Shortform Books

Apples in America: Why Are We So Obsessed?

How did the apple become one of America’s favorite fruits? Who first brought apples to the United States? Where did the idea of “apple picking” originate from? There’s no fruit more quintessentially American than the apple. We snack on apples year-round, pick them at orchards each fall, and bake them into pies at Thanksgiving. However, their lack of genetic diversity may pose a problem in the near future. Keep reading for a brief history of apples in America and the problems they face.

Henry David Thoreau and Nature: Woods & Wildlife at Walden Pond

Why is Henry David Thoreau considered one of the founders of ecology? How did he connect nature with spirituality? During his two years at Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau spent hours every day walking and observing the nature that surrounded him. He also strove to live by the rhythms of the natural world. Continue reading to learn about Henry David Thoreau and nature at Walden Pond.

The History of Mir Jafar: Was He the Benedict Arnold of India?

Who was Mir Jafar? Was he just a puppet of the East India Company and the British? How is he regarded today? Mir Jafar served as a military general before becoming the first Nawab of Bengal under the authority of the British East India Company, making him the first ruler of the region dependent on the British for power. He’s a complicated figure with a problematic reputation still today. Keep reading to learn the intriguing history of Mir Jafar.

Can Stress Be Good for You? 3 Ways to Take Advantage of Stress

How can stress be good for you? What are ways to take advantage of stress, rather than let it defeat you? Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness say that a combination of stress and rest is essential for growth, and discuss the optimal way to structure these cycles. We’ll focus on three of their recommendations for incorporating stress. Check out Stulberg and Magness’s recommendations below.

Peter Hollins’s 4 Emotional Discipline Tools to Avoid Impulses

A silhouette of a man displaying emotional discipline as he stretches out his arms against a scenic river.

What’s emotional discipline? What tools can help you build self-control? In The Science of Self-Discipline, Peter Hollins explains that taking a measured approach to developing discipline will make it sustainable. To develop a disciplined mindset, he offers a few strategies. Continue reading for his four emotional discipline tools.

What Is Victim Blaming: The 3 Stages of Shutting Down Victims

What is victim blaming? What are the three stages of silencing victims? Victim blaming is the act of holding a victim accountable for a crime or traumatic event done to them. Silencing the victim is one of the top methods of victim blaming, which means the perpetrator isn’t punished for their actions. Here are the three stages of blaming and silencing victims.

Prisoner’s Dilemma in Economics: Would You Betray or Cooperate?

Prisoners holding dollar bills behind bars as symbolism of prisoner's dilemma in economics

What’s the prisoner’s dilemma in economics? How does the prisoner’s dilemma represent cooperation? The prisoner’s dilemma is an experiment that reveals if people would betray or cooperate with their partners, depending on the reward and punishment. This theory can be applied in an economic setting as well. Check out how the prisoner’s dilemma works when it comes to finances.

My Name Is Barbra: Barbra Streisand’s Memoir (Overview)

A silhouette of a woman facing bright lights on a stage.

What’s Barbra Streisand’s background? How does she view herself? What does she value most? My Name Is Barbra, Barbra Streisand’s memoir, tells us about the personal and professional life of one of the most successful and well-rounded performers in history. In addition to her career, Streisand is also known for being a feminist, environmentalist, and philanthropist. Continue reading for an overview of this 1,000-page autobiography.

Beyond Meat Sales Drop: The Beginning of the End for Faux Meat?

Has the fake meat revolution been overhyped? Why are sales dropping so rapidly? Will they pick back up? Beyond Meat recently reported a 30% second-quarter sales plunge, leading to doubts about artificial meat’s future. Factors like high prices, inferior taste and texture, and scaling challenges have stunted the product’s growth. Here’s a look at why Beyond Meat’s sales have dropped, along with other fake meat producers.

Who Were the Transcendentalists, and What Did They Believe?

Who were the Transcendentalists? What did they believe? What’s their legacy? Transcendentalism was a 19th-century movement in New England. The Transcendentalists, predominantly philosophers and writers, believed in the goodness of humans and nature and promoted the idea that following your intuition enables you to find meaning in your life. Read more to learn about the Transcendentalists and their ideas.