Shortform Books

What Did Prince Harry Do in the Military? His Career, Explained

What did Prince Harry do in the military? Why does Harry say it was the happiest time of his life? Having a clear purpose in the military—and the anonymity of a callsign—helped him to focus his attention and forget about the hardships of royalty. In Spare, Harry recalls his highest points in the military. We’ll explore Harry’s military career, starting with the sudden cancellation of his deployment to Iraq and ending with him founding the Invictus Games, a sports event for veterans.

The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need: Book Overview

What is The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need by Jade Bowler about? What are the main takeaways of the book? The pressure to succeed in school often makes young people chronically overwhelmed and causes them to struggle. However, in The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need, Jade Bowler explains that school doesn’t have to be this way. Read below for a brief overview of The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need.

13 Essential Books to Improve Writing Skills

Do you have writer’s block? Do you want to improve your writing skills? Whether you’re writing a novel, advertisements, or an essay for class, good writing skills will come in handy. Thankfully, these skills can be learned through practice, perseverance, and a good book. Below, we’ve listed thirteen essential books that every writer should read to improve their skills.

Are Abusers Narcissists? Breaking Down Their Selfishness

Are abusers narcissists? Why are all abusers so selfish? In Why Does He Do That?, Lundy Bancroft argues that all abusers are deeply selfish and lack empathy. This explains why they don’t care about their victims’ happiness or care about them in any way. Let’s look deeper at how abusers demonstrate narcissism.

Pointless Jobs: How to Identify Meaningless Work

What is a pointless job? How can you identify one? What are the common characteristics and categories? In Bullshit Jobs, David Graeber argues that many jobs in contemporary industrial societies are, in fact, pointless. This flies in the face of our conventional economic thinking, in which jobs exist largely to fulfill a pre-existing need that adds value to society. Keep reading to learn how to identify pointless jobs, according to Graeber.

How to Create Psychological Safety in the Workplace: 3 Tips

Is your business emotionally toxic? How do you create psychological safety in the workplace? If workers are in bad moods or afraid to speak their truth at work, you might have a psychologically unsafe environment. Luckily, Amy C. Edmondson’s book The Fearless Organization says you can turn this around quickly. Learn how to create psychological safety in the workplace in no time.

Overview of the Book Killers of the Flower Moon

What was the motive of the Osage murders? Was justice ultimately done? How did the case shape the future of law enforcement? David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon explores the Osage Reign of Terror. This was a series of organized killings of members of the Osage Indian tribe that took place in Osage County, Oklahoma, during the 1920s. Continue reading for an overview of this sad but important book.

How to Organize Contacts & Improve Relationships as a Result

How effectively do you keep track of all the people in your life? Do you ever lose phone numbers or forget important birthdays? In his book The Organized Mind, neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin discusses how to externalize and sort information and objects. He explains how can you use the power of externalization and organization to improve your relationships. Keep reading to learn why modern relationships can overwhelm us and how to organize contacts in a way that takes that pressure off.

How to Cultivate Stillness of the Mind

Are your thoughts always racing out of control? Do you find it difficult to calm your mind so you can focus and think straight? Many people are overwhelmed by mental noise such as racing thoughts and irrational worries. This wastes a lot of mental energy but adds no value to your life. To regain peace, you need to learn to direct your mental energy in a more intentional way. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to cultivate stillness of the mind so you can think clearly and rationally.

Focusing on Others: Empathy, Social Intuition, & Body Language

Are there different kinds of empathy? What is social intuition? How important is attention when it comes to social interactions? In Focus, Daniel Goleman discusses various directions of attention. One way we can direct our attention is toward others. According to Goleman, an effective focus on others builds several life skills: empathy, social intuition, and the ability to read body language. Keep reading to learn how focusing on others can help you develop these skills.