Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

White Working Class: Do They Cause Their Own Misfortunes?

Who are the white working class? What do they believe? What are their values? Hillbilly Elegy explores the cultural pathologies of the white working class in America through the personal experiences of its author, JD Vance. Growing up in a dysfunctional family and spending most of his childhood and teenage years in Middletown, Ohio, Vance saw firsthand the destructive attitudes and values of this culture—attitudes and values that he believes are primarily responsible for its perilous state. We’ll cover Vance’s views on the white working class in Appalachian America.

Communication in Medicine—How Do We Improve It + Save Lives?

Is there enough communication in medicine? Can a checklist help doctors, nurses, and specialists better work together to keep patients safe? We’ll cover how the humble checklist can improve communication in medicine and dramatically impact patients.

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist: Why 80% of Staff Say It Works

In 2006, before the implementation of the WHO surgical safety checklist, the World Health Organization (WHO) asked surgeon Atul Gawande to organize a group to solve a problem: Surgery was increasing rapidly worldwide, but surgical patients were getting unsafe care so often that surgery was a public danger. WHO sought a global program that would reduce avoidable harm and deaths from surgery. We’ll cover how the WHO surgical safety checklist was developed, how it’s been implemented in hospitals across the country, and what results hospitals have seen from using the WHO surgical checklist.

Kiowa—The Things They Carried: Honorable Soldier, True Friend

Who is Kiowa in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for his character? Kiowa is a Native American soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Kiowa is deeply religious and scrupulous, which is atypical for the company. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Kiowa in The Things They Carried.

6 Hillbilly Stereotypes: Are They True? (JD Vance Says Yes)

What are the most common hillbilly stereotypes? Are they accurate? According to JD Vance’s memoir Hillbilly Elegy, many hillbilly stereotypes are true (although many in Vance’s home region dispute his representation). We’ll cover the common hillbilly stereotypes and Vance’s interpretation of them.

How to Make a Checklist—5 Steps for Great Checklists

While it should be simple to use, developing an effective checklist isn’t a simple task. It requires analysis, real-world testing, and revision. You may wonder how to make a checklist that’s effective. We’ll cover strategies for how to make a checklist from a flight desk designer for Boeing. We’ll also look at why checklists are so effective and provide a checklist for your checklist, so you can make the most effective checklist possible.

“The Dentist”—The Things They Carried: Why Does Lemon Faint?

What happens in the chapter “The Dentist” in The Things They Carried? How does “The Dentist” convey the pressure to be “manly” during war? We’ll look at the basic elements of “The Dentist” (The Things They Carried) and look at the lengths men will go to in order to prove their masculinity, especially in times of war.

Restaurant Checklist: The Key to Excellence + Consistency

What are the benefits of a restaurant checklist? Is it really necessary for chefs, managers, and servers to work together? We’ll look at how the restaurant Rialto, in Boston, uses restaurant checklists to provide excellent food and service, and we’ll cover how checklists can be used in other environments as well.

The Only 2 Types of Checklists that Matter

Budgeting and Planning: Why Is It So Important?

What are the two most powerful and effective types of checklists? How do you create them to increase your efficiency and avoid careless mistakes? We’ll cover the two types of checklists–the Do-Confirm and the Read-Do–and discuss how to decide which one is right for you and your situation.

Azar—The Things They Carried: Character Summary

Who is Azar in The Things They Carried? What are the defining moments for his character? Azar is a soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. Azar seems to relish the most horrible aspects of Vietnam and takes pleasure in watching the pain and suffering of others. We’ll cover the most important scenes involving Azar in The Things They Carried.