Shortform Books

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson

Who’s Naval Ravikant? What wisdom does he have to share about building wealth and happiness in life? Many everyday people strive for wealth and happiness, but most of us struggle along the way and very few seem to achieve both. Still fewer share their insights about how to get there. Entrepreneur Naval Ravikant has become known for doing this online, via Twitter, podcasts, interviews, and blog posts. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a collection of those insights on wealth and happiness compiled by business blogger Eric Jorgenson. Keep reading for an overview of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by

Cosmos: Carl Sagan’s Top Quotes to Make You Think

Are you looking for Cosmos quotes by Carl Sagan? How can these quotes help you better understand the book? Carl Sagan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and perhaps the greatest astronomer of our age. In this book, he provides a comprehensive description of the science, philosophy, and history of astronomical discovery, from ancient Ionia to the time of the book’s publication in 1980. Below, we’ll take a look at some Cosmos quotes with explanations.

What Is the Purpose of Social Science? Freedom

What is the purpose of social science? What should it be? In The Sociological Imagination, professor and sociologist C. Wright Mills argues that the main purpose of social science must be the preservation of freedom. In his definition of freedom, Mills directly connects it to our choices. He also discusses the contemporary trends he says threaten the possibility of a free society. Keep reading to learn Mills’s perspective on the purpose of social science.

Getting the Love You Want: Book Overview

What is Getting the Love You Want about? What should you take away from the book? In Getting the Love You Want, Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt suggest that we unconsciously seek out romantic partners to help us resolve unfinished business from our childhood. Hendrix and Hunt designed a process to change the way couples interact and transform their lives into a conscious union. Read below for a brief overview of the book Getting the Love You Want?

Understand Your Purpose in Life With This Easy Activity

What are the simplest ways of understanding your purpose in life? How can understanding your purpose improve your life? Simon Sinek argues that finding your Why—or purpose—can help you make better choices in your work and your life that lead to greater fulfillment. That’s what he found in his own life after struggling with depression until he identified his purpose: “To inspire people to do what inspires them so that, together, we can change our world for the better.” Keep reading to learn more about Sinek’s simple exercise for understanding your purpose in life.

How to Stay True to Yourself: Brianna Wiest’s Advice

You can heal with love. Discover how the love you feel in your heart can improve your physical health and help you overcome illness.

What does it mean to “be true to yourself”? What does staying true to yourself entail in practice? People inherit values and beliefs about the world from their family and society at large—this is a natural part of socialization. The problem is that some people never question these values, beliefs, and ideals, even if they are in stark opposition to what feels right to them. Though social conditioning is pervasive, you can overcome it, learn to think for yourself, and feel better about yourself and your experiences. With that in mind, here’s how to stay true to yourself.

Capital’s Share of Income: Why It Can Be a Bad Thing

What does “capital’s share of income” mean? Should you worry about capital accumulating national income? Thomas Piketty warns that the rising capital-to-income ratio will result in capital accumulating an ever-growing share of national income. In his book Capital in the Twenty-First Century, he explains how this happens and why it’s bad. Continue reading to understand how capital’s share of income contributes to inequality.

How Female Refugees Are Affected by Data Bias

Do female refugees have gender-specific concerns? If so, why don’t they report them? Caroline Criado Perez, the author of Invisible Women, contends that sometimes female refugees suffer from sexual violence by male authority figures. It’s also not easy to support it because of certain taboos and a lack of support. Read below for gender-specific issues that female refugees could potentially face.

Why You Seek Validation From Others & How to Stop

Why do some people always seek validation from others? How can you build self-confidence and stop seeking validation? Author Glennon Doyle observes that the tendency to look to others for validation has diminished women’s ability to trust their own decisions. Learning to explore your intuition through quiet reflection can free you from seeking validation. Keep reading to learn Doyle’s advice for learning to trust your own decisions.

Shortform Reads: Books Are Tools for Cultural Insight

What children’s book does Sara believe everybody should read? What little-known Australian authors does Sara think should be shared with the rest of the world? Sara is a member of the writing team at Shortform. She’s originally from Australia but now resides in Medellín, Colombia.