Shortform Books

Individualist vs. Relationalist Views of Marriage (David Brooks)

Does your marriage leave you with unmet expectations? What sacrifices should marriage require? David Brooks compares two approaches to life and, thus, marriage. The first approach is characteristic of individualism, which prioritizes personal liberty and spurns commitment. The second approach is characteristic of relationalism, which celebrates community and prizes commitment. Continue reading to learn about two views of marriage based on these two approaches to life.

How to Read People’s Body Language: Former FBI Agent Explains

Do you want to learn how to read people’s body language? What can you learn about a person based on their body language alone? Body language cues can tell you more about a person than their words, provided that you know how to decode them. According to former FBI agent Joe Navarro, there are five key steps you need to follow when trying to size someone up based on their body language. Here’s how to read body language, according to Navarro.

How Accurate Are Climate Models? 3 Ways They Miss the Mark

How accurate are climate models? Can we trust them to give us a good picture of the future? Steven E. Koonin contends that climate scientists’ models don’t reliably predict future climate change. He points to three flaws: The grids they use are too large, they require initial conditions that we can’t measure, and they have to be “tuned” to avoid contradictions. Read more to understand each of these flaws better.

Turning Negatives Into Positives: Tips From a Navy SEAL

What is the benefit of turning negatives into positives? How do you avoid getting trapped in a cycle of negativity? Negativity can be hard to escape, especially if you’re not in the habit of embracing positive thoughts. With the help of Mark Divine’s book The Way of the SEAL, you can erase the negativity and begin a healthy cycle of optimism. Discover why turning negatives into positives makes a tremendous impact on your self-esteem.

The Innovator’s DNA: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

Which of your skills should you focus on if you want to be a disruptive innovator? Do you network for ideas and brainstorm for questions? Hal Gregersen, Jeff Dyer, and Clayton Christensen explore why innovation in business is so important. They outline the five behaviors and skills you can adopt to cultivate innovative thinking and explain how to drive meaningful change by embedding these behaviors and skills into your organizations and teams. Continue reading for our overview of The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators.

Diet and Nutrition Advice for Optimal Health

Do you want to start eating healthier but aren’t sure where to start? What are some healthy eating tips that can help you set your diet on track? When it comes to healthy eating, there’s so much misinformation that it can be hard to find advice that’s credible and science-backed. However, it’s critical to have correct knowledge of what’s healthy to eat and what isn’t. With this in mind, here’s diet and nutrition advice you can trust.

Why You Should Go Out of Your Comfort Zone

Why is it important to push yourself to go out of your comfort zone? How does doing things that feel uncomfortable get you closer to your goals? You’ll never achieve great things in life if you don’t step out of your comfort zone. According to self-development coach Roxie Nafousi, you should force yourself to step outside of your comfort zone so you get familiar with the feeling of discomfort. Here’s why you should push yourself to step out of your comfort zone and some tips to help you make the most out of it.

Matthew Perry’s Alcoholism: How It Started and Ended

When did Matthew Perry’s alcoholism start? Why did he have a hard time quitting after his first drink? In Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, actor Matthew Perry reveals his first experience with alcohol and how it shaped his life forever. Alcohol became a way for Perry to forget his struggles during his teenage years and it only got worse because of his father’s habits. Let’s look at how Perry used alcohol as a coping mechanism at such a young age.

What Is the Purpose of Sadness? The Benefits of Being Sad

What’s the purpose of sadness? Why is sadness such an important emotion? Can sadness be beneficial? Sadness is often seen as a negative emotion—something to be avoided or suppressed—but according to best-selling author Susan Cain, it serves a powerful purpose in our lives. In her book Bittersweet, Cain argues that sadness is a prosocial emotion that inspires compassion and empathy for others. Read on to learn what the purpose of sadness is and why it’s so important, according to Cain.

How to Make a Daily Routine for Yourself (and Stick to It!)

Looking to learn how to make a daily routine for yourself? What strategies do productivity experts suggest? If you want to make the most of your time and be more productive, learning how to make a daily routine for yourself is the first step. Experts agree that learning to prioritize your tasks, protect your focus time, and align your priorities with your values sets the foundation for a fulfilling daily routine. Read on to learn how to make and maintain a daily routine for yourself, according to five expert tips.