Shortform Books

How to Stimulate Creative Decision-Making

What is the most effective way to stimulate the creative process? How does introducing constraints help you come up with more creative ideas? You’d think that the best way to come up with a creative solution is to brainstorm as many options as you can. While the brainstorming strategy is good, it may not always be viable. In some cases, the problem is having too many options with none being appealing. If that’s the case, try eliminating options. Here’s how eliminating options can help stimulate creative-decision making.

Artists and Writers: Stop Seeking Reassurance

Why should you stop seeking reassurance? Do you need confidence to be creative? In The Practice, Seth Godin asserts that you don’t need confidence to be creative. In fact, you should stop seeking reassurance because it only slows the creative process. Continue reading to learn why confidence and reassurance aren’t important for creative projects.

How Birch Contributes to Douglas Fir Trees’ Health

What do Douglas fir trees need to survive? How do birch trees help Douglas trees? As part of her forest growth research, Suzanne Simard tested how birch trees and Douglas fir trees affected one another. She found that eliminating birch trees actually hurt Douglas trees. Below we’ll look at Suzanne’s findings from her book Finding the Mother Tree.

Anxiety Is a Habit—And It Needs to Be Broken

What is anxiety? Why is anxiety a habit? In Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer explains that anxiety should be seen as a bad habit. This is because it creates a vicious cycle of behaviors that is difficult to break. Continue reading to learn why anxiety is a habit.

Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism: Overview

What is Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism book about? What are the most important takeaways from the book? Martin Seligman wrote Learned Optimism after extensively studying what causes people to feel powerless in life. The book primarily teaches readers why pessimism can lead to mental health problems and how to escape a pessimistic mindset. Read on for a brief overview of Martin Seligman’s book Learned Optimism, including the key takeaways.

The Truth About Northern Abolitionists

What role did the North play in the abolition of slavery? Were all Northern states against slavery? According to Nikole Hannah-Jones, an American investigative journalist and the author of The 1619 Project, the mainstream story about Northern states spearheading the abolition of slavery is historically inaccurate. The North was not actually abolitionist because Northerners also owned slaves and participated in the slave trade at the time. Here’s what history textbooks don’t tell us about Northern abolitionists.

Machiavelli: Fortuna Doesn’t Have to Dictate Your Life

What’s fortuna? How does a successful leader keep it at bay? According to Niccolò Machiavelli, fortuna (fate) affects us all. But, great princes don’t let it get the best of them. They have qualities that help them beat the odds. Read more to learn how to keep fate from ruling your life.

The Role of Slavery in the American Revolution

What was the Revolutionary War, and why did it happen? What role did slavery play in the American Revolution? According to American investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, the main driver of the American Revolution was not the righteous intentions of the abolitionists in the North. In her book The 1619 Project, she argues that (1) the Revolutionary War was not truly fought in the name of freedom and justice; (2) the North wasn’t as righteous as it’s given credit for; and (3) Black Americans were the ones to truly create and establish American democracy. Keep reading to learn about the role

Apple’s Organizational Culture Under Steve Jobs

What was Apple’s organizational culture like under Steve Jobs? How important was the culture at Apple? While Steve Jobs was CEO of Apple, he led the company with a strict hand. But it also inspired collaborative teamwork that kept the company successful. Read what Apple’s organizational culture was truly like with Jobs as CEO.

Market Disruptions: How to See Them Coming Before It’s Too Late

Is a market disruption headed your way? How can you tell? Intel’s Andrew Grove advises you to stay alert to potential market disruptions before they hit with full force. He discusses six potential sources of drastic change, and he advises how to keep tabs on them. Read more to learn how to see market disruptions on the horizon.