Shortform Books

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.

A Look at the Future of VR (Outside of Gaming)

How can virtual reality be useful outside of gaming? Is VR the future? Will the virtual world sever interpersonal relationships? What kind of effect will VR have on mental health? When most people think of virtual reality, they think of an expensive gaming headset with mediocre graphics and limited games. However, VR is for a lot more than just video games. VR technology is becoming more prominent in healthcare, education, and even in the workplace. Learn why VR may just be the future of technology.

Can You Trust Your Memory to Guide Decisions? No!

When you need to make a difficult decision, can you trust your memory to guide you to the right choice? Will relying on past experiences help you make better choices in the future? According to Daniel Gilbert, a researcher in social psychology, you can’t trust your memories to help you make better decisions for the future. There are three reasons for this: you don’t remember common experiences, you tend to remember only how things end, and you remember how you should have felt rather than how you actually felt. Here’s an overview of how your memory misrepresents your past.

The Salad Oil Scandal & a Wall Street Bailout

What was the Salad Oil Scandal? How did it—and the JFK assassination—lead to a Wall Street bailout? It was November 1963. Ira Haupt & Co. was in trouble. The firm had borrowed millions to invest in a company that turned out to be a fraud. Ira Haupt & Co. was about to go bankrupt, and its shareholders’ money was at risk. Keep reading to learn about this historic scandal and subsequent bailout.

Public Speaking: Strategies for Success

What makes a great speech? What are some things you need to consider to plan an effective speech? To make an impactful and memorable speech, it’s essential to have a strategy in place. The first step in planning your strategy is to identify what type of speech you’re giving: explanatory—when you teach your audience something new, persuasive—when you try to change your audience’s mind, or “revelatory” or imaginative—when you aim to delight or inspire. Let’s explore how public speaking strategies differ depending on the type of speech.

Stephen Covey’s Leadership Roles—Explained

Three people business leaders with political clout standing side by side

What are Stephen R. Covey’s leadership roles? How can you use the body, mind, heart, and spirit to lead others? Stephen R. Covey’s book The 8th Habit concludes that there are four roles a leader can inhabit: the Auditor, the Navigator, the Advocate, and the Captain. If you embrace the concept of Covey’s leadership, you’ll be able to use your body, mind, heart, and spirit to share your wisdom with your team. Continue reading to discover more about Stephen Covey’s leadership roles.

Bad Marketing: The 2 Strategies You Should Avoid

What are bad marketing strategies? Why are people so inclined to use these strategies for their marketing campaigns? There are plenty of marketing strategies to utilize for your business, but you should be wary of some of them. Bad marketing strategies can cost your company thousands of dollars, and you’re less likely to gain new customers from them. Here are two bad marketing strategies to avoid if you want your business to be successful, according to Byron Sharp in his book How Brands Grow.