How to Gain Political Power: 2 Herculean Steps to the Top

a man from behind in a business suit climbing an ornate staircase illustrates how to gain political power

How do political leaders rise to power? What strategies do they use to gain control of a party or a country? In their book The Dictator’s Handbook, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith explore how to gain political power. They outline a two-step process that both dictators and democratic leaders follow to seize control. We break down their insights on building support and replacing existing governments. Read on to uncover the secrets of political power.

How to Protect Democracy: 3 Strategies to Stave Off Threats

a security guard in front of a large granite building labeled "Democracy" illustrates how to protect democracy

Are you concerned about the state of democracy in your country? Do you wonder how to protect democracy in an increasingly polarized world? Shortform’s Master Guide to Threats to Democracy explores practical solutions to safeguard democratic institutions. We’ll examine several approaches that aim to strengthen democracy and foster a more inclusive political landscape. Read on to discover how you can play a role in protecting and revitalizing democracy in your community and beyond.

Faulty Perception: Why You Should Question Your Senses

a man standing on the shore of a loch in Scotland looking at what appears to be a sea creature illustrates faulty perception

Why do your senses sometimes deceive you? How can your own brain lead you astray? In her book Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explores the concept of faulty perception. She explains how our brains process sensory information and make decisions. She reveals surprising insights about our cognitive processes that are important for us to understand. Keep reading to better understand some of the hidden workings of your mind.

Bridging the Gap: 3 Potential Solutions to Political Polarization

the United States torn in two pieces of blue on the left and red on the right illustrates solutions to political polarization

Are you tired of the constant political bickering? Is there a way to bridge the divide between opposing sides? Shortform’s Master Guide to Threats to Democracy explores solutions to political polarization, offering strategies to heal deep social divisions. It presents three expert-recommended approaches to overcome the hostilities that threaten democracy’s functionality. Read on to discover how forging diverse coalitions, engaging in local politics, and finding empathy for your opponents can help mend our fractured political landscape.

How Beliefs Are Formed (and Too Often Invented on the Fly)

a cartoon of a woman reading a book while a factory is working in her brain illustrates how beliefs are formed

Do you know how your beliefs are formed? What if many of them are based on faulty information? In her book Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explores the fascinating process of how beliefs are formed. She discusses the ways our senses and storytelling abilities can lead us astray, creating beliefs that may not align with reality. Keep reading to discover the surprising ways your mind works in the formation of beliefs.

Thomas Piketty: Inequality of Wealth Can Be Reduced 3 Ways

cartoon drawing of three people each holding two dollars illustrates Thomas Piketty's inequality of wealth solutions

What do you think about the growing wealth gap in our society? Should this issue be addressed? According to Thomas Piketty, inequality of wealth can be dealt with. In his book Capital in the Twenty-First Century, he proposes three key economic reforms to reduce wealth inequality: a global wealth tax, increased financial transparency, and progressive taxation. Continue reading to understand Piketty’s ideas and their implications for society.

Group Consensus & the Social Pressure to Believe (Even Wrongly)

a cartoon of a group of people all sharing only one thought bubble over their heads illustrates group consensus

How does social pressure influence our beliefs and decision-making? Can large groups of people all be wrong together? In her book Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explores the concept of group consensus and its impact on our thinking. She discusses the challenges of independent thought and the power that social influence wields over what we believe. Read on to discover how group dynamics shape our beliefs and why thinking for ourselves might be harder than we imagined.

Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt: Book Overview

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What drives ordinary people to commit extraordinary evil? Can the most horrific acts stem from mundane motivations? The groundbreaking book Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt challenges our understanding of evil. The book examines Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Holocaust, through a surprising lens. Arendt’s analysis reveals unexpected insights about the nature of evil itself. Read on for an overview of this work that lays out Arendt’s controversial perspective on one of history’s most infamous criminals.

No Self, No Problem: Book Overview (Chris Niebauer)

a woman standing outside of a building in a city is looking up from an open book in a thoughtful manner

Have you ever questioned the nature of your own identity? What if everything you believe about yourself is just an illusion? No Self, No Problem, a book by neuroscientist Chris Niebauer, challenges our understanding of self-identity. He argues that our sense of self is merely a construct created by our brain’s left hemisphere. This concept aligns with ancient Eastern philosophies that have long questioned the existence of a fixed self. Prepare to explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and spirituality as we delve into an overview of this thought-provoking book.

What Did Adolf Eichmann Do? His Role in the Nazis’ “Solutions”

a Nazi officer from behind working at a desk in an office that has maps, books, papers, and a lamp

What did Adolf Eichmann do during the Holocaust? How did his role evolve as Nazi policies changed? Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem explores Adolf Eichmann’s involvement in the Nazi regime’s “Jewish question.” The book examines his progression from an advisor on Jewish emigration to a key figure in the transportation of Jews to concentration camps. Continue reading for Arendt’s analysis of Eichmann’s role in the Holocaust to discover how his actions shaped the course of history.