Shortform Books

Background Checks for Gun Control: Effective or Useless?

Why are background checks important for gun purchases? Does this system really help to prevent gun violence? The background check required before a gun sale is meant to keep guns from falling into the wrong hands. However, critics of the background check system point out flaws like private sale loopholes and incomplete or incorrect data on potential gun buyers. Keep reading for an overview of background checks for gun control and whether the system is working or broken.

The Great Mental Models Vol. 2: Physics, Chemistry, & Biology

Do you struggle to make changes in your life? Should you be a generalist or a specialist? What’s the benefit of understanding other people? The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology shows how certain scientific principles can be applied personally, professionally, and socially. The authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish use models from these disciplines to understand things such as progress, competition, and relationships. Keep reading for an overview of this fascinating book.

What Is Prospect Theory? How a War Led to a Breakthrough

What is prospect theory? How was it developed? What does it explain in regard to how people make decisions and take risks? In 1973, the Yom Kippur War led Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky to shift their focus of study. Their ensuing examination of the decision-making process birthed a theory that transformed the way we understand not only decision-making but behavior in general. Keep reading to learn the background and development of prospect theory as well as what the theory explains.

The 6 Different Types of Stocks You Need to Know

How a Passive Investment Strategy Wins Big

What types of stock shares are there? What are some things you should consider when deciding what stocks are right for you? There are several different classifications of stock shares. Peter Lynch divides all stocks into six categories. The stocks that will be suitable for you depend on your investing ambitions and your risk tolerance. Keep reading to learn about the six different types of stocks, according to Peter Lynch.

Outliers by Gladwell—Discussion Questions to Reflect on

Are you looking for discussion questions about Outliers? How can you apply Malcolm Gladwell’s lessons to your own life? In Outliers, Gladwell argues that the self-made man is a myth. Instead, he says success depends just as much on factors that lie beyond the individual and the individual’s control, including where and when they were born and what kind of family they were born into. Here are some Outliers discussion questions to consider.

What Is Political Development? How Countries Evolve

What is political development? What drives a country to evolve? Authors Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson argue that failing nations follow an “exclusive” structure (exploiting citizens to benefit national leaders). In How Nations Fail, they explain how political development can drive exclusive countries to become free, fair, and accessible to society at large. Read on to learn how political development can change a failing nation into a successful one, or vice versa.

Climate Change Mitigation Strategies, According to NASA

Why are climate change mitigation strategies important? What do scientists suggest we do to reduce global warming? Millions of people around the world will soon find their homes threatened by wildfires, floods, and drought as a result of climate change, according to scientific models. In the U.S. alone, we’re likely to see millions of people fleeing the South and Southwest to escape the deadly heat. Read on to learn how NASA says we can address these threats through climate change mitigation strategies.

Enlightenment Values: The Driving Forces of Progress?

What are Enlightenment values? How are they relevant today? In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker provides statistics to show that life has improved over time, all around the world. And he says the driving forces of this progress are reason, science, and humanism—values that are derived from the European Enlightenment. Continue reading to learn more about these Enlightenment values from Pinker’s perspective.

How to Get to the Point & Present With Confidence

Do people get the point you’re trying to make? What is the key to learning how to get to the point? If you’ve identified and honed your point, you’re ready to market it. In Get to the Point!, Joel Schwartzberg says the single most important goal when presenting your point is to make a strong pitch that resonates with your audience. Let’s look at the different ways you can learn how to get to the point.

Find Your Place in the World—With Help From Biology & Physics

Where are you headed in life, and how fast are you going? What’s your niche? Should you be a generalist or a specialist? If these questions resonate with you, you’re probably figuring out how you fit in the larger scheme of things. You have a unique combination of personality, strengths, and interests, which means that you have a unique place to thrive. Now you just need to get there. Continue reading for tips on how to find your place in the world.