Shortform Books

The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne & Jerry Lucas (Overview)

Would you like to memorize a poem or the presentation you’re giving next Tuesday? Do you just want some help remembering what you’re supposed to pick up at the store? The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas aims to help anyone memorize and recall all sorts of information. The authors explain the principles that govern memory, and they share strategies that capitalize on those principles. Continue reading for an overview of this classic book on memory.

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan: Book Overview

Can psychedelics really treat mental health problems? How do psychedelics affect the human brain? In what ways do psychedelics have the potential to fix society? In How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan shows his research on psychedelic trials and their impact on society. He also explores the history of psychedelics from the prehistoric period until now. Read below for a brief overview of How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan.

3 Objections to Evolution & Charles Darwin’s Rebuttals

Since we now have complex organisms, why are there still simple ones? Where are all the intermediate species? From the start, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution raised eyebrows—and serious questions. In the sixth and final edition of On the Origin of Species (1872), Darwin responds to the three main objections raised by skeptics. Read more to learn about these objections to evolution and Darwin’s rebuttals in defense of his theory.

The 5 Memory Principles That Underpin Memory Techniques

What’s a foundational memory? Can you deliberately create one? Why are concrete things easier to remember than abstract things? The Memory Book is a classic book that can help you put to memory and recall all kinds of information. Authors Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas share the basic memory principles that underpin the strategies they recommend. Keep reading to learn about these five principles of memory.

What Is Ren? The Confucian Concept of Humaneness

What is ren? Do you practice it? What difference would it make if you did? In The Analects, Confucius defines a good person as someone who strives to improve the world. He believes that good people must be altruistic. In other words, they act to help other people and don’t simply seek personal gain through their behavior. Continue reading to learn about the Confucian virtue of ren and how to practice it in your life for the betterment of the world around you.

Leveraging Watergate: Jimmy Carter’s Campaign for President

What was Jimmy Carter’s campaign strategy when he ran for president? Why was it effective? In His Very Best, biographer Jonathan Alter presents a fresh perspective on Jimmy Carter’s life and career. One major chapter in Carter’s story is his successful run for president in 1976. Keep reading to learn about Jimmy Carter’s campaign strategy and how it succeeded.

How to Read the Room & Adapt Your Presentation Accordingly

How to Find Your Target Audience and Competitors

How can you read the room even before you speak? How should you respond to certain reactions you get during your presentation? Even the most prepared speaker must be ready to be flexible during their speech. A skilled public speaker knows how to read the room and go with that flow in order to maintain the connection between them and their audience. Read more for John C. Maxwell’s advice on how to read the room and adjust your speech as needed.

What Are Stand Your Ground Laws & Are They Still Relevant?

What are stand-your-ground laws, and should they be considered in 2023? What effect do stand-your-ground laws have on crime? Despite recent cases of homeowners shooting people who mistakenly approached their homes, Republicans are pushing for a national stand-your-ground law. This law would allow people who feel threatened to use deadly force. Below, we’ll look at the effect of such laws, already established in more than 30 states, on society and on crime rates.

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.