Shortform Books

Abstracted Empiricism: The Benefits and Flaws

Is abstracted empiricism a constructive approach to social science? What are its flaws? In The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills contends that not all ways of doing social science are equal. He believes that his way (sociological imagination) is the only one that serves the main purpose of social science—preserving freedom. He offers a critique of other approaches, especially abstracted empiricism, asserting that they fail to protect a free and open society in the way sociological imagination does. Keep reading for Mills’s evaluation of abstracted empiricism.

Why Words Are Important in Big Data Studies

Why are words important? How does data use words? Words have always been used as data, but big data allows researchers to study more words, especially on search engines. Without words, we wouldn’t be able to use search engines to discover the truth about people. Learn why words are important, according to Seth Stephens-Davidowitz in his book Everybody Lies.

How to Build an Effective Team: Tips for Success

Does your team need to be stronger and more productive? Do you need to put more people on your team? In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo explains that great teams are led by even better managers. The managers have to build the team from the ground up, starting with the hiring process. Learn how to build an effective team that will make your business successful.

Female Crash-Test Dummies Can Make Women Safer

Why don’t car companies use female crash-test dummies? Why are women more likely to be injured in car crashes? In Invisible Women, Caroline Criado Perez says that the lack of female crash-test dummies used by car companies is affecting women’s safety. She attests that cars aren’t designed to protect women’s bodies—only men’s. Check out why female dummies should be used in regulatory car crash tests.

How to Improve Company Culture (Tribal Leadership)

Does your organization’s culture need an upgrade? Are employees unhappy and unproductive? Some organizations are more effective than others. Tribal Leadership authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King contend that culture makes all the difference. Their book is an in-depth exploration of how to improve company culture. To make that improvement, tribal leaders coach their people through five stages. Let’s look at Stage 1 and explore paths you can take to get to Stage 2.

Are Humans Inherently Good or Evil?

Are humans inherently good or evil? Are we born good and corrupted by civilization? Or does civilization correct and curb our inherently evil nature? For millennia, philosophers have debated humankind’s true nature. According to author Rutger Bregman, there are two philosophers in particular who’ve shaped this debate: Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Hobbes believed that humans are inherently selfish and cruel, whereas Rousseau maintained that we’re fundamentally decent and want to do the right thing. Let’s take a look at both sides of the debate.

What Is Grand Theory—and What’s Wrong With It?

What is grand theory in sociology? How well does it uphold the main purpose of social science? In The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills contends that not all approaches to social science are equal. He believes that his approach (sociological imagination) is the only way to preserve freedom. He offers a critique of other approaches, including grand theory, asserting that they fail to protect a free and open society in the way sociological imagination does. Let’s take a look at what grand theory is—and how Mills thinks it fails to deliver.

How to Care for Your Body: 4 Tips From Naval Ravikant

Why does Naval Ravikant prioritize physical health above everything else? What type of exercise does he recommend? Naval Ravikant strives to take care of his body, and he shares his own habits as recommendations for others. His preferences include a particular diet, a certain way of exercising, consideration for the immune system, and moderation or abstinence when it comes to things such as sugar and alcohol. He also explains why he puts a priority on physical health. Read more to learn Ravikant’s tips for how to care for your body.

Workplace Tribes: The Tribal Leadership Approach

What’s a tribe? Why do we carry out work as a tribe? How could our work improve if we paid more attention to the tribe’s culture? Tribal Leadership is an approach to organizational development that puts culture first. Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King contend that organizations succeed or fail on the strength of their cultures and that we can improve our organizations by upgrading our cultures. More specifically, we need to develop the tribes—groups that share ways of thinking, interacting, and working—that make up our organizations. Keep reading to learn more about workplace tribes and why culture is

Effects of Imperfect Parenting in Romantic Relationships

What are the effects of imperfect parenting? How does parenting affect our romantic relationships? How your parents raised you will define you for the rest of your life, especially in romantic relationships. In Getting the Love You Want, Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt say that imperfect parenting can cause you to seek out romantic partners that resemble your parents. Read below for the effects of imperfect parenting on your adult relationships.