Shortform Books

Blue Ocean Strategy: Review & Critical Reception

What is Blue Ocean Strategy about? What is the key premise of W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne’s blue ocean business model? In Blue Ocean Strategy, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne argue that the key to building a successful business is to create a blue ocean—a brand-new market for an innovative idea. You can create such a market by focusing on your product’s characteristics that customers really care about while discarding the characteristics they don’t. This creates a new product offering that doesn’t currently exist, in a space without direct competitors. Here is our review of Blue Ocean Strategy.

Should Christians Serve in Government?

Should Christians serve in government? What is Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s view? According to Bonhoeffer, Christians should not hold a position with the government. He gives three reasons for this in his book The Cost of Discipleship. Some Christians (and perhaps even the Bible) do not support his position, and it seems that Bonhoeffer himself might have changed some of his views over time. Keep reading to learn more about Bonhoeffer’s perspective on Christians in government.

Algorithms to Live By: Quotes and Passages

Are you looking for Algorithms to Live By quotes by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In Algorithms to Live By, bestselling author Brian Christian and cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths team up to create a library of “algorithms to live by”—a set of instructions to help you make smarter decisions, organize your life, and get the most out of your day. Here is a selection of quotes highlighting some of the key themes explored in the book.

Russ Harris: ACT and The Happiness Trap

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? How can practicing ACT help you avoid falling into the “happiness trap”? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is a psychological discipline developed by Steven C. Hayes in 1982. Hayes developed ACT in the context of evolutionary psychology, which holds that our early survival instincts influence our modern brains—and that failing to recognize this connection undermines our happiness. Here is how ACT can help you stop struggling and start living, according to Russ Harriss.

Emotional Stoicism: How to Become Unperturbed

What is the Stoic view of emotions? How do Stoics remain unperturbed in the face of difficult emotions? Stoic philosophers emphasize the importance of emotional regulation—intentionally deciding which emotions you allow to influence your behavior. In his book The Obstacle Is the Way, Ryan Holiday argues that emotional stoicism is a practical skill that everyone can (and must) learn. To this end, he offers several strategies for keeping unhelpful emotions at bay. Let’s investigate each of these strategies in turn.

How Neflix’s Expense (Non)Policy Works

How can a company as big as Netflix have such a lenient expense policy? How can Netflix enforce such subjective rules? Netflix’s expense policy basically states that all employees must “act in the company’s best interest” when it comes to travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and dinners. The problem is that each person may have a different idea of what is acceptable and what is extravagant. Here’s how Netflix ironed out the kinks in their expense policy.

William Easterly: The White Man’s Burden —Overview

What is William Easterly’s The White Man’s Burden about? How was the book received by the public? Easterly’s book is controversial because he actually makes the case against providing certain types of aid to countries that are struggling. Some saw his book as revolutionary while some thought it was blasphemous. Here is a brief overview of The White Man’s Burden with a look at some of the critiques.

What to Do If Your Blue Ocean Turns Into a Red Ocean

What is the difference between a blue ocean and a red ocean market? How do you prevent a blue ocean product from becoming a red ocean? Kim and Mauborgne caution that when you create a blue ocean market, imitators will inevitably arrive, eventually turning it into a red ocean. There are two ways you can respond: 1) prolong your blue ocean, and 2) find a new blue ocean. Let’s consider each of these approaches in turn.

The Cost of Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Classic

Why is The Cost of Discipleship so widely read? What is the book’s main argument? What does Bonhoeffer mean by the “cost of discipleship”? The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a classic of Christian thought. Bonhoeffer wrote the book as a challenge to Christians to take their faith more seriously and realize its true requirements. Here’s a brief overview of the key themes discussed in the book.

Surrounded by Idiots: The Yellow Personality Type

What does a Yellow personality look like? What are the strengths of the Yellow personality? In the book Surrounded by Idiots, Yellow personality types are described as charismatic, popular, and optimistic. You would seek out a Yellow personality at work if you need help finding a creative solution to a problem. Here’s everything you need to know about the Yellow personality type.