Shortform Books

The 3 Major Problems With the Caste System

What are the three biggest problems with the caste system? Where do these problems stem from? According to Isabel Wilkerson, the author of Caste, the dominant caste’s beliefs in an innate right to be in control give them a sense of entitlement and the authority to police the actions of the subordinate caste. This causes three general problems. First, upper-caste entitlement can lead to violence, second, people in the lower caste internalize and reproduce that violence, and third, society misses out on the lower class’s contributions. Here are the three problems, explained.

Angela Duckworth: Grit—Book Review

Is Angela Duckworth’s Grit worth all the hype? Is having grit really more important than intelligence or natural talent? Angela Duckworth’s book Grit was published in 2016 and became an instant bestseller—remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for years. Although there have been many criticisms of the book, many swear that Duckworth’s research is revolutionary. Continue reading for our Grit book review including the book’s context, impact, and critical reception.

Success Programming: Condition Yourself for Success

Obsession with Success: The Key to Becoming Wealthy

Does your mind often sabotage you, preventing you from acting in alignment with your goals? Is there a way to program your mind to act in a more goal-oriented way? According to Maxwell Maltz, the author of Psycho-Cybernetics, the main reason people sabotage their own goals is that their internal programming (how they have been programmed to think throughout their lives) is in contradiction with their conscious goals. But even if you have been thinking and acting in a self-sabotaging way for your whole life, it doesn’t mean that you have to keep doing it: you can program it for

Charlie Munger’s Biography: His Path to Investing

What does Charlie Munger’s biography tell us about his relationship with Warren Buffet? Why did he join Berkshire Hathaway? Charlie Munger’s biography shows that he met Warren Buffett when they were working together in Buffett’s grandfather’s store as kids, and reunited when Charlie returned to Omaha after the death of his father. He joined Berkshire Hathaway when Buffett convinced him that investing is a better fit for his talents than law. Read on to discover the important details from Charlie Munger’s biography.

The 2 Types of Inequality: Static vs. Dynamic

What are the two types of inequality? How does the free market help reduce economic disparity between classes? According to Nassim Taleb, there are two types of wealth and two types of inequality: static and dynamic. Static inequality refers to the wealth disparity of a population at any given single point in time. On the other hand, dynamic inequality refers to the inability of a given individual to rise in economic class across a lifetime. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between Taleb’s two types of inequality. Then, we’ll examine Taleb’s argument that the free market does the most

50 Types of Mental Models for Better Decision-Making

What are the major types of mental models? What should be your focus when learning a mental model? The many types of mental models cut across several disciplines including math, psychology, economics, physics, and more. They include models like Gaussian distribution, reciprocity, autocatalysis, and opportunity cost. Your focus should be on learning the fundamental meaning of these models and not their nitty-gritty details. Read on to discover more about the major types of mental models.

The Slight Edge: Long-Term Success Philosophy

Are you frustrated with the results of your goals? Do you want to know what the secret is to achieving long-term success? You might be surprised to learn that the secret is, in fact, quite simple. In The Slight Edge, Jeff Olson teaches that success is built over time by committing to simple, small, daily disciplines. In this article, we’ll explore Jeff Olson’s success philosophy and how you can incorporate it into your own life.

How to Overcome Personal Inadequacy: Appeal to Faith

Is something deep inside you holding you back? Where do you think this particular lack of self-confidence stems from? No one is born with an inferiority complex. Our sense of personal inadequacy develops through life experience, especially our upbringing through childhood. Here is how appealing to faith can help you cope with a sense of personal inadequacy.

Psycho-Cybernetics: Quotes by Maxwell Maltz

Are you looking for Psycho-Cybernetics quotes by Maxwell Maltz? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz is a recognized classic in the field of self-help books. The book’s key premise is that you can program your mind to achieve success and happiness in the same way that you’d program a machine to achieve certain goals. Below is a selection of Psycho-Cybernetics quotes with explanations.

Who Not How Book Advice: Invest in Personnel

What does the book Who Not How say about investing in personnel? How can spending money to hire more employees benefit you? In their book Who Not How, Sullivan and Hardy give four reasons why you should hire more personnel. They say that having more personnel will grow your business faster, will make you more money, will improve your personal relationships, and will help you optimize your purpose. Here’s why you should invest in more personnel, according to Sullivan and Hardy.