Shortform Books

Break Free From Good Girl Syndrome With This Advice

What’s “Good Girl” syndrome? How can women break free from societal norms that hold them back? Kasia Urbaniak’s book Unbound explores how pervasive societal norms influence behaviors associated with “Good Girl” syndrome, thereby limiting women’s potential and opportunities. Urbaniak confronts social conventions that encourage women to prioritize the needs of others, diminish their own needs, and suppress their aspirations. Find out how to stop being a people-pleaser and live life for yourself as a woman.

3 Ways Therapy Contributes to Overly Emotional Children

An overly emotional child crying over a broken toy

Do you have an overly emotional child? How does therapy cause children to obsess over their emotions? In therapy, children often reflect on and share their emotions, and parents and educators regularly check on how kids feel. However, Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier argues that constantly asking children how they feel teaches them to see their emotions as overly important. Keep reading to learn why therapy negatively impacts a child’s emotional intelligence.

Why Business Projections Don’t Accurately Tell the Future

A line graph of business projections with an arrow going up

Are business projections always accurate? How often does the market change? Business projections are a way for companies to predict future income and performance based on current data. However, Stephen Denning’s book The Age of Agile says that using these predictions won’t give you an accurate reading. Keep reading to learn why you need to be careful with your company’s projections.

A Successful Businesswoman’s Story + Exercises: Jane Boulware

A silhouette of a professional woman in an office illustrates a successful businesswoman's story

What does it take for a successful businesswoman to maintain authenticity while navigating corporate America? How can someone build genuine worth beyond professional achievements? In Worthy, former Microsoft executive Jane Boulware shares her journey of overcoming personal and professional obstacles while staying true to herself. This successful businesswoman’s story reveals how she battled an eating disorder, faced workplace challenges, and found where true worth comes from. Continue reading to explore powerful insights about resilience, self-acceptance, and the importance of building meaningful relationships along the path to success.

Jane Boulware: Finding Meaning After Microsoft

The word "Purpose" written on a whiteboard

What does a meaningful retirement look like beyond the corporate world? How can former executives find purpose and fulfillment after leaving their careers? In her book Worthy, Jane Boulware shares her transition from a Microsoft executive to a life of volunteerism and mentorship. Her story reveals how retirement can become a gateway to personal growth, deeper connections, and meaningful community impact. Keep reading to explore Boulware’s inspiring journey of rediscovery and learn how she found renewed purpose by helping others.

How to Forget Unwanted Memories, Trauma, & Mental Clutter

How can you actively forget unwanted memories? What’s the connection between forgetting and maintaining a healthy brain? In her book Remember, Lisa Genova explores how to forget as an essential part of brain health and memory formation. She outlines specific strategies for intentionally forgetting information at different stages of memory processing, from avoiding initial encoding to replacing established muscle memories. Keep reading to discover practical techniques for clearing your mind of unwanted information and making space for what matters most.

How to Communicate Your Needs: Make Requests With No Shame

A woman communicating her needs to her partner

Do you wish you were more authentic as a woman? Do you have needs that you’re too afraid to ask for? Unbound by Kasia Urbaniak encourages women to channel their desires by making bold, unconventional requests that challenge boundaries and create new possibilities. Urbaniak suggests that by fully accepting our boldest wishes and asking for what seems impossible, we can unleash our fullest capabilities. Let’s look at how to communicate your needs without shame.

How to Have Effective Conversations That Have Meaning

Two older people having a serious talk and showing how to have effective conversations

Do you want to effortlessly connect with others? How can you create more engaging interactions? In How to Talk to Anyone, James W. Williams shares advice on how to have effective conversations that leave lasting impressions. His approach combines psychological principles with actionable strategies, helping readers develop stronger connections through mindful communication techniques. Continue reading for the secrets to becoming a more engaging conversationalist.

Mental Health Awareness in Schools May Be Going Overboard

A teacher giving a lecture about mental health awareness in schools

Do schools talk about mental health too much? Are mental health surveys intrusive on students’s personal lives? In Bad Therapy, Abigail Shrier says that schools can contribute to unnecessary mental health treatment that harms children. According to Shrier, schools focus too much on students’s mental health by encouraging them to share feelings and make excessive accommodations. Continue reading to learn the different ways mental health awareness in schools is hurting children.

Competitive Advantage in Business: Why It Doesn’t Matter

Two leaders playing chess to get a competitive advantage in business

Do you want a competitive advantage in business? Why is focusing on your competition actually bad for your company? In The Age of Agile, Stephen Denning targets companies’s focus on competition and creating long-term competitive advantages. He claims that such attention on other businesses in this way doesn’t work for two reasons: rapid change and high customer expectations. Check out why competition isn’t the sole thing you need to pay attention to.