Shortform Books

David Lilienthal: One of Wall Street’s Good Guys

Who was David Lilienthal? What can you learn from his story about working with purpose and transitioning from one career to another? The people of Wall Street may have a reputation for pursuing profits at all costs, but John Brooks says that there are those who’ve managed to balance this pursuit with a sense of purpose. Brooks profiles David Lilienthal, former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and, later, chairman and CEO of the Development & Resources Corporation (D & R). Brooks traces Lilienthal’s career trajectory and how he navigated the transition from public servant to big businessman. Continue

Why Subscription-Based Business Models Don’t Work

Are you considering a subscription-based business model for your company? Are you looking for new ways to increase revenue from existing customers? For many companies such as Netflix, subscription-based business models are the only way to gain profits because they’re “subscriber-only” services. However, that doesn’t mean subscription-based business models are meant for every business. Learn why Byron Sharp, the author of How Brands Grow, believes that subscription-based business models don’t work for a lot of businesses.

The Key Elements of an Effective Speech

Do you have an important speech coming up? What are some things you need to consider when planning your speech? According to Chris Anderson, all effective speeches begin with an idea, and they come alive with a throughline. So first, you’ll need to determine what your speech will be about—your idea. Then you’ll need to decide what message you want your audience to take with them—your throughline. In this article, you’ll learn how to plan an effective speech and keep your audience on track from start to finish.

Bottom-Up Learning: Success in Small Steps

What is bottom-up learning? How does bottom-up learning breed success? Bottom-up learning is taking small steps with limited knowledge, making mistakes, and adjusting. On the other hand, a top-down approach to learning is when a small group of elites builds theories to capture the truth about something. Read more to understand why a bottom-up learning approach advances human society.

The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey: Book Overview

What is The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey about? What does Covey’s eighth habit entail? In The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, Stephen Covey adds the eighth habit to the original seven described in his bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’s 8th habit is the habit of leadership, and it determines your unique contribution and helps others do the same. Continue reading to get an overview of Covey’s The 8th Habit, split into three parts: The Individual, the Organization, and the Leader.

How to Set Personal Goals (12 Rules for Life)

Do you set goals for yourself? What’s the key to setting effective personal goals? According to Jordan Peterson, you should set your goals based on who you want to become, not who other people are. He argues that, if you compare yourself to other people, you’re using an unfairly harsh standard. With this in mind, here’s how to set personal goals, according to Peterson.

How to Talk About Happiness (Daniel Gilbert)

Have you tried to talk about happiness but don’t know how to describe it? What two propositions did Daniel Gilbert give on how to discuss happiness? Daniel Gilbert is an award-winning writer, teacher, and researcher in social psychology. In his book Stumbling on Happiness, Gilbert points out why it’s difficult to talk about happiness. He proposes two methods for discussing happiness despite the difficulties. Here’s how to have a constructive talk about happiness.

Devaluation of the Pound: Background to the Crisis

Why did the UK devalue its currency in 1967? What events led up to that decision? Could the fallout have been even worse? In 1964, the British pound was struggling. Currency hedgers and speculators were betting against it. An alliance of central banks tried to save the pound from devaluation. It worked, but only temporarily. The UK moved to devalue the pound in 1967. Continue reading to learn more about this historic devaluation of the pound.

How Brands Grow: Byron Sharp’s 3 Rules of Marketing

What does How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp explain about marketing? What are the main takeaways from the book? Marketing professor Byron Sharp’s book How Brands Grow says that while many people consider mass marketing to be “dead,” it’s actually more effective than modern marketing used today. To support this claim, Sharp creates three rules that every marketer should follow if they want their business to reach a wider audience. Continue reading to learn more about Byron Sharp’s three rules of marketing in How Brands Grow.

How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Why is public speaking so scary? Almost everyone fears public speaking. In fact, multiple surveys list it as people’s number one fear—more common than a fear of heights, snakes, and even death. According to Chris Anderson, the author of TED Talks, the fear of public speaking is normal, but it must be overcome if you want to be successful in any professional endeavor. Here’s how to overcome the fear of public speaking, according to Anderson.