Shortform Books

Not Enough Time in the Day? Here’s How to Maximize It

Do you always feel like there’s not enough time in the day? How can you make the most of the time you do have? You’ll never have enough time to do everything you want. Relatedly, you’ll never be able to meet your and society’s expectation of “getting everything done,” and you’ll never have total control over how you spend your time. When you accept this, you free yourself from the burden of trying to meet unrealistic expectations, and you’ll become happier. Here are six tactics Burkeman proposes for making the most of your time.

Self-Sabotaging Behavior in Relationships: 4 Solutions

Why do we sabotage our romantic relationships? What are some of the most common self-sabotaging behaviors in relationships? According to psychologist Gay Hendricks, we’re not evolutionarily built for deep, loving relationships—we’re evolved to meet basic needs and reproduce. This means that we naturally feel uncomfortable when we experience intensely positive emotions in relationships. As a result, we often subconsciously sabotage our romantic relationships by picking fights, keeping a score, and perpetuating dysfunctional communication patterns. Here’s why we sabotage our most important relationships and how to put an end to this cycle.

5 Myths About Leadership and People Management

What are some of the most common leadership myths modern leaders have been led to believe? How does buying into these myths hurt your leadership? When it comes to leadership and people management, there’s no manual to follow. According to Buckingham and Goodall, the authors of Nine Lies About Work, many modern leaders still harbor dangerous misconceptions that hurt their employees, and ultimately, their organizations’ bottom line. Here are five myths that still permeate modern leadership thinking.

Atlas of the Heart: Quotes by Brené Brown

Are you looking for Atlas of the Heart quotes by Brené Brown? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In her book Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown—a popular public speaker, bestselling author, and professional social worker—provides a guide to the many emotions and mental states that people feel. Brown’s hope is that, with a deeper understanding of emotions, you’ll be able to talk about them more openly and accurately, and thus form deeper connections with the people around you. Below is a selection of passages from Brené Brown’s book Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and

Rollo Tomassi: The Truth About Women’s Sexual Prime

When do women reach their sexual prime? Are older women more sexually prolific? According to Rollo Tomassi, the author of The Rational Male, women perpetuate the lie that they reach their sexual prime when they’re older and more mature. This is because women’s sexual strategy is to find a man who would be best suited to protect and financially support them and their children, and they need ample time for that. Keep reading to learn the truth about women’s sexual prime, according to Tomassi.

Pros and Cons of Utilitarianism Ethical Theory

What are the pros and cons of utilitarianism? Does utilitarianism really focus on the greater good? The theory of utilitarianism seemingly focuses on the happiness of everyone and works to maximize the majority’s well-being. However, as Amartya Sen describes in Development as Freedom, some problems arise from this theory. Continue reading to learn the pros and cons of utilitarianism to see if it’s really as good as it seems.

Understanding the Effects of Low Self-Esteem

Do you suffer from low self-esteem? How does having low self-esteem affect your life outcomes? Just as healthy self-esteem benefits you, poor self-esteem harms you. Having low self-esteem causes you to behave in ways that further erode your self-esteem, diminish your happiness, and create problems in your relationships and work. Many people don’t even realize they have low self-esteem because it can be concealed by a false sense of confidence that may ultimately cause greater harm. Learn about the negative effects of low self-esteem.

The Big Leap: Quotes by Gay Hendricks

Are you looking for The Big Leap quotes by Gay Hendricks? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In The Big Leap, Hendricks asserts that, while we all have an innate call toward our most successful and fulfilling life, even highly successful people are often plagued by an inability to achieve beyond a certain self-imposed limit. This is because of the “happiness threshold”—the maximum amount of happiness you’re comfortable with. Below is a selection of quotes with explanations.

Advantages of Free Markets for Economic Growth

Why are free markets important for a nation’s economic development? What are the advantages of free-market systems? Not only do free markets protect the rights of individuals, but they also have lifted people out of poverty. In Development as Freedom, Amartya Sen argues that a free market is a way for a nation to experience economic prosperity. Here are the advantages of free markets that Sen highlights and how they compare to a utilitarian market.

The Connection Between Gut Health and Mental Health

What is the connection between gut health and mental health? How do gut bacteria influence your mood? One of the emerging fields of research in gastroenterology (the study of the gut) is the connection between gut health and mental health. While most of these studies have been done on animals, there have been some human studies that show certain bacteria can decrease depressive moods. Keep reading to learn more about how gut health can affect your mental health.