Shortform Books

The 4 Characteristics of an Authoritarian Leader

What makes a leader authoritarian? What are the key characteristics that authoritarian politicians share? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, authoritarian leaders share several key characteristics. They refuse to accept the generally accepted rules of the democratic competition, they reject the legitimacy of their opponents, they don’t shy away from using violence, and they express willingness to repress civil liberties. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the basic characteristics that are shared by norm-violating, anti-democratic politicians with some examples.

Stephen Covey: Proactivity—Take Ownership or Fail

Do you consider yourself a proactive person? What does a proactive approach to life entail? In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey defines proactivity as the ability to change the problems that you can change and accept the ones that you can’t. Being proactive requires taking full responsibility for your actions and decisions. Continue reading to learn what proactivity entails, why it makes your life better, and how to cultivate it.

Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant: Review & Background

What is Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant, Robert Kiyosaki argues that to generate wealth, what kind of income you generate is more important than how much income you generate, or what kind of work you do. Kiyosaki uses the stories of his now-famous “Rich Dad” (his friend’s father) and “Poor Dad” (his own father) to illustrate how different income types lead to different results. The following Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant review covers the book’s context, background, and critical reception by the readers.

Why the Bottom-Up Aid Model Is the Most Successful

Why does the bottom-up aid model work better than the top-down model when it comes to international aid? In what ways is the bottom-up aid model more effective? American economist and professor William Easterly explores the top-down and bottom-up international aid models in his book The White Man’s Burden. He comes to the conclusion that the bottom-up aid model is much more effective than the top-down model because it empowers locals and doesn’t treat them like needy children. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of bottom-up humanitarian aid.

Do Humans Have Free Will? To an Extent …

Do humans have free will? Or is human behavior simply a product of genetics and conditioning? Society and popular culture often tell us that we are the products of our conditions and conditioning—our upbringing, environment, era, culture, and other external influences. Whether we act of our own accord or out of conditioning is a contentious question. Philosophers and scientists argue about this to this day. Keep reading to learn about the free will conundrum and how you can choose to act freely (at least, to an extent).

Levitsky and Ziblatt: Is Democracy Dying in the U.S.?

Is democracy dying? Is America sliding into authoritarianism? What can be done to salvage democratic norms? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, democracy operated successfully throughout most of the 20th century, despite some challenges. But, they warn, democratic norms are under siege today and may be slipping away entirely. In this article, we’ll explore some key structural transformations in United States politics over the past few decades that are pushing democratic norms to the brink.

Money Is Freedom to Pursue Life on Your Own Terms

As you advance in your career, do you have less free time or more free time? What would you do with more free time? American investor and financial educator Robert Kiyosaki has been both rich and poor. Rich is better, he says, because money is freedom—the more money you have, the freer you are to pursue life on your own terms. Here is what Kiyosaki has to say on money being a means to an end—the end being freedom, and why you shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting more money.

The Win/Win Paradigm: When Does It Work?

What is the Win/Win paradigm? Do you think a win/win outcome is possible in any situation? The Win/Win paradigm is one of Stephen Covey’s six paradigms of human interaction. The Win/Win paradigm aims to find a solution that benefits both sides, where everyone is happy with the decision and committed to the plan. However, the Win/Win paradigm may not be right for all situations. Read more to learn about the concept of Covey’s Win/Win paradigm, when Win/Win is appropriate, and when it’s not viable.

Brian Tracy: Goal-Setting Starts With a Mindset Shift

How to Believe in Your Goals and Change Your Life

Are you still unclear about what you want from life? How do you set goals if you don’t even know what you want? According to motivational speaker Brian Tracy, goal-setting starts with changing your mindset. Tracy suggests four mindset-shifting methods for those who are unclear about what they want or those who let negative thoughts keep them from setting goals. Keep reading to learn about Tracy’s four mindset-shifting methods.

Donald Trump’s “Fake News” Strategy

Why did Trump condemn mainstream media? How did Trump’s “fake news” accusation become a propaganda tool? It’s not a secret that Donald Trump didn’t shy away from throwing around unfounded accusations. Trump’s infamous “fake news” was a good example of that. The former president effectively weaponized the term against mainstream media that gave unfavorable coverage to his administration. Here is what really lies behind Donald Trump’s favorite phrase.