Shortform Books

Martin Seligman: Learned Helplessness Leads to Depression

What was Martin Seligman’s major contribution to psychology? What is the psychology of helplessness? How can you know if you’ve learned helplessness? Psychologist Martin Seligman’s learned helplessness theory has changed how we understand pessimism and optimism. Perhaps most importantly, Seligman’s theory helps to explain a leading cause of depression and how to treat it by unlearning helplessness. Read on to learn about Martin Seligman’s learned helplessness theory and why it can lead to depression.

The Underground Fungal Network’s 2 Functions

What is an underground fungal network? What are the two main functions of this network? In Finding the Mother Tree, Suzanne Simard explains that trees share information and nutrients through an underground fungal network. Simard’s research has led to a shift in thinking about ecological relationships. Check out more about trees’ unique network that helps them flourish.

How to Write a Branding Proposal (Steps & Examples)

How do you write a branding proposal? What is the point of proposing your brand? When building a company, one of the first things you need to do is create your company’s identity and brand. You might have to share your brand with investors, which means writing up a proposal. Read below to learn how to write a branding proposal from the book Play Bigger.

Gregor Mendel’s Discovery: The Laws of Heredity

How did Gregor Mendel contribute to the field of genetics? What foundational principles of heredity did Mendel discover? Long before the discovery of DNA, biologist and Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel discovered how genes get passed down from parents to offspring. His discovery was one of the major breakthroughs in genetics (although that word didn’t exist yet), laying the foundation for the study of heredity. Keep reading to learn about Gregor Mendel’s discovery.

If You Like Stranger Things, Read These 6 Books

Have you seen Stranger Things on Netflix? What books should you read if you like the show? Based in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, Stranger Things depicts a group of young friends who uncover supernatural forces and experiments after their friend goes missing and a powerful girl shows up in their town. The series has both horror and coming-of-age elements that are often found in fictional books. Read below for a list of must-read books for fans of Stranger Things.

If You Like Steal Like an Artist, Read These 7 Books

Have you read Steal Like an Artist? What other creative self-help books should you read? In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon (a self-described “writer who draws”) shares his tips for maximizing your creativity, finding inspiration, breaking out of a creative rut, and connecting with other people doing exciting work. His advice applies to anyone who uses creative thinking in their work, not just to artists in the traditional sense. Check out these books if Steal Like an Artist made an impact on your life.

Lisa Feldman Barrett’s Theory: Emotions Are Learned

What is Lisa Feldman Barrett’s theory of emotions? How is her theory different from everything psychologists have said in the past? After years of research, psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett claims she’s discovered the secret to understanding human emotions. Barrett’s book, How Emotions Are Made, explains how you actually learn emotions—they’re not innate as many previously believed. Read on for Lisa Feldman Barrett’s theory of emotions and find out why she says “emotions don’t happen to you.”

How to Lead Through Change: 4 Challenges to Pivoting

Can your company break with its established ways of doing things? Can you get everyone on the same page as you pivot your business? Andrew Grove’s book Only the Paranoid Survive shows you how to build a business that’s ready to roll with the punches. Even though you can prepare for market disruptions, you’ll still face major obstacles. Grove walks you through four major challenges to enacting your coordinated crisis response and offers recommendations to address each one. Let’s take a look at these four challenges and Grove’s advice on how to lead through change.

Event Marketing Strategy Examples & Ideas

How should you promote your company? What are examples of an event marketing strategy? Marketing events are good ways of introducing your company to the world. The book Play Bigger says that big and small events are opportunities to express your ideas to your target audience. Check out examples of event marketing strategies to spread your company’s message.

Product Alternatives: Figure Out Your Product’s Real Competition

What problem do your customers want to solve by using your product? What would your customers do if they didn’t use your product? April Dunford proposes a 12-step product positioning process—taking you all the way from creating a cross-departmental positioning group to sharing your final positioning across the company—that lets you position any product well. Step 4 in that process is to identify the alternatives to using your product. Keep reading to learn Dunford’s method of identifying product alternatives.