Shortform Books

Organizational Performance Measures: Put the Focus on Teams

What if your organization focused on team performance rather than individual performance? How would that impact feedback, conflicts, and compensation? When everyone is free to act as a self-regulated agent in an organization, it might be hard to imagine how individual performance is measured. For the most part, it isn’t. Business consultant Frédéric Laloux explains this in his book Reinventing Organizations. Keep reading to learn how organizational performance measures work in visionary companies.

Breaking Down the Organization of the Brain

50 Types of Mental Models for Better Decision Making

What does the organization of the brain look like? Is our brain just a layered structure? Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett claims that the brain is organized as a network of neurons. By understanding the brain’s organization, we can recognize the flexibility and resilience of the human brain and learn what makes it different from the brains of other animals. Keep reading to learn more about the organization of the brain.

U.S. Marijuana Laws Are Changing—Here’s What to Know

What’s currently happening with U.S. marijuana laws? Is the “War on Drugs” ending? What’s the future of marijuana? President Biden has just announced pardons for federal marijuana charges, which could mark the beginning of the end of the war on drugs. Additionally, if passed, a new marijuana law reform bill could mean all 50 states will soon embrace some degree of marijuana legalization. Read on to learn about the new changes to U.S. marijuana laws, including the historical context of the war on drugs.

Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

More than 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement and more than 14 years after electing its first Black president, why is the United States still divided along racial lines? What is the new theory of racism? That’s the central question of Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, which argues that contrary to common wisdom, racism doesn’t begin with prejudice and hatred. It begins with self-serving policies whose proponents justify their actions by inventing racist ideas. Below is a brief overview of the key takeaways from Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.

Death Is a Natural Part of Life—And That’s a Happy Thought

Death is a natural part of life—how can this thought help you to be happier today? How can you learn to be comfortable with the idea of death? While death is a natural part of life, most of modern society is uncomfortable with the idea of death and even more uncomfortable with discussions of dying. Author Derren Brown says that by embracing mortality, we can defeat our fear of death and live happier lives in the present. Read on to learn how to be more comfortable with the idea that death is a natural part of life, according to Brown.

The Root Causes of Self-Sabotage: Stop Doing These Things

What is the root cause of self-sabotage? What is the first step in overcoming self-sabotage? In The Mountain Is You, Brianna Wiest clarifies that there is not one universal root cause of self-sabotage. Rather, it’s everything you want to change in your life. Below you’ll learn how to find the root causes of self-sabotage so you can live your best life.

Decision-Making in Organizations: Seek Advice, Not Consensus

Who should hold the decision-making power in an organization? What’s the trend in this arena? Some emerging organizations operate from a new set of rules that veer away from hierarchical structures based on power and achievement. The most counterintuitive aspect of these visionary organizations is their approach to making decisions. Continue reading to learn about this revolutionary approach to decision-making in organizations.

What to Know About OPEC+’s Oil Price Increase

Why is there going to be an oil price increase? What effect will this have on you and the economy overall? OPEC+, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, recently announced plans to cut global oil production. With this announcement comes concerns about oil price increases and how this will impact gas prices for consumers as well as the U.S. economy overall. Keep reading to learn about the impending oil price increase, including possible energy solutions we should consider.

The Lizard Brain Myth—Debunked by Science

What is the lizard brain myth? Why have scientists debunked this myth? There’s a neuroscience myth that claims a small part of the brain functions entirely on instinct, like a lizard’s. However, Lisa Feldman Barrett’s book Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain debunks this theory, saying our brains are different than other animals’ brains. Continue reading to learn why the lizard brain myth isn’t true.

Uplift Suasion: You Can’t Persuade Away Racism

What is “uplift suasion”? What is the problem with trying to challenge racism by way of persuasion? Uplift suasion is a way of addressing racism that is premised on disproving the stereotypes associated with Black people. Although uplift suasion is meant to combat racism, it does precisely the opposite: it perpetuates racist ideas by imposing the white standard. Here’s why the logic behind uplift suasion is inherently racist, according to Ibram X. Kendi.