Shortform Books

Building Self-Esteem in Children: 8 Tips for Parents

What role does parenting play in children’s self-esteem? How can parents help their children develop healthy self-esteem? If parents fail to provide optimal conditions for the proper psychological development of their child, he or she could grow into an adult who is in an arrested stage of psychological development—and whose self-esteem is unhealthy. Of course, these children can still adopt behavior that nurtures their self-esteem, so parenting doesn’t determine a child’s self-esteem, but it can support or hamper it. Here are eight specific best practices for building self-esteem in children.

The Lee Thesis: Does Authoritarianism Help the Poor?

What’s the Lee thesis? Why does it claim that authoritarianism helps poor nations better than democracy does? Amartya Sen claims in Development as Freedom that democracy is the solution to helping poor economies, but the Lee thesis states otherwise. The thesis states that authoritarianism eradicates poverty because of a focus on economic development rather than freedom. Let’s look at what Sen has to say about the Lee thesis and whether authoritarianism really is the answer to economic prosperity.

Four Thousand Weeks: Quotes by Oliver Burkeman

Are you looking for Four Thousand Weeks quotes by Oliver Burkeman? What are some of the key passages worth revisiting? In Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman asserts that you and most humans live with the mistaken belief that if you try hard enough and find the right time management solutions, you should be able to gain total control over your time. But according to Burkeman, you’ll never have full control of your time. If you accept this reality—that your time is beyond your control—you’ll be both happier and more productive. Here’s a selection of passages highlighting some of the key ideas.

5 Ways to Build Self-Esteem in the Workplace

What role does self-esteem play in one’s professional success? How can organizations help their employees foster healthy self-esteem? Self-esteem has grown essential to both economic and professional success. In such a world, companies must keep up with constantly changing realities and ever-increasing global competition—which requires employees with high self-esteem. Here’s what companies can do to promote employees’ self-esteem in the workplace.

Spark by John Ratey: Book Overview

What is John Ratey’s Spark about? What is the key message to take away from the book? Spark by John Ratey is a look at the science behind what exercise does to our brains and what it means for our mental health. Ratey derives his insights from observations of his own patients as well as from scientific discoveries that were revolutionizing neuroscience around the time of the book’s publication in 2008. Below is a brief overview of Spark by John Ratey.

Where Does the Process of Digestion Begin?

Where does the process of digestion begin? What are the key organs involved in the digestion of food? We tend to think digestion happens in the abdomen, but it actually starts in the mouth. When we eat food, the mouth begins to break it down by releasing saliva and chewing. The mouth also protects us from unwelcome bacteria that we encounter in everyday life. These functions take place in two places: the salivary glands and the tonsils. Keep reading to learn about the stages of the digestion process.

How Top-Down Writing Hurts Your Creative Process

What is top-down writing? How does it actually hurt your writing process? Top-down writing is the traditional writing method where you draft a thesis and then conduct research based on your thesis statement. In other words, you create ideas to support your existing thesis rather than developing a thesis that encompasses your original ideas. This method works in theory, but in practice, it has several issues. Here’s how the top-down writing approach hinders your creative process.

Senescence: What It Is and How to Reverse It

What is senescence? What role do senescent cells play in aging? Is it possible to reverse senescence? As we get older, our cells start to shut down by entering senescence—a permanent cell cycle arrest where cells stop dividing but don’t die. Biologist David Sinclair believes that destroying those cells before they cause too much damage can significantly extend both life and health. Here’s how senescent cells contribute to aging.

How to Surround Yourself With Positivity

What Is the Secret to Living a Happy Life?

What do people mean by “vibes” or “energy”? What are some of the things that dampen your vibrational frequency? There are a number of factors, both internal and external, that can lower your vibrational frequency. When you’re aware of the factors that cause you negative vibes, you can remove them from your life. Ultimately, anything that causes suffering will lower your vibration. The following tips will guide you on how to surround yourself with positivity and keep off bad vibes.

Unnecessary Worry? Here’s How to End the Cycle

Do you often worry unnecessarily? How does useless worry compromise your success and happiness? Unnecessary worry is a common self-sabotaging habit. It hinders your progress by undermining your confidence and keeping you from focusing on more productive, positive things. Here’s how to put an end to the cycle of useless worrying.