Shortform Books

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.

Human Violence Is the By-Product of Civilization

Is violence a part of human nature? Or was our good nature corrupted by civilization? In his book Humankind, Bregman argues that human violence is not a natural impulse. He maintains that humans’ transition from foraging to civilization created societies that were more violent, less equitable, and less healthy. However, human nature by itself is fundamentally good. Let’s take a closer look at the negative effects that began to arise when our ancestors made this transition.

The Sociological Imagination by C. Wright Mills

What is “sociological imagination”? Is it a better approach to social science? How does it protect human freedom? In The Sociological Imagination, professor and sociologist C. Wright Mills explains what kind of social science—that is, science that studies human society and its institutions—contributes to a free and open society. He argues that, to protect freedom, social scientists must develop a “sociological imagination”: the ability to understand the relationship between a society and the individuals living in it. Additionally, Mills critiques other contemporary approaches to social science and how they fail to protect—and in some cases, actively threaten—free society. Here’s our

Carl Sagan on Mars Colonization and Space Exploration

Did Carl Sagan believe there’s life on Mars? Did he believe that humans should colonize the planet? At the time Sagan wrote Cosmos, no compelling evidence for life has been found on Mars. Sagan says that as long as life isn’t found, humans should create an atmosphere on Mars and attempt to colonize it. If life is found, that’s another story. Here’s what Carl Sagan wrote about space exploration and Mars.

Getting the Love You Want: Quotes With Explanations

What are the most important quotes from Getting the Love You Want? How can these quotes help you heal your childhood wounds? According to Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt, you can engage your conscious mind to take control of your relationship. You can do this by becoming aware of the subconscious needs that drive what you expect from your significant others. Read below for insightful Getting the Love You Want quotes with explanations.

Purpose Discussion: Full Guide for Individuals & Teams

What is the meaning of a purpose discussion? What are the steps for conducting a purpose discussion? A purpose discussion is a process Find Your Why author Simon Sinek created with co-authors David Mead and Peter Docker to identify your purpose. The authors’ step-by-step process can be followed with a partner to create an individual purpose statement, or applied in a group discussion to come up with a team or organization’s purpose. Keep reading for a complete guide to conducting a purpose discussion for both individuals and teams.