Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

Relative Deprivation Theory: Why You Shouldn’t Go to Harvard

What is the relative deprivation theory? How does it affect the choices I make, in school, at work, and in life in general? The relative deprivation theory is a theory that says we compare ourselves to the people around us. Our feelings of happiness or deprivation, success or failure, are not absolute, but rather relative to how happy and successful our neighbors are. Learn why it’s critical to understand the relative deprivation theory when making decisions and assessing your successes and failures.

Konrad Kellen’s Vietnam Warning: Why Didn’t Anybody Listen?

Who was Konrad Kellen? And is it possible that he could have shortened the Vietnam War? Konrad Kellen was a German political analyst who served in various roles, including U.S. Army Intelligence, during his long career. Learn what Konrad Kellen knew about the Viet Cong and the Vietnamese people that could have ended the Vietnam War earlier and saved many lives…if only the U.S. government had taken his opinion seriously.

How Brer Rabbit Inspired the Civil Rights Movement

Who is Brer Rabbit? And why is he so important to the history of the Civil Rights Movement? Brer Rabbit is a popular character in Southern lore who uses his wits to outsmart characters who are stronger and more powerful than he is. We’ll cover how the Brer Rabbit stories inspired the leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement, and what you can learn from both the stories and the movement.

Objective Criteria: Keys to Successful Negotiation

What are objective criteria? And why should you use them in negotiation? Objective criteria are independent standards used in negotiation that are factual and therefore fair to both sides. We’ll cover how to develop and negotiate with objective criteria.

Does the Three Strikes Law Even Work? It’s Complicated

What is the Three Strikes Law? Is it possible that it does more harm than good? The Three Strikes Law is a California law that doubles the prison time of the offender of a second serious crime and makes a 25-year sentence mandatory for repeat offenders. We’ll cover what the numbers say about the effectiveness of the Three Strikes Law.

Project C: Essential Lessons From the Birmingham Campaign

What is Project C? Why was it so important to the American Civil Rights Movement and America’s history? And what can we learn from it? Project C (“C” for confrontation) was a series of Birmingham sit-ins, marches, and boycotts organized by civil rights leader Wyatt Walker. Learn how Project C made the fight for equality in America so visible and urgent that the government could no longer ignore it.

27 Effective Negotiation Skills and Tactics

Do you feel uncomfortable negotiating for what you want in life? Do you know what negotiation skills and negotiation tactics you need to be successful? Negotiation is a part of life, and we all want to know how to do it successfully. We’ll cover how to develop effective negotiation skills and how to use the most essential negotiation tactics.

The Greatest Lesson From Chemotherapy Pioneer Jay Freireich

Who is Jay Freireich? And what can this doctor and researcher teach us about making use of so-called disadvantages? Emil “Jay” Freireich is a doctor who pioneered chemotherapy as a treatment for childhood leukemia. However, he may never have persevered in the face of criticism and threats of being fired if he hadn’t had such a traumatic childhood. We’ll cover how trauma can be an advantage and what you can learn from Jay Freireich’s success.

How to Negotiate: The Practical Guide

Negotiations at work are becoming more and more common, no matter what your role at your organization. We all need to learn to negotiate. What practicalities should you take into consideration when learning how to negotiate? We’ll cover all the basics of how to negotiate: where to meet, how to communicate, which protocols to be aware of, and how to prepare.

How to Get to Yes: 6 Critical Skills to Succeed

Negotiating is a skill you use daily. How can you get others to give you what you want and need? Everyone wants to know how to get to yes. We’ll cover the key skills and strategies to figure out how to get to yes at work and at home, every day.