Shortform Books

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath: Overview & Exercise

What’s the problem with modern self-improvement? How does the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment address this shortcoming? StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath is a companion book to Gallup’s widely-used online strengths test—formerly called StrengthsFinder 2.0 and now called CliftonStrengths. This isn’t your average personality test: Rather than helping you pinpoint your weak spots, the Strengths Test helps you find your greatest strengths. Tom Rath, who’s written several bestselling self-help books (including How Full Is Your Bucket?), argues that, to be truly successful, you must channel your energy toward capitalizing on existing talents rather than working to eliminate weaknesses. Here’s our overview of

Why Is the Trading Failure Rate So High?

Why is the trading failure rate so high? In principle, is it possible to predict the market with absolute certainty if you have all the necessary tools? The financial market gives us ample opportunity to generate money. Yet, most people struggle to make the gains they want. The crux of the problem is that they don’t fully understand how the market operates. Most traders rely on either technical or fundamental analysis (or both) to try and predict the market, but they’re insufficient preparation for consistently successful trades. Here’s why conventional market analysis strategies fall short.

Multiple Segmentation: Benefits of Splitting Your Market

What is multiple segmentation? How does splitting your target market increase growth in business? Market segmentation is when you divide your target market into multiple segments with a different product or message. In The Marketing Plan, William M. Luther encourages multiple segmentation because it offsets market decline. Here’s a more in-depth explanation of why Luther is in favor of multiple segmentation.

2 Ways to Disconnect From the World to Be Creative

Are you constantly distracted? Do you need a place to air out your creativity? In Keep Going, artist Austin Kleon advises disconnecting from the world to be your most creative self. To disconnect, he says to make a creative space and slow down your life. Here’s how to disconnect from the world and connect with your inner artist.

The Amygdala’s Function: Psychology 101

What is the function of the amygdala? What behavior does the amygdala govern? The amygdala is a little almond-shaped structure located in the brain’s medial temporal lobe. Its main function is to respond to threats, whether real or perceived. The amygdala activates very fast, often overriding logic and rationality. Here’s a look at the amygdala’s function and the psychology behind its workings.

Shortform Reads: A Secret Love for Regency Romance

What genre does Ellie refuse to read? What book caused her to make huge changes in her life? Ellie is from the UK and is a Team Editor and Narrations Manager here at Shortform. She’s a huge history buff and has some pretty eclectic reading tastes.

Fast. Feast. Repeat. by Gin Stephens: Book Overview

What is Gin Stephens’s Fast. Feast. Repeat. about? How does adopting intermittent fasting (IF) as a lifestyle help you improve your health? Fast. Feast. Repeat. is a practical self-help guide that explains intermittent fasting (IF) as a lifestyle and approach to overall well-being. Among other benefits, Gin Stephens argues that IF can help you lose weight, feel better, fight disease, and live longer. Below is a brief overview of Fast. Feast. Repeat. by Gin Stephens.

How to Create an Inclusive Culture at Your Workplace

When hiring, do you look for particular people or particular skills? When leading, do you give everyone a chance to thrive? In What You Do Is Who You Are, Ben Horowitz looks to Genghis Khan for lessons on cultivating intentional culture. He identifies three tips for how to create an inclusive culture: take the lead, look for specific skills rather than specific people, and give everyone the opportunity to succeed. Keep reading for three ways to create an inclusive culture in the workplace.

Employee Ownership: Reimagining Labor Markets

Why should companies be owned by their employees? Will employee ownership work for any business? In her book Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth champions more collective forms of corporate governance, such as cooperatives and employee-owned enterprises. She argues that to deny workers an equity stake in the company to which they provide their valuable labor is to deprive them of what is rightfully theirs. Here’s why employee ownership is the way to go.

The Marketing Plan by William M. Luther: Overview

What is William M. Luther’s book The Marketing Plan about? What should you take away from the book? In The Marketing Plan, management and marketing expert William M. Luther outlines the variables that impact both the immediate and long-term success of your product or service. He encourages analyzing how these variables impact your business so that you can develop an effective business plan. Read on for a brief overview of The Marketing Plan.