Shortform Books

How to Focus on Learning: Dedicating Time & Space to Learn

How far in advance do you schedule study or practice time? Do you have a dedicated learning space? An important step in preparing yourself to learn is to set aside the time and create the right environment in which you can maximize your ability to focus. This involves prioritizing your activities, planning your schedule, eliminating distractions, and creating the proper atmosphere for yourself. Continue reading for advice on how to focus on learning and get the most out of your studies.

How to Create a Vision for Your Business in 3 Clear Steps

What will your industry look like in 10 years? How will the market change? How might your company need to adjust to meet new demands in a different business landscape? Drawing on insights from their research and experience working with prominent companies, Mark W. Johnson and Josh Suskewicz provide a practical, three-stage framework that enables you to stay ahead of your competition and unlock new possibilities for your organization. The first stage is creating a vision. Read on to learn how to create a vision for your business with the three steps provided in Lead From the Future.

How to Be a Fun Person: It’s All About Attitude & Environment

Are people just naturally fun or not fun? Are fun people all extroverts? Is it possible to learn how to be a fun person? The Power of Fun is Catherine Price’s step-by-step guide to inviting more fun into your life. Not only can you have more fun, but you can also be more fun by adopting a certain mindset and creating particular environments. Keep reading to learn how to be a fun person and bring joy to the world around you.

Jordan Peterson’s Marriage Advice: Maintain the Romance

Does your marriage balance romance and routine well? How can you achieve that balance and keep it? Plan and work diligently to maintain the romance in your relationship. That’s Jordan Peterson’s marriage advice from his book Beyond Order. He provides some practical tips on how to keep your relationship strong through the years. Read more to learn about Beyond Order Rule 10.

How the Decline of Religion in America Affects Politics

How is the decline of religion in America affecting the political parties? How do some members of Congress exploit religion? Churches are closing across America and each generation is becoming less religious than the last. Shockingly, the trend isn’t having the effect on politics that most would expect. In this article, we’ll examine what this could mean for the political future of America.

Positive Intelligence Quotient: How to Increase Your PQ

What’s a Positive Intelligence Quotient (PQ)? What’s a good exercise to increase your PQ? The Positive Intelligence Quotient measures your ability to keep your Sage in control and your Saboteurs at bay. Shirzad Chamine explains that higher percentages indicate greater control. Only 20% of people have a PQ of 75% or more, showing that Saboteurs often outweigh the influence of the Sage. Read on to learn about the Positive Intelligence Quotient, and take an exercise to increase your PQ.

The Benefits of Hunger: Why Fasting Is Natural for Humans

Do you always eat when you’re hungry? What if you didn’t? A consequence of our modern lifestyles is obesity. In The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter explains that enduring the discomfort of hunger can help us move away from modern eating habits and counteract their negative effects. Keep reading to learn the surprising benefits of hunger and Easter’s tips for fasting.

How to Make a Career Change: 3 Steps to Reinvent Yourself

Are you unhappy at work? Interested in another field? Worried that your job is in danger of becoming obsolete? Barbara Oakley says it’s never too late to make a career change. In her book Mindshift, she asserts that you can have a mindshift regardless of your age or occupation. That means expanding your skill set—and, consequently, your opportunities—through transformative learning. Keep reading to learn how to make a career change with three steps from Oakley.

The Expectation Effect: The Psychology of Predictions

Are you interested in expectation effect psychology? How do your brain’s expectations affect your body? Because of the connection between your body and your mind, both physiological and psychological mechanisms can produce expectation effects. In The Expectation Effect, David Robson explores how expectation effects affect your health and how you carry out tasks. Keep reading to learn about the inner workings of expectation effects.

How to Self-Reflect and Cope With Secondary Trauma

What’s the importance of self-reflection? How does reflecting on yourself help workers in trauma care? People who help others cope with their trauma should be praised for the work they do. But these heroes sometimes forget that they need to take care of themselves, as well. If you’re one of these people, keep reading to learn how to self-reflect and improve your health.