Shortform Books

The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver: Book Overview

Why do most predictions fail? How can we make better predictions that save people from catastrophic events? In The Signal and the Noise, Nate Silver argues that our predictions falter because of mental mistakes such as incorrect assumptions, overconfidence, and warped incentives. However, he also suggests that we can mitigate these thinking errors with the help of a method called Bayesian inference. Read below for a brief overview of The Signal and the Noise.

How the New Mortgage Fees Will Affect Homebuyers

How have mortgage fees changed? How will the new mortgage fees affect you? Why has the new framework come under scrutiny? As of May 1, US homebuyers may pay a little more or a little less in mortgage fees depending on their credit score—and a lot of people are unhappy about the news. New mortgage fee adjustments have stirred up a controversy and put the agency responsible for the changes on the defensive. Read on to learn about the new framework, including who the mortgage fee adjustments apply to.

The 3 Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness in Relationships

How should a relationship push you to be a better person? What are the benefits of practicing mindfulness in relationships? In How to Be an Adult in Relationships, David Richo says that mindfulness creates relationships that are not only strong but also continue to help you heal and mature. Also, mindful love helps you navigate the changes that occur naturally over the course of a relationship. Discover how mindfulness can improve your relationships so you and your relationship can grow.

How Active Recall Learning Helps You Absorb More Information

What’s the best way to learn? Does active recall learning work with all types of material? Whether you’re a student, professional, or lifelong learner, Learn Like a Pro by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe can help you become a more effective learner. The authors offer tips and techniques for excelling at the key elements of learning, including how to actively engage with your materials. Continue reading to understand how active recall learning works.

Kathy Loreno: If You Tell’s Unfortunate Betrayal Story

Who is Kathy Loreno? How was she betrayed by her best friend on her deathbed? In If You Tell, Kathy Loreno is named as one of Shelly Knotek’s many victims. Unlike Shelly’s daughters, Kathy couldn’t escape the abuse and died in the home that belonged to her best friend. Continue reading to learn more about Kathy’s last years of torture under Shelly’s roof.

The Rise of the LGBTQ+ Movement: A Product of the Modern Self

When and how did the LGBTQ+ movement start? Does it spell the end of Christian culture in the West? In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman analyzes how our sense of the self has undergone a revolution in the last few centuries. He discusses how the modern self shaped the LGBTQ+ movement, transgender identity, and modern understandings of marriage. Keep reading to understand Trueman’s analysis of the LGBTQ+ movement and how it came to be.

The Essential Guide to a Meditation Routine for Beginners

How to Visualize the Life You Want to Have in 3 Steps

Do you want to get into meditation but don’t know where to start? What’s the easiest meditation routine for beginners? Meditation can seem intimidating at first, but there’s nothing to be scared of. It’s one of the most relaxing exercises around, and practicing it every day creates a better life and atmosphere for you. Below, we’ll look at The Mind Illuminated‘s meditation routine for beginners to get you started.

How to Make a Point: Communicate Your Main Idea in 3 Steps

How can you influence your audience’s reception of what you’re telling them? How might you make them care about your message? In Amplify Your Influence, René Rodriguez asserts that you must effectively communicate your main idea to keep an audience’s attention. He shares three steps to get your point across: contextualize your main idea, deliver your main idea, and explain why your main idea matters to the audience. Here’s how to make a point that you believe people need to hear.

Go Digital With This Simple 5-Step Online Business Strategy

Is your business failing to attract customers? What’s the best online business strategy to use? Traditional advertising in print and on television isn’t enough these days. Old and new businesses need to transition to digital marketing to appeal to younger generations, and we’ve got the strategies to help you thrive online. First, we’ll look at why digital marketing is important, and then we’ll dive into the best online business strategies to implement.

14 of the Best Books About Technology’s Pros & Cons

Is technology helping or hurting us? What are the best books about technology that help us answer this question? Technology is all around us, whether we like it or not. It charges our phones, cooks our meals, and diagnoses medical problems. On the other hand, it also distracts us from work and affects our privacy. Below is a list of some of the best books about technology, organized into two categories: books that cheer on the advancements and those that warn about the dangers.