Shortform Books

How to Expand Your Business With the Network Effect

Want to know how to expand your business for rapid growth? How can you achieve “Growth Explosion?” According to venture capitalist Andrew Chen, Growth Explosion is what happens when you build enough subnetworks to become a legitimate competitor to the current industry leader. Chen offers three methods to expand your business rapidly in his book The Cold Start Problem. Read on to learn how to expand your business rapidly, according to Chen’s three methods.

Merlin Sheldrake: Fungi Will Make You Question Everything

Why is Merlin Sheldrake fascinated with fungi? How do fungi expand our imaginations? According to Merlin Sheldrake, fungi push us to consider new ways of thinking about ourselves, other people, and non-human beings. It’s no wonder that Sheldrake wrote Entangled Life, a whole book about the beauty of fungi. Here, we’ll explore two concepts that fungi challenge us to question: individuality and intelligence.

How & When Walter McMillian Was Released From Death Row

How long was Walter McMillian in prison? When was Walter McMillian released? Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy studies the case of Walter McMillian, which he took on when he suspected McMillian was wrongfully convicted of a murder he was accused of. Stevenson was successful in freeing McMillian from death row, but it was a long process. Keep reading to learn about the journey to free McMillian.

How to Overcome Cognitive Biases: The Top 3 Methods

Do you want to free your mind from psychological biases? Is it possible to be 100% free from bias? While it’s not possible to be totally free from bias, you can actively work to reduce it with study and practice. As a result of overcoming your biases, you will view the world more objectively, make better decisions, and become less prone to anxiety fueled by biased thinking. Keep reading to learn how to overcome cognitive biases.

How to Write a Treatment: Blending Text and Subtext

What’s the purpose of a treatment? What’s the best way to write one? McKee details what he believes to be the ideal writing process: Begin with an outline, flesh it out into a treatment, then polish it into a final script. McKee frames this as a process for screenwriters, but you could apply it to stories in any medium. Keep reading to explore the second step in McKee’s process and learn his advice for how to write a treatment.

What Should the Government Spend Money On? 4 Priorities

What should the government spend money on? What should its priorities be and why? In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith discusses what he thinks are the best ways to grow a nation’s economy. Since growth is the goal, Smith opposes most public spending. He outlines two criteria for what he considers proper government expenditures. Only four things meet these criteria. Let’s take a look at what makes the cut and why.

How to Gather Information: Finding Gems Among the Rocks

How can you figure out whether certain information is relevant to the issue at hand? How do you know if an information source is credible? The first step to critical thinking is gathering information. To do this well, first, clarify your topic or question and its parameters. Then, assess the relevance of the information you find. Check it for reliability, bias, and fallacies. Continue reading to learn how to gather information to find real answers and solutions.

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela: Book Overview

What was Nelson Mandela’s childhood like? Why, exactly, did he go to prison? What legacy did he leave? Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela chronicles his extraordinary life story. Mandela is known as one of history’s great peacemakers, but his own life wasn’t a peaceful one. He had to fight, every step of the way. Continue reading for an overview of this important book, along with a short exercise to reflect on what you’ve read.

The 3 Truths About Suffering in Buddhism

What does Buddhism say about suffering? What are the three truths about suffering? Suffering is a normal part of life, and there are many lessons that we can learn from it. Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama’s book The Book of Joy claim that in order to feel joy, you need to fully understand the role suffering plays in your life. Keep reading to learn more about suffering in Buddhism.

Are Typical Western Diets & Lifestyles Making People Sick?

How are typical Western diets and lifestyles influencing people’s health? What is microbial diversity and what happens when it’s compromised? Science journalist Ed Yong writes about the health implications of living a Western lifestyle in his book I Contain Multitudes, which debunks common myths about microbes and how they impact our lives. Yong argues that a typical Western diet is just one factor that leads to decreased microbial diversity. Read on to learn about the health risks of following a typical Western diet and lifestyle, according to Yong.