Shortform Books

Is Remote Work During the Holidays a Blessing or Curse?

A man remote working during Christmas, he sits at the kitchen table while his family gathers around the Christmas tree

How is remote work changing Americans’ approach to holiday travel? What are the benefits and hidden costs of working while traveling during the holidays? Remote work has fundamentally changed how Americans vacation, with nearly half of holiday travelers now mixing work and leisure. This shift is transforming traditional boundaries between professional obligations and personal time. Below, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of remote working during the holidays.

Emotional Dysregulation Treatment for ADHD (Phil Boissiere)

Colors splashing out a woman's eyes, symbolizing emotional dysregulation with ADHD

What’s the best ADHD emotional dysregulation treatment? Why is emotional regulation hard for people with ADHD? People with ADHD often struggle to regulate their emotions. This means that if you have ADHD, you might find it harder than the average person to recognize the feelings you’re experiencing and moderate their strength. Continue reading to learn how acknowledging your feelings can help you react appropriately in overwhelming situations.

Matt Abrahams’s Think Faster, Talk Smarter: Book Overview

A young woman with long dark hair and a backpack looking at a book in a bookstore

What’s holding you back from speaking confidently in unexpected situations? How can you transform anxiety into an asset during impromptu conversations? Matt Abrahams’s Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot has strategies to help anyone communicate more effectively under pressure. You can develop skills to organize thoughts quickly, manage emotions, and connect authentically with others. Keep reading to discover proven techniques that will boost your confidence and transform the way you communicate in spontaneous situations.

The Amazing Sense of Smell in Animals: What Humans Can’t Do

A dog sniffing something on the ground illustrates the sense of smell in animals

What makes dogs’ sense of smell so different from humans’? How do various animals use their sense of smell to navigate and survive? In An Immense World, Ed Yong explores the fascinating ways animals perceive their environment through scent. From dogs detecting identical twins to elephants avoiding threats and seabirds mapping the ocean, the sense of smell in animals reveals capabilities far beyond human understanding. Keep reading to discover the surprising truth about how animal and human noses compare, and why we might be better sniffers than we think.

3 Different Types of Anxiety Symptoms & Tips for Overcoming Them

A worried woman with curly hair holding her hands to the sides of her head illustrates different types of anxiety symptoms

What happens in your body and mind when anxiety strikes? How can you transform those uncomfortable feelings into something more manageable? In Think Faster, Talk Smarter, Matt Abrahams explores three different types of anxiety symptoms and provides practical strategies to handle them. His approach breaks down anxiety into physical, emotional, and mental components, offering specific techniques to address each one. Keep reading to discover proven methods that can help you stay calm and focused when anxiety threatens to take over.

Spirit Christmas: Why Pop-Up Retail Stores Are Successful

A cartoon image of a jack-o-lantern wearing a Santa hat

You’ve heard of Spirit Halloween, but have you heard about Spirit Christmas? How does the pop-up retail store model work? Each fall, Spirit Halloween stores emerge from retail’s graveyard, transforming abandoned storefronts into spooky wonderlands and becoming the unlikely success story of America’s evolving retail landscape. This year, the company expanded and opened its first Spirit Christmas stores. Here’s a look at the history of seasonal stores and Spirit Halloween’s business model.

How to Expand Your Business: Hamilton Helmer’s 3 Strategies

A man looking at three identical buildings, showing how to expand your business

When is the right time to expand your business? What are the three core strategies of a business expansion? As your business experiences rapid growth, Hamilton Helmer suggests that you scale production, grow your customer base, and lock in customers. Implementing these strategies during this stage of your business lifecycle will create numerous advantages, securing a strong position within the market. Take a look at how to expand your business and become a challenge for your competitors.

Let That Sh*t Go: Book Overview (Monica Sweeney)

What if there was a straightforward approach to breaking free from mental burdens? What’s Let That Sh*t Go by Monica Sweeney about? Monica Sweeney’s book Let That Sh*t Go offers a refreshing and practical guide to emotional liberation. The book’s approach combines humor with actionable strategies to help readers release negativity and embrace a more positive mindset. Read more in our Let That Sh*t Go book overview.

How to Run a Book Club: Tips to Launch, Promote, Lead, & Grow

Do you love to read? Do you enjoy getting the most out of a book within the context of community? Running a book club requires dedication, organization, and a passion for reading. By following these steps and adapting to the needs of your group, you can foster meaningful discussions and create a vibrant and enjoyable community of readers. Read more to learn how to run a book club successfully.

How to Understand Shakespeare: His Language & His Plays

A skull on top of an old book illustrates how to understand Shakespeare

How prithee dost thou comprehend Hamlet? Canst thou discern what the Bard doth speak? If you’re lost at this point, you’re not alone. Shakespearean language can be difficult to comprehend, and William Shakespeare’s plays entail complexities that go beyond language barriers. So, we’ve put together some tips to help you get more out of these works that deserve comprehension. Continue reading to learn how to understand Shakespeare’s language and his plays.