Shortform Books

Georges Cuvier: Theory of Catastrophism

Who was Georges Cuvier? What contribution did he make to evolution? How did George Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism redefine the paradigm of extinction? Georges Cuvier was a French naturalist and zoologist from the 18th century. He is also known as the “founding father of paleontology.” Georges Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism convinced the skeptical scientific community of the reality of mass species extinctions. Read about Georges Cuvier’s theory of catastrophism.

Thomas Kuhn Quotes: Ideas on Scientific Revolutions

What are some noteworthy Thomas Kuhn quotes? Which quotes and passages highlight his most influential ideas about the history and philosophy of science? Thomas Kuhn was an American physicist, historian, and philosopher of science who is best known for his groundbreaking 1962 classic The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The following Thomas Kuhn quotes encapsulate his revolutionary ideas about the history and philosophy of science. Here are four Thomas Kuhn quotes and what they mean.

Sunk Cost Bias: Know When to Cut Your Losses

What is the sunk cost bias or the sunk cost fallacy? How does it affect decision-making? The sunk cost bias or fallacy is a term that describes when someone keeps following through on an endeavor to justify previously invested resources. This tendency, which is related to loss aversion and status quo biases, is often the result of ongoing commitment and zeal towards a project. Keep reading for more about the sunk cost bias.

A Brief and Bloody History of Slavery in America

What is the history of slavery in America? What role did the institution of slavery play in the making of the American nation? The history of slavery in America dates back to 1619, when Europeans brought the first Africans onto the American soil. In 1865, slavery was officially abolished by the addition of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, but its legacy lingers to this day. Read about the history of slavery in America and how it contributed to the making of America as we know it today.

The Best Strategies for Aggressive Investors

What are aggressive investors? Are aggressive investing strategies successful? Aggressive investors are people who follow an investment strategy of discipline and research that may go against other common strategies. The aggressive investor is often unpopular because their strategy may seem counterintuitive to other investors. Read more about aggressive investors and their strategy.

Bill Campbell, Coach of Silicon Valley Titans

Who was Bill Campbell, coach of Silicon Valley? How did he end up coaching major players from many big tech companies? After playing and coaching football, Bill Campbell started working at Kodak and then moved to Apple in its early years. Taking lessons learned there and in football helped Bill Campbell as a coach. Keep reading to learn more about Bill Campbell, coach of many Silicon Valley executives.

4DX Strategy: The Benefits of Executing Your Goals

What are the benefits of pursuing a 4DX strategy? How can it fundamentally change your culture and employee satisfaction? The 4DX strategy offers a number of ancillary benefits beyond the obvious one of accomplishing your goal. You’ll see greater engagement and key shifts in behavior. Read on for more about the benefits of implementing the 4DX strategy.

WIG Session: A Meetings Dedicated to Key Goals

What is a WIG session in 4DX? How should a session focused on wildly important goals be run? A WIG session is a critical part of accountability on what you’re trying to accomplish. These meetings are focused solely on the wildly important goals rather than getting caught up in other day-to-day minutiae. Keep reading for a sample agenda and structure for each WIG Session.

Talent Density: What It Is and How to Increase It

What is talent density and why is it important? How did Reed Hastings focus on increasing the concentration of talent at Netflix? Talent density is a measure for the ratio of talent per employee. If you have people that are at the tops of their respective fields, your concentration of talent is much higher. Read more about talent density and how it was cultivated at Netflix.

Introverts in School: Are They Disadvantaged?

Are introverts in school disadvantaged? How are educational institutions biased in favor of extroverts? Introverts in school can have a difficult time with things like class participation and collaborative projects. However, their ability to focus and the manner in which they learn gives introverts an advantage in high school and college. Keep reading to find out more about introverts in school and how they do better or worse than their extroverted counterparts.