Shortform Books

The Reason for Unhappiness & How to Overcome It

What is the root cause of human unhappiness? Why do so many people feel unhappy despite having everything they need? According to Dalai Lama, the root cause of human unhappiness stems from misunderstanding—many people don’t really understand where their emotions—both positive and negative—stem from. The solution, he counsels, is to educate yourself both about your emotions and the circumstances that give rise to them. Here is what Dalai Lama has to say about the main reason for unhappiness and what to do about it.

The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama: Overview

What is the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler’s The Art of Happiness about? What is the Dalai Lama’s advice for achieving happiness? In The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama and psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler outline the Dalai Lama’s beliefs on how to achieve greater happiness in life—by training yourself to be happier. The Dalai Lama’s advice for achieving happiness is unique in its simplicity and flexibility: be empathetic, accept your suffering, learn about your mind. Here’s a brief overview of the key ideas.

The 37% Rule: How to Know When to Settle

What is the 37% rule? How can employing the 37% rule help you make better decisions? The 37% rule is designed to solve something mathematicians call an “optimal stopping problem”—something we often encounter in daily life when faced with a series of options. The 37% can help you settle down and commit to the opportunity in front of you if you don’t know what opportunities will be available in the future. Here is how the 37% rule settle on a decision and signal when to stop searching for something better.

The Importance of Acknowledgment in Communication

What role does acknowledgment play in communication? How do you acknowledge the speaker’s message without interrupting their turn to speak? Acknowledgment is an extremely important part of human communication, and it’s one that we often overlook. Recent research in the field of linguistics has put renewed focus on “backchannels,” a listener’s short interjections that acknowledge a speaker’s message without ending their turn to speak. Here is why acknowledgment is the key to smooth communication.

How to Attain Freedom From Suffering: 4 Buddhist Tips

Can you really free yourself from suffering? And if so, what does it take? Suffering is a fact of life, but Buddhists believe that you can attain freedom from suffering. The first step is to change your perspective on suffering: Instead of viewing suffering as inherently bad, look for a silver lining in every situation that makes you suffer. Here are four strategies to free yourself from unnecessary suffering.

The Sales Bible: Review of a Sales Classic

What sales wisdom does Jeffrey Gitomer have to share from his vast experience? Why does he regard selling as a science rather than an art? Jeffrey Gitomer has 40 years of experience in sales. He believes that anyone can learn to sell, and he shares his insights and solutions in the book The Sales Bible. While he doesn’t go into depth about any particular methodology, he offers plenty of practical tips for everyday selling scenarios. Keep reading for The Sales Bible review.

The Importance of Spirituality

Do you practice spirituality? Is it true that people who practice spirituality tend to be happier than those who don’t? There is a strong positive correlation between practicing spirituality and happiness. Studies have shown that those who have spirituality or religion in their lives tend to be happier and less depressed and anxious than those who don’t. Keep reading to learn about the importance of spirituality.

Make Better Decisions With Computer Algorithms

Three Keys to Making Better Decisions in Life

Why is it so difficult to make decisions? Do you often regret your decisions, thinking you should have known better? Decision-making is a cognitively taxing process, especially when the future is uncertain and the stakes are high. But it doesn’t have to be this way. According to Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths, humans already have all the tools to make smart decisions. In their book Algorithms to Live By, they explain how to make better decisions using computer algorithms. Let’s take a look at four algorithms intended to help you make better decisions.

Listening to Customers Increases Sales: Here’s How

How important is listening in the sales process? How might you become a better listener? According to The Sales Bible, listening to customers is probably the most important part of sales. However, many salespeople don’t understand this. Most people are actually pretty poor listeners. Author Jeffrey Gitomer offers three tips to help you become better at listening. Read more for insights on listening to customers.

The 3 Steps for Cultivating Lasting Happiness

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

Is it possible to find lasting happiness? Can true lasting happiness be found externally? Lasting happiness is a mindset you build and isn’t contingent upon external characteristics, like wealth or status. Such factors can’t confer lasting happiness. You see this in daily life: when something great happens, like a promotion, you’re temporarily elated but soon return to your normal level of contentment. Similarly, if you suffer a setback, like a breakup, the negative feelings wear off. Here is why lasting happiness is a mindset that requires deliberate effort to cultivate.