Shortform Books

A History of US-China Relations: Opium Wars to Normalization

How did the Opium Wars impact the US? What opened up China to foreign trade and missionaries? Has the relationship between the US and China ever been good? Hostility between the US and China has been growing for over a decade, eroding the wary but pragmatic relationship of years past. In The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd explains that today’s situation is best understood in its historical context. Continue reading for an illuminating history of US-China relations.

The Power of a Learner’s Mindset & How to Adopt One

How much does your mindset affect your ability to learn? Do you know the good news about neuroplasticity? If you want to learn anything well, you must adopt a learner’s mindset, which is basically a growth mindset toward learning. We’ll discuss the characteristics of a learner’s mindset, the scientific basis behind it, and the practical steps and benefits of adopting one yourself. Read more to understand a learner’s mindset and the difference it makes.

How to Implement a Business Strategy & Realize Your Vision

How should senior leadership be involved in innovation projects? How should you handle integrating new initiatives into your core business? In Lead From the Future, business strategists Mark W. Johnson and Josh Suskewicz explore the steps of future-back thinking (visionary planning). They show how you can adopt the process to improve outcomes for your business. Keep reading for Johnson and Suskewicz’s advice on how to implement a business strategy with an eye always on the future.

4 Challenges of Adult Education & How to Overcome Them

What’s standing in the way of you going back to school? Would you like to learn something new but aren’t sure how to go about it? Many people sense the need for a career change, but they don’t know where to start when it comes to getting the education they need to make that happen. In Mindshift, Oakley writes that it’s possible to overcome perceived barriers and gain new skills so you can reinvent yourself. Read more to learn about several challenges of adult education and how to overcome them.

Developmental Psychology: History, Stages, and Figures

What is the history of developmental psychology? How do children’s minds grow into those of adults? How humans grow from children to adults was actually widely misunderstood until the 1930s. It wasn’t until Jean Piaget came along that people finally began to understand how cognitive processes change over time. Find out more about these changes with the help of The Psychology Book‘s description of developmental psychology history.

How to Heal From Your Past (Beyond Order Rule 9)

Do some memories haunt you? How are they holding you back? If old memories still upset you, write them down carefully and completely. That’s Beyond Order Rule 9 from Jordan Peterson. He explains how this is an effective way to begin to process the traumas you’ve experienced. Keep reading to learn how to heal from your past with Peterson’s method.

What Are Cognitive Distortions? How We Self-Sabotage

What are cognitive distortions? How do they negatively impact our lives? Cognitive distortions, also known as Saboteurs in Shirzad Chamine’s book Positive Intelligence, are inaccurate or irrational thoughts that negatively impact our lives. They are survival mechanisms developed in response to stress. But, in adulthood, they hinder our happiness and success. Read on to learn how cognitive distortions develop and discover what the most common types are.

Is the Metaverse Dead? The 2 Sides of the Argument

What is the metaverse? Is the metaverse dead or just evolving more quietly than anticipated? When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg launched the metaverse in October 2021 he called the immersive virtual world “the next chapter for the internet.” But some say the metaverse didn’t just fail to live up to its promise to revolutionize human interactions in the virtual world, it actually died. We’ll take a look at what the metaverse is and the concerns for its welfare.

How to Avoid a Sedentary Lifestyle: Move Like Your Ancestors

Do you sit most of the day? Would you like to find an enjoyable and sustainable solution to an inactive lifestyle? Michael Easter discusses the negative effects of sedentary lifestyles and how to get your body moving the way it’s made to move. Then, he examines the benefits of exercising and provides some context about the types of movement humans are meant to perform. Read on to learn how to avoid a sedentary lifestyle by moving the way you’re designed to.

The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again—Book Overview

When was the last time you did something fun? What if fun didn’t have to take a backseat to your neverending list of adult responsibilities? For many of us, the older we get, the less we prioritize having fun. Catherine Price uses research and personal anecdotes to explain why fun is fundamental to living a happy and healthy life and how everyone can start having more fun. Continue reading for an overview of The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.