seven Colorado River Basin states have struck a deal with the Biden administration to drastically reduce their water consumption, which they hope will stabilize the water supply for the short term. Below we’ll go over the Colorado River Agreement, including why it’s needed, the details of the deal, and whether or not it’s too late.

History of Psychedelics: From Ancient Greece to Today

Where does the history of psychedelics begin? What did the Greeks do with psychedelics in the ancient world? Psychedelics have been around for centuries, and have cultural and healing significance in indigenous cultures. It wasn’t until the 1950s that certain psychedelics spread to American and European cultures where they were criminalized and banned. Let’s explore the rich history of psychedelics, as written in How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan.

Advice to Your Younger Self (That You Can Still Use Now)

What advice would you give to your younger self? Is it too late to learn from your past mistakes? As you grow older and wiser, you might wish you could tell your past self the things you know now. Maybe you regret not going on that date all those years ago, or maybe you wish you made a career change. Even though you can’t change the past, it’s never too late to start making better choices. Here are six pieces of advice your younger self should’ve heard, but that you can still heed today.

How Men Suffer From the Decline of the Family

What’s causing the decline of the traditional family? Why are marriage rates so low and divorce rates so high? The decline of the family is a real problem in society. According to Stefan Aarnio, as he states in his book Hard Times Create Strong Men, men suffer from the low rates of marriage because it threatens their masculinity. Continue reading to learn how men are affected by a lack of a traditional family.

How to Live Your Best Life: Advice From Motivational Experts

Do you feel like you’re stuck in the wrong life? What’s the key to living your best life? Many authors have tackled why people feel so unhappy with their lives. While they all take different approaches, they seem to agree on one thing: knowing your values and living in alignment with them will make you feel satisfied with your life. Below we’ll look at how to live your best life by comparing experts’ advice.

Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life (Overview & Takeaways)

What does Jordan Peterson think you should do with one room in your house? What’s his advice for dealing with bad memories? What things should you refuse to do? In Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life, Jordan B. Peterson lays out his philosophy and rules for living a life of excellence in a world of hardship and chaos. Peterson offers 12 rules, centered on ideas of chaos, change, and order. Continue reading for an overview of this much-anticipated sequel.

Charles Darwin Quotes From On the Origin of Species

Did Charles Darwin coin the term “survival of the fittest”? What did Darwin say would bring down his entire theory? On the Origin of Species revolutionized the way people look at life on Earth. This scientific classic was originally published in 1859 by the naturalist Charles Darwin and went through six editions in Darwin’s lifetime as he continually revised and clarified his ideas. Read on for several Charles Darwin quotes from On the Origin of Species.

Confucius: Virtue Is About Making the World a Better Place

Harnessing the Force of Love to Change Your Life

What is shu? How can it guide your behavior in life? What’s Confucius’s recipe for morality? For Confucius, virtue is paramount in life. The Analects contain practical advice for how to become a good person. Confucius discusses the principle of shu, and he shares four more qualities you should embody if you want to be a force for good in the world. Keep reading to learn the Confucian way of morality.

Damaged Legacy: Jimmy Carter & the Iran Hostage Crisis

Why did Iran take American hostages in 1979? Why did it take so long to free them? What should President Carter have done differently? Biographer Jonathan Alter can’t ignore the crisis that defined much of the presidency of Jimmy Carter—the Iran hostage crisis. Alter details the road to the crisis, Carter’s resistance to using military force, and the final push to free the hostages just as Carter’s presidency came to its end. Read on to learn about this dark chapter in American history.

How to Motivate People: 3 Ways to Spur Your Audience to Action

What’s the primary goal of public speaking? How’s it achieved? In The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication, internationally renowned speaker John C. Maxwell shares his secrets to becoming a confident and effective communicator capable of delivering any message to any audience. He provides practical tips for achieving the primary objective of public speaking. Read more to learn how to motivate people with Maxwell’s three recommendations.