Shortform Books

Why Is Rent So Expensive? Economists Weigh In

Why is rent so expensive at the moment? Who has been most affected by rising rent prices? Will prices drop? Demand for affordable housing has surged even as luxury rentals have emptied, leading to quickly rising prices in the market segment that can afford them least. Economists claim that, for lower-income households, the cost to rent is disproportionately higher. Keep reading to find out why rent is so expensive and what the solution is, according to economists.

The 2 Big Dangers of Isolation & How to Overcome Them

What are the biggest dangers of isolation? What are the psychological consequences of cutting yourself off from others? How can you stop isolating yourself? Bestselling author and psychologist Anna Lembke takes a unique perspective on the dangers of isolation by connecting them to society’s fixation on pursuing “high-dopamine” activities. She claims that prioritizing instant gratification feeds into the dangerous cycle of isolation. Keep reading to learn the two dangers of isolation and Lembke’s advice for overcoming them.

She Comes First: Quotes on Improving Your Sex Life

What are some She Comes First quotes? What can we learn from these quotes about healthy sex? In She Comes First, Ian Kerner claims that traditional beliefs about sex benefit men, not women. To make sure women experience pleasure during sex, their partner should make sure she has an orgasm first. Read below for She Comes First quotes that explain why female orgasms should take priority.

We Are Stronger Together: Social Lessons From Science

What strengths do you have that you could be combined with the strengths of others to accomplish something great? How might you help yourself by helping others? Everything we do affects—and is affected—by other people. If you join forces with others, you’ll be capable of much greater things than you could achieve on your own. Two scientific models, alloying and cooperation, show you how to do just that. Keep reading to see how science shows us that we are stronger together.

William Deresiewicz’s Excellent Sheep: Book Overview

Are prestigious schools the best schools? What should parents and students look for when selecting a college? In his book Excellent Sheep, William Deresiewicz claims that elite US colleges and universities are so selective and profit-oriented that they perpetuate social inequality and deprive students of high-quality learning. He argues that the solution is to make high-quality college education accessible to all American students. Keep reading for an overview of the book, along with an exercise to review the content.

The Tipping Point: Discussion Questions and Book Quiz

Are you looking to further your understanding of The Tipping Point? Do you understand all of the lessons from the book? The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Outliers) focuses on how to push ideas or products to a tipping point in order to create a social epidemic. He identifies three factors that can be adjusted to tip an idea to a social epidemic: the messenger, the message itself, or the context of the message. Below, we’ve put together some The Tipping Point discussion questions and a quiz, with answers.

Social Media’s Influence on Society: We’re Even Lonelier

What is social media’s influence on society? What negative influences do experts say we should be concerned about? In her bestselling book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, author Shoshana Zuboff explains the cause and effect of tech giants intrusively monitoring and using our data for profit (i.e. “surveillance capitalism”). Zuboff further explains social media’s harmful role in this system. Keep reading to find out how social media is influencing society and our mental health, according to Zuboff.

What Is the P/E Ratio in the Share Market?

What is the P/E ratio in the share market? How is it calculated? The P/E ratio is an indicator of the stock price to the company’s earnings per share. You can also think of it as how long it will take the company to recoup your investment. Here is how to use the P/E ratio to evaluate the future potential of stocks.

Online Mental Health Care: What Are the Risks & Benefits?

Wondering if you should try online mental health care? What are the risks and benefits of using “telepsychology”? The recent boom of online mental health care has led to widely accessible online prescriptions. While there are notable benefits of accessible prescription medication, some worry about the potential for medication abuse and unnecessary over-prescription. Read on for a brief overview of the risks and benefits of online mental health care in 2022.

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: Overview & Takeaways

What do Stoics believe? Perhaps more importantly, how do they live on a day-to-day basis? The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman is presented as a daily devotional to share insights from the ancient Stoic philosophers on how to live a good life. They explain that Stoicism isn’t merely a set of beliefs—it’s a way of life. Read more for our overview of The Daily Stoic, including an exercise designed to help you put Stoic principles into practice today.