Shortform Books

The Limitations of Regression Analysis in Stats

What are the uses and limitations of regression analysis in statistics? What are some things you should keep in mind when reporting the results of regression analysis? Regression analysis is a powerful research tool as it allows researchers to isolate variables of interest. However, regression analysis can be dangerous if its results are misinterpreted or misreported. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when interpreting regression analysis results.

Standard Deviation: Explained in Simple Terms

What is the standard deviation in statistics? What can the standard deviation tell about a data set? The standard deviation is descriptive statistics that measures the degree of dispersion in a given data set. More specifically, standard deviation tells us how far each value is from the mean. Here’s what we can glean from the standard deviation, explained in simple terms.

Slow to Process Information? It’s Not Your Fault

Do you have difficulty processing information? Do you process information at a slower speed? One of the reasons why many people process information at a slower speed is because of information overload. According to Johann Hari in Stolen Focus, our brains can’t keep up with the speed information is released. Learn how the acceleration of information causes people to be slow to process information.

How to Be Trusted: What Not to Do

How can you show that you are trustworthy? What behavior should you avoid if you want to be trusted? How does building trust improve new and existing relationships? The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey explains why building and maintaining trust is important across all relationships, including those in your professional and personal life. Covey identified certain behaviors you can demonstrate to others to show that you are a trustworthy person. Keep reading if you want to learn how to be trusted by others, according to Covey’s advice.

Pleasure Chemicals in the Brain: Which Ones Matter?

What are the brain’s pleasure chemicals? How do they affect your overall mood and health? Which pleasure chemicals are the most important for your happiness? Bestselling author Steven Kotler has done extensive neurobiological research to help individuals understand pathways to success, motivation, and happiness. According to Kotler, your brain’s pleasure chemicals each play a part in making you feel your best. Keep reading to learn more about your brain’s six pleasure chemicals and why you need them, according to Kotler.

The Key Causes of Age-Related Cognitive Impairment

What are the main factors implicated in age-related cognitive impairment? What are some things you can start doing today to slow down the rate of your cognitive decline? In the last few decades, medical scientists and researchers have discovered a lot about cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, and their research suggests it’s probably due to many factors that differ for every person. If we want to take care of our brains and take measures to prevent them from declining, it will be helpful to know the suspected factors that lead to cognitive decline. Keep reading to learn about the main

Location & Timing in Business: Your Advantage?

How important are location and timing in business? Are they a built-in advantage for you? If you’re in the right place at the right time, you have a leg up over the competition. Location and timing are unfair advantages identified in the book The Unfair Advantage by entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. The authors discuss potential drawbacks of good location and timing, how to know if location and timing are your unfair advantage in particular, and how to improve and make the most of your location and timing. Let’s take a closer look at this unfair advantage.

Aristotle’s Definition of Happiness: Reason+Virtue+Activity

What’s happiness? What does reason have to do with it? How is virtue a factor? Aristotle concedes that many people agree with him that happiness is the goal of human life. The real challenge is defining happiness. He defines it as rational activity aligned with virtue. Keep reading to understand Aristotle’s definition of happiness.

The Diffusion of Crops in Eurasia: Rise & Spread

What made Eurasia a prime location for domesticable plants? How did Eurasia’s geographic location give it an advantage? Jared Diamond, a historian, geographer, and ornithologist, contends that Eurasia benefited from having geographical features that supported the diffusion of crops and the rise and spread of food production. He said that the two features that set Eurasia apart were its axis orientation and the lack of topographic and ecological factors. Continue reading to learn about the history of the diffusion of crops in Eurasia.

How to Find Balance Between Work and Life

How hard should you work? What does it mean to work hard but smart? Is work-life balance achievable? In Barking Up the Wrong Tree, peak performance expert Eric Barker discusses the importance of hard work and persistence. He does, however, believe that there’s such a thing as working too hard. He argues that a truly successful life involves pursuing joy, reaching your goals, connecting with others, and making an impact, and he offers tips on how to build a schedule so that you can achieve this healthy balance. Keep reading for Barker’s ideas on finding balance between work and life.