Shortform Books

Primal Self: What It Is and How to Access It

What is your primal self? How can it be used to become an unstoppable force of nature? Simply put, your primal self is the person you are when you solely act on your instincts. Tapping into this part of yourself means you’ll be able to conquer life and pursue your goals without obstacles getting in your way. Keep reading to learn more about why your primal self can help you find success, and how to unleash it, according to Tim Grover in his book Relentless.

Best Self-Help Books for Men to Add to Your Library

Are you looking for books that can positively impact your life as a man? What are the best self-help books for men? If you feel as though you lack control over your life, perhaps feeling underwhelmed with your job or romantic relationship, reading self-help books can be an untapped solution to these struggles. Whatever issues you’re facing, there are plenty of self-help books that offer advice on the matter. Here are Shortform picks of the best self-help books that offer valuable advice for men’s concerns. We’ve categorized them into four groups: inspirational books, self-improvement books, business books, and relationship books.

Eckhart Tolle: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

You can heal with love. Discover how the love you feel in your heart can improve your physical health and help you overcome illness.

What is Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth about? What does Tolle mean by “awakening to your life’s purpose”? What is the purpose you must awaken to? In his book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Eckhart Tolle asserts that humanity is currently caught up in a state of mindlessness. When humanity collectively reaches a perpetual state of mindfulness, enjoyment will become the motivating force behind people’s actions rather than wanting. This collective shift of consciousness starts with the individual—it’s everyone’s responsibility to break free from mindlessness and wake up to their true life’s purpose. Here’s how to break

Peter Thiel’s Contrarian Question: What’s Your Secret?

What revolutionary truth do you know that no one else agrees with? What discovery could you make if you challenged assumptions? Peter Thiel believes in secrets—truths that no one else has. He contends that there’s more knowledge to be discovered and new opportunities to be explored. But, to find them, we have to believe they exist and look for them. We have to challenge assumptions in order to discover something new. The place to start, he contends, is with the contrarian question. Here’s how Peter Thiel’s contrarian question can help you uncover the secret to success.

Money: Master the Game—Tony Robbins’ Financial Tips

Guaranteed Basic Income: Creating A Better Tomorrow

What is Money: Master the Game about? What advice does motivational speaker and author Tony Robbins give about creating a better financial future for yourself? In Money: Master the Game, Tony Robbins assures you that a financially stable lifestyle isn’t difficult to achieve. To live this lifestyle, Robbins emphasizes that you have to change your limiting beliefs about money and build an investment strategy that will secure you for the long run. Check out the advice Robbins gives to master money and live your dream lifestyle.

Why the Lack of Emotional Intelligence Creates Discord

What happens when leaders lack emotional intelligence? What effect can this have on their followers? Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions while also being able to understand and influence the emotions of others. The authors of Primal Leadership claim that emotional intelligence is the most important trait of a leader. Here’s what it looks like when leaders lack emotional intelligence.

The 4 Types of Poverty Traps, Explained

What are the four different types of poverty traps? Is it possible for countries to escape those traps? According to British economist Paul Collier, the four types of poverty traps are the conflict trap, the natural resource trap, being landlocked, and poor governance. These “traps” are why the poorest countries remain poor and struggle to catch up with the developing world. Here’s a detailed look at each kind of poverty trap.

Flash Boys: Book Review, Context, and Impact

The Impact of India's Economic Collapse on Annawadi

Are you looking for background on Michael Lewis’s Flash Boys book? How was the book received by critics? In the book Flash Boys, Michael Lewis gives a basic explanation of the unethical methodology of high-frequency trading, how it’s affected the financial industry, and how Brad Katsuyama dedicated his career to stopping HFT. Knowing the book’s context also helps to understand the impact the book had on regulations and investigations into HFT. Here’s a review of Flash Boys, with background, critical analysis, and impact.

You Are Not a Lottery Ticket: Don’t Rely on Luck

Is business success a matter of luck or planning? If success is just a matter of luck, why bother with planning? There is an ongoing debate in the business community about the relative importance of planning versus luck in determining the success of a venture. For example, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates all attribute their success at least partially to luck. Peter Thiel disagrees. In the chapter titled “You are not a lottery ticket,” he emphasizes the importance of planning and shares four ways of thinking about the future. Here’s why planning should not be underestimated, according to

From Zero to One: The 7 Principles of Startup Success

How do you go from “zero to one”? How do you successfully get your startup on the road to success? According to Peter Thiel, the author of Zero to One, there are seven things you need to achieve startup success: 1) revolutionary technology, 2) unique insight, 3) monopoly status, 4) strategic timing, 5) a great team, 6) effective distribution, and 7) enduring value. He uses the clean tech crash and the rise of Tesla as case studies to illustrate his checklist. Read more to learn these seven principles for startup success.