Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Carl von Clausewitz on the Nature of War

What is the relationship between war and politics? If war is supposed to achieve a political outcome, why do military interests sometimes contradict political aims? According to Prussian general and military theorist Carl von Clausewitz, war should be subservient to political policy. He argues that letting military interests shape political policy or giving the military latitude to take action outside of political policy is ridiculous because war is a tool of politics, not the other way around. Keep reading for Carl von Clausewitz’s take on the nature of war.

How Abraham Lincoln Freed the Slaves

What is Abraham Lincoln known for? What dilemma did Lincoln face upon being inaugurated? Abraham Lincoln, who was president from 1861 to 1865, inherited a nation in crisis. By the time of his inauguration, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union, and his own party was divided. Lincoln had to decide whether they should try to keep the slave states in the Union, or if the time for compromise had ended. Here’s how Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in spite of the backlash.

Why a Regenerative Economy Is the Future

Is economic progress destroying the planet? How does the focus on economic growth deplete the planet’s resources? Most economies are inherently extractive and wasteful. If we continue at this rate, it’s only a matter of time until we reach a point of no return. To prevent this from happening, we need a top-to-bottom redesign of our global economic order: away from an extractive economy and toward a regenerative economy. Here’s why an economic revolution is in order, according to Kate Raworth.

What Is the Purpose of War? Carl von Clausewitz’s View

What is the purpose of war? Can political objectives be achieved without resorting to war? According to Prussian general and military theorist Carl von Clausewitz, the purpose of war is to achieve a political outcome, but war is often misused. Politicians often start wars that achieve the opposite of what they wanted to achieve. Keep reading to learn about the main purpose of war, according to Clausewitz.

Duflo and Banerjee: Poverty and Healthcare Access

Do poor countries have access to healthcare? What obstacles do the poor face in accessing healthcare? Many affordable and effective healthcare resources are available to the poor, yet they don’t use them as much as they should. According to Duflo and Banerjee, the authors of Poor Economics, there are four factors affecting the poor’s approach to their healthcare. Here’s a look at poverty and healthcare access.

Why Long-Term Economic Growth Isn’t Sustainable

Is economic growth destroying the planet? Can long-term economic growth be sustainable? According to Kate Raworth, we have pushed economic growth so far that some bad environmental outcomes may now be unavoidable. If we don’t act now, grave consequences are in order. Here’s how the overwhelming focus on growth endangers the health of our economy and the planet.

Safi Bahcall: The 4 Rules for Generating Loonshots

What are loonshots? How can organizations cultivate a culture where innovative ideas thrive? Loonshots are innovative ideas that change the world (e.g., insulin, radar, computer animation). Initially, loonshots are dismissed as crazy and overly ambitious. For this reason, loonshots almost don’t make it. In his book Loonshots, Safi Bahcall argues that organizations can deliberately cultivate these kinds of ideas. He presents four rules for nurturing loonshots and explains how organizations can keep innovating no matter how big they grow. Let’s explore Bahcall’s four rules for generating loonshots.

Why Do Poor People Stay Poor? The 3 Main Reasons

Why do poor people stay poor? How does the financial industry trap people in poverty? There are several factors that keep people in the poverty trap. One of them is the poor’s inability to access financial services. Wealthy people benefit from financial services, such as comprehensive insurance and easy-to-access credit. Despite the fact that the poor also need these services, businesses rarely provide them. Here’s why the poor have difficulty making use of financial services and how it perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

Balancing Growth and Continued Innovation

Why do large organizations struggle to innovate? How can you sustain innovation in your organization as it grows? Maintaining innovation is a major concern for organizations as they grow. According to Safi Bahcall, the author of Loonshots, it’s possible to balance growth with continued innovation. The key, he says, is to balance stake with rank. Here’s how organizations can keep innovating no matter how big they grow, according to Safi Bahcall.

Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo

What is Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo’s Poor Economics about? What are the key takeaways to draw from the book? Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo sets out to examine the lives of the poor as they actually are. The authors see several key lessons emerging from their analysis of poverty. Here are four lessons Banerjee and Duflo draw from their analysis.