Shortform Books

Michelle Obama on Racism and Mental Health

How does racial discrimination affect one’s mental health? What psychological problems are victims of racial discrimination likely to suffer from? Discrimination occurs when a person is different from the majority in some way and is treated poorly because of those differences. In her book The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama writes that being discriminated against on the basis of superficial differences (e.g. race) makes people self-conscious and primes them to behave in ways that are acceptable to others. Here’s what Michelle Obama has to say about racism and mental health.

The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill: Book Overview

What is Napoleon Hill’s The Law of Success about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In The Law of Success, Napoleon Hill argues that your subconscious mind creates your life experiences, drawing upon your recurrent thoughts. According to him, these thoughts can either train your subconscious mind to work in alignment with your goals or in opposition to them. Below is a brief overview of The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons by Napoleon Hill.

How to Detect a Lie: 5 Tips From a Former FBI Agent

How can you tell a person is lying? Can you know with certainty someone is being untruthful? According to former FBI agent Joe Navarro, there’s no definitive behavioral response that indicates someone is lying. However, as a general rule of thumb, someone who is lying will display insecure behaviors because deception takes mental effort and causes stress. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to detect a lie.

The 3 Different Types of Carbohydrates, Explained

What exactly are carbohydrates? What different types of carbohydrates are there? Carbohydrates are a macronutrient comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and can be divided into complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates are formed from multiple sugar molecules bond together. Sugars, or simple carbohydrates, are either monosaccharides or disaccharides. Keep reading to learn about the different types of carbohydrates and how they’re digested in the body.

How to Build a Product-Based Business: Advice From Tony Fadell

How do you build a world-changing product-based business? How do you set the right foundation and then weather the storms that come? Entrepreneur Tony Fadell answers these questions and more in Build. The book is part career encyclopedia and part memoir, detailing Fadell’s journey building the iPhone and starting Nest, a smart home device company that he sold to Google for billions. Keep reading to learn how to build a product-based business from a successful business veteran.

The Fourth Turning: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

How do different generations function in society and react to societal changes? How did predictions about America’s future made in 1997 turn out? In their book The Fourth Turning, William Strauss and Neil Howe explain that human history is characterized by a cyclical progression through four “Turnings,” which the authors liken to seasons. Identifying these Turnings can help us understand the past and possibly predict the future. Continue reading for an overview of this insightful book.

Yoga in America: Yogananda’s Legacy in the West

Who contributed to the establishment of yoga in America? Who is Paramahansa Yogananda? Paramahansa Yogananda was a world-renowned yoga practitioner and teacher known for contributing to the adoption of yoga in America, specifically the style of kriya yoga. His goal was to create a spiritual connection between the West and India. Read on to learn how Yogananda played a key role in bringing kriya yoga to America.

Keep on Learning: How Your Brain Allows Endless Education

Can an old dog learn new tricks? Does your brain ever “max out” on learning? In Limitless Mind, math educator Jo Boaler shows that the brain is capable of learning new skills and incorporating new ideas throughout our lives. She reminds us that we never stop being students and that we’re capable of continual education. Read more to understand how you can keep on learning throughout your life.

Advancements in Neuroscience Decode Higher Consciousness

What are some important advancements in neuroscience? How have they helped us to understand different forms of human consciousness? According to the book Stealing Fire, advancements in neuroscience are decoding peak states of consciousness. With new technologies, researchers are uncovering the conditions that correlate with these states, allowing us to distinguish between normal consciousness and peak states. Read on to learn how these advancements in neuroscience are helping to explain peak states of consciousness.

3 Major Medical Breakthroughs That Are Revolutionizing Medicine

What is the future of medicine? What are the major breakthroughs that have the potential to revolutionize the medical field? Medicine is advancing at an unprecedented pace with new technologies emerging that have the potential to treat diseases we thought were uncurable and even repair aged tissue. Some of the latest medical breakthroughs include gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and stem cell therapy. Let’s look at some of these medical technologies and how they can revolutionize modern medicine.