Shortform Books

How to Process Negative Emotions and Let Them Go

What’s the best way to deal with negative emotions? Why is it not a good idea to suppress or distract yourself from negative emotions? We all succumb to negative emotions from time to time, but avoiding them isn’t the most optimal way to deal with them. According to Lissa Rankin, the author of Mind Over Medicine, allowing ourselves to feel negative emotions in their full magnitude can help us process them faster. Here are some tips on how to process negative emotions and let them go.

The Body Keeps the Score: Quizzes to Test Your Knowledge

Did you read The Body Keeps the Score? How well did you internalize the concepts? Experiences such as abuse, a severe car accident, and wartime combat can lead to a lifetime of flashbacks, nightmares, isolation, insomnia, hypervigilance, and rage. In The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk explores how diagnosing and treating trauma has evolved. Keep reading for nine The Body Keeps the Score quizzes that test your knowledge of the book.

Doomsday Scenarios: The Extinction of the Human Race

What could wipe out humanity? How have civilizations been destroyed in the past? In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman asks what would happen if the human race vanished overnight. Although he states that the means of extinction are not necessarily relevant to the thought experiment, he speculates about how it might occur. Read more to learn about a few doomsday scenarios that might cause the extinction of the human race.

How to Keep Yourself Motivated: John Maxwell on Motivation

Do you struggle to get things done? Do you feel like you never make progress toward your goals? Are you ready to give up? According to John Maxwell, motivation makes it easier to reach your goals. But, it must be consistent to be effective. You probably already know that part but wonder how to stay motivated for the long haul. Maxwell offers two practical ways to do this. Read more to learn how to keep yourself motivated until you cross the finish line.

Why We Should Embrace Language Innovation (Steven Pinker)

Do you ever use the word “hangry”? Do you think you should or shouldn’t? Do you take a functional or a purist approach to language? In The Language Instinct, experimental psychologist Steven Pinker argues that language is an innate, biological ability in humans—not just an element of human culture that gets passed from person to person. His theory explains his openness to language innovation. Continue reading to discover why, according to Pinker, we shouldn’t be afraid to toss out arbitrary grammar conventions.

Psychology: Why Is It Important to Find Your Purpose in Life?

Why is it important to find your purpose in life, according to psychology? Why is having a purpose a basic human need? According to psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, it’s important to find your purpose in life because it brings you closer to self-actualization—the highest point of human potential. However, Kaufman claims that you must meet your needs for security and growth before striving towards a higher purpose in life. Read on to learn more about Kaufman’s views on why it’s important to find your purpose in life.

What Is Nostr? How It Could Transform Social Media

What is Nostr? How is Nostr different than traditional social media? What does distributed social media mean? New, decentralized social media platforms have the potential to reduce online censorship and spam, redefine online advertising, and normalize bitcoin use—potentially stabilizing bitcoin’s value. Nostr is a protocol that can act as a platform for decentralized social media. Read on to learn what Nostr is, how it works, and if it has the potential to revolutionize social media.

How to Create a Successful Marketing Campaign in 5 Steps

How do you get enough people talking about your business to make it profitable? What if you saw yourself as a campaign manager instead of a salesperson? Daniel Priestley discusses why and how you should build an extreme level of demand for your products before starting to sell them. He then provides the steps for a successful marketing campaign: determine your supply, prime the market, reach critical mass, make the sale, and keep people talking. Keep reading to learn how to create a successful marketing campaign with these five steps.

Who Are the Power Elite in America? Where the Influence Lies

Who are the power elite in America? What institutions wield influence over nearly everything? In The Power Elite, sociologist C. Wright Mills discusses how a small group of leaders has taken over a vast majority of American political and economic decision-making. He defines the power elite—who they are and how they operate—and he identifies the three institutions where the power elite emerged. Keep reading to learn who these people are and how they’ve consolidated their power.

How to Be a Good Host and Make Guests Comfortable

Do you know how to direct a gathering? How can you be a good host to your guests? At an event you’re hosting, your guests should be your number one priority. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker says many people think that hosts should relax when it comes to their duties, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Keep reading for the truth behind learning how to be a good host.