Shortform Books

Is Competition Good for Business? Peter Thiel Says No

Is competition good for business? Is there such a thing as “healthy competition”? Entrepreneur Peter Thiel believes that the idea of healthy competition is a myth. But it’s a myth that is so deeply ingrained in our society that it tends to exercise a destructive influence on our business strategies. As such, Thiel spends a chapter in his book Zero to One exposing and debunking the myth. Keep reading for Peter Thiel’s take on why competition is bad.

What Is Prop Trading? How It Deceives Customers

What is prop trading? How do firms and banks use prop trading to trade against their customers? Proprietary trading (also known as “prop trading”) is used by banks or financial firms to trade for themselves, not their customers. However, doing so means that they’re competing against their own customers, and they have more power to win. Continue to learn what is prop trading and how it works as a scheme.

How to Get Focused: Control These 3 Emotions

Are you having trouble staying focused? How are your emotions affecting your ability to stay attentive? Your emotions control almost every aspect of your life, including how well you stay focused. In his book Relentless, legendary celebrity trainer Tim Grover says that to get focused on your goals, you have to use three emotions to your advantage—anger, calmness, and happiness. To learn how to get focused on your life, career, or anything else important to you, keep reading.

What Is Emotional Intelligence in Leadership?

What is emotional intelligence in leadership? What four skills make up emotional intelligence? In their book, Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee explain that emotionally intelligent leaders have four specific skills. This differs slightly from the five skills Daniel Goleman lays out in his previous book, Emotional Intelligence. Here are the skills and microskills necessary to be an emotionally intelligent leader and a comparison to Goleman’s previous work.

Eckhart Tolle: Consciousness Evolution Is Underway

Is humanity moving towards a mass shift of consciousness? How is our collective ego harming the planet? According to Eckhart Tolle, humanity has reached a critical point. We’ve grown so consumed with our collective ego that we can’t see anything past it. We are trapped in the endless cycle of wanting, fueling consumerism, and destroying the planet. In his book A New Earth, Tolle argues that now is the time for consciousness evolution—mass change is necessary today for the survival of humankind and the planet. Here’s why we must act now or else it will be too late.

Shortform Reads: You’re Never Too Old for a YA Novel

Which genre does Hannah find to be cringey? What childhood experience sparked her love of YA fantasy? Hannah’s the lead editor for the SEO team here at Shortform—she edits and writes copy for the blog. She’s from New Hampshire but has a passion for visiting other countries around the world.

How to Save More Money With Tony Robbins’ Advice

Do you want to know how to save more money? What are the obstacles that can prevent you from saving? In Money: Master the Game, motivational speaker and life coach Tony Robbins provides the key to saving money: spending less and investing more. With this, he explains that you can fast-track your saving progress in just three ways, but you have to avoid the pitfalls that will derail your progress. Here are Tony Robbins’ tips to save money so you can live a rich lifestyle.

The Challenge of the Future: Peter Thiel’s Take

What’s the future of the world? What are the main challenges the future holds in store? Peter Thiel likes to ask job candidates what he calls a contrarian question: “What important truth do few people agree with you on?” The best answers provide insight into the future. While most people think that globalization will dictate the world of the future, Thiel believes that technology will. Keep reading for Thiel’s take on the challenge of the future.

Is It Safe to Invest in the Stock Market? It Depends

Is it safe to invest in the stock market? Does high-frequency trading make it unsafe? High-frequency (HF) traders aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but don’t make the mistake of getting caught up with them. HF traders ultimately caused the stock market crash of 2010 and practicing high-frequency trading can get you into legal trouble. That being said, if you play the game of trading fairly, it’s safe to invest in the stock market. Here’s why you should steer clear of high-frequency trading if you want to safely invest in the stock market, and how Wall Street firms might have a

How a Resonant Leadership Style Promotes Harmony

What is a resonant leadership style? How do resonant leaders affect their teams? Daniel Goleman, a co-author of Primal Leadership, coined the term “resonant leadership.” This means that an emotionally intelligent leader is able to influence their team’s emotions and lead them to success. Here’s how the resonant leadership style works and why team harmony is so important.