Shortform Books

The Impact of Western Individualism: 3 Surprising Ways It Harms

How does an entire culture maintain a false idea about the nature of existence? How is that illusion hurting us? Many people in the West internalize the idea that each of us is an individual—an entity separate from others and our surroundings. Philosopher Alan Watts claims that this “ego illusion” manifests in Western society through paradoxical cultural expectations for each person to be an individual. Keep reading to understand Watts’s take on Western individualism and to learn three ways it harms people and the environment.

What Happens if Your Need for Self-Esteem Goes Unmet?

Why do humans have a need for self-esteem? What happens if it goes unmet? Scott Barry Kaufman created a new hierarchy of human needs in his book Transcend. Our need for self-esteem is a major security need in Kaufman’s hierarchy, and we need to feel valuable and confident in our lives for this need to be met. Read on to learn why humans need self-esteem and how our lives can be affected without it, according to Kaufman.

What Do Affirmations Do & Are They Effective?

What do affirmations do for us? Are positive affirmations always effective? How can you use them most effectively? Author Gary John Bishop distilled years of research and experience as a life coach and personal development consultant into his book Unfu*k Yourself. In the book, he explains the power of positive affirmations and what they can do for your self-talk and overall mindset. Read on to learn what affirmations do for you and how to make the most of them, according to Bishop.

How to Host a Party: 2 Tips for Opening Your Gathering

Are you throwing your first party? How do you host a party? Hosting your first party can be intimidating. You want people to have a good time and mingle, but you may not know how to make that happen. With Priya Parker’s book The Art of Gathering, you’ll learn how to easily manage the gathering so that your guests will have fun. Here’s how to host a party when your guests start to arrive.

How to Listen to Your Emotions After a Stressful Situation

Why should you listen to your emotions more? How does reflecting on your thoughts help you cope with stress? Managing and understanding our emotions is one of the key things we learn as children—but even as adults we might need a refresher. We’re constantly experiencing stressful situations and sometimes we don’t know how to handle them. Find out how listening to your emotions can help you manage stress.

How to Be Innovative at Work: Principles of Success

How can you be innovative at work? How do you manage crucial projects that require innovation and creativity? Vijay Kumar’s book 101 Design Methods suggests that to create a successful project that will make your business soar, you need to manage innovation effectively. To do this, you need to follow a few principles to make your company as cohesive and communicative as possible. Keep reading to learn how to be innovative at work, one step at a time.

How to Reduce Overthinking: A Stress Management Timeline

How do you reduce overthinking? What are the best stress management strategies? In Stop Overthinking, Nick Trenton outlines one approach to managing overthinking: coping more effectively with stress in your daily life. He breaks this approach down into three parts, advising you on how to deal with a stressful situation in the before, during, and after stages. Continue reading to learn how to reduce overthinking to live a better life.

Think Like a Monk Exercises to Find Happiness & Calm

Do you sometimes feel like you’d like to get away from it all? Do you then realize that you can’t actually do that? Former Vedic monk and award-winning content creator Jay Shetty claims that the route to happiness and fulfillment is to Think Like a Monk. According to him, monks are the calmest and happiest people in the world because they live with a sense of purpose that aligns with their true, inner selves. Continue reading for two Think Like a Monk exercises that will help you apply the principles in the book.

How to Deal With Shame: The 4 Steps to Move Past Mistakes

Do you feel like a terrible person because of a mistake you made? How can you deal with shame in a healthy way? A common reaction people have when they’ve done something wrong is to feel shame. It’s a completely normal emotion to feel in these types of situations, but it can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Luckily, there are ways to overcome shame. Continue reading to learn how to deal with shame and accept your mistakes.