Emily Kitazawa, Author at Shortform Books

Are AP Classes Worth It? 4 Reasons Why Critics Say No

Are AP classes worth it in high school? What are the negative effects of taking AP classes? Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed to give high school students a head start on a college degree. But critics have called the program a “racket,” and recently, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized a proposed AP African American studies course as biased. Keep reading to learn why recent criticisms show that AP classes may not be worth the effort.

Nietzsche on Revenge, Justice, and Punishment

What is Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy of revenge? How does he explain justice, punishment, and revenge? On revenge, Nietzsche’s philosophy can be understood, in part, by exploring his philosophical work Thus Spoke Zarathustra. According to the novel, concepts like justice and punishment are just euphemisms for revenge. Keep reading to learn more about Nietzsche’s philosophy of revenge, based on Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

What Is Bureaucratic Control & How Do You Eliminate It?

What is bureaucratic control in management? How can you build a company without bureaucratic principles? According to authors Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini, outdated bureaucratic business practices should be replaced with human-focused business models. They argue that bureaucratic control in management disempowers employees and results in a less productive work environment. Read on to learn more about bureaucratic control and how to counteract it, according to Hamel and Zanini.

Stress Response in the Body: How It Helps & Harms You

What is the stress response in the body? How can your stress response both help and harm your body? According to biologist Robert Sapolsky, if you feel exhausted and constantly stressed, then the stress response in your body may be working overtime. In Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, he argues that people today are more stressed than ever before, and it’s causing major physical and mental harm. Read on to learn about the stress response in the body and how chronic stress affects it, according to Sapolsky.

Free Will: Nietzsche’s Philosophy of the “Will to Power”

What is Friedrich Nietzsche’s free will philosophy? What does the “will to power” mean? According to Friedrich Nietzsche, free will is the essence of life, driving animals and humans to compete and evolve. In the novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Nietzsche creatively explains his philosophy of free will through the teachings of the novel’s protagonist Zarathustra. Read on to learn about free will and Nietzsche’s “will to power,” according to Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

The Business Hierarchy of Needs for Human-Focused Companies

What is the business hierarchy of needs? How can it be applied to human-focused companies? In Humanocracy, Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini propose a new way to build and run organizations: using human-focused principles. They argue in favor of adopting a business hierarchy of needs that doesn’t rely on bureaucratic principles like efficiency and employee obedience. Read on to discover what a business hierarchy of needs looks like for a human-focused company.

What Does Chronic Stress Do to the Body? The Harmful Effects

What does chronic stress do to the body? What are the main parts of your body that can be damaged? According to biologist Robert Sapolsky, modern society has created long-term stressors in our lives, like financial or career concerns. As a result, we now suffer from more chronic stress than ever before, leading to serious mental and physical harm. Read on to learn about what chronic stress can do to the body, according to Sapolsky.

The Death of God: Nietzsche’s Argument Explained

What is Friedrich Nietzsche’s argument for the death of God? Why does he criticize Christianity? German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche explains his beliefs about life and philosophy in the influential novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra. According to Nietzsche, the death of God represents part of his argument against the spiritual reality that Christians believe in. Read on to learn about Nietzsche’s argument for the death of God, based on Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Stress and Metabolism: How They’re Closely Connected

How are stress and metabolism connected? What does chronic stress do to your metabolism? According to Robert Sapolsky, psychological stress has come to dominate the lives of many humans in modern society. In Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, he explains the connection between stress and metabolism, including how stress negatively affects many other parts of your body and mind. Keep reading to learn about how chronic stress affects the metabolism, according to Sapolsky.

Nietzsche’s Critique of Christianity: His 3 Main Points

What is Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity? What are his criticisms about the belief in God? Friedrich Nietzsche wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra to explain his philosophical views on life and humanity. In the novel, Nietzsche provides a critique of Christianity, criticizing the Christian idea of what humans are, the belief in God, and the concept of virtue. Read on to learn about Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity, according to Thus Spoke Zarathustra.