Our Summaries | Shortform - The World's Best Book Summaries

What’s Behind Shortform
Book Guides

High-quality work doesn't happen by accident. We write the world's best book guides using our 5 Shortform principles:

1. Write Simply and Logically

We take complicated ideas and explain them in simple ways. We reorganize extensively for coherency and crystal-clear logic. You’ll learn the ideas better than ever.

2. Be Objective and Unbiased

We strive for complete objectivity, representing ideas accurately without personal bias. We share a spectrum of viewpoints and let you make up your own mind.

3. Expand Beyond the Book

We add smart analysis you won’t find anywhere else, connecting ideas in one book to ideas in other books and discussing key updates since the book was published. You’ll understand books better than ever.

4. Be Actionable

The point of reading is often to improve your life. We create critical actionables and interactive exercises for each book, so you can make the book’s key lessons work for you.

5. Respect the Reader's Time

Your time is valuable, and you want to learn efficiently. We respect that and make every word, every sentence deserve your attention. We write zero fluff and craft information deliberately.

Get a free book guide

How Shortform Compares to Competitors

Here's how we stack up for all-time bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People:

Features	ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2
# of Ideas and Insights	62	11	9
Original Themes and Examples
Checklist of Top Actionables
Expert Commentary and Analysis
Interactive Exercises
Discussion Community

# of Ideas and Insights
ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2
62	11	9

Original Themes and Examples
ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2

Checklist of Top Actionables
ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2

Expert Commentary and Analysis
ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2

Interactive Exercises
ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2

Discussion Community
ShortForm	Competitor 1	Competitor 2

Why People LoveUsing Shortform

Join thousands of readers who learn faster than they ever thought possible.

I appreciate your careful approach to your content—one that aims for a high quality hand-crafted result instead of a mediocre one that scales. Please keep up the good work and the high bar of quality.

I love the attention that your team has put in—like the logical organization of ideas, the clear and concise writing, the smart connections you make between books, and the choice of books you cover.

I’ve read a dozen of your book guides already—they are extremely well done. Most other services are too superficial and are a poor way to understand the book. With Shortform I understand the book better than when I first read it.