Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Be More Efficient at Work: 3 Ways to Use Time Wisely

If you could get more work done in less time, how would you spend the time you free up? What if you took breaks only when you needed to and not just when you wanted to? Grace Beverley asserts that productive work leaves you with more time for self-care, and self-care boosts your productivity by energizing you. She shares three ways to improve your efficiency: use the Eisenhower Method, engage in deep work, and take a break when you truly need to. Read more to learn how to be more efficient at work with Beverley’s tips.

How to Learn a Skill Fast: A 5-Step Accelerated Process

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Use-It-or-Lose-It Tendency

Do you need to pick up a new skill, like, yesterday? What’s the most efficient way to use your time and other resources? While there’s no way to skip straight to the last stage of the skill acquisition process, you can speed up the process. You can do this by researching the skill enough to practice intelligently, breaking the skill down into its essential components, and then putting in 20 hours of focused practice time. Read on to get practical advice from skill acquisition expert Josh Kaufman on how to learn a skill fast.

Robert Shiller: Bitcoin’s Value Is Tied to Its Narrative

Do you own Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency? Is investing in Bitcoin a good idea? According to Robert Shiller, Bitcoin provides an excellent example of the power of an economic narrative. He explains the fascinating Bitcoin narrative within a larger discussion of how we understand and predict economic behaviors in a qualitative rather than quantitative way. Read more to learn about the Bitcoin narrative and why it’s compelling to so many.

Grace Beverley’s 4 Productivity & Self-Care Strategies

Are productivity and self-care mutually exclusive? How can they feed each other and even operate together? According to Grace Beverley, productivity and self-care can work together in supportive cycles. She shares four strategies that will help you be more efficient, thereby freeing up time for self-care. In turn, this energizes you to get more done. She also shows how you can engage in self-care while working. Keep reading to get these valuable strategies that can transform the way you work and live.

What Makes Something Go Viral? 5 Reasons Ideas Catch On

What makes something go viral? Why do some ideas catch on when others don’t? Economist Robert J. Shiller contends that narratives drive behavior far more than we might realize. He outlines five factors that contribute to the widespread dissemination of economic narratives: memorable visuals, emotional resonance, influential endorsers, holistic explanations, and a human-centric focus. Continue reading to understand these virality factors that apply to narratives of all kinds.

And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle

Why did the Republican Party choose Abraham Lincoln as a presidential candidate? Why was he motivated to sign the Emancipation Proclamation? What’s his legacy today? In And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle, Jon Meacham breaks down the myths and legends that surround Abraham Lincoln. He argues that Lincoln had good intentions and accomplished great things but was still as flawed and prone to mistakes as anyone else. Continue reading for an overview of this New York Times bestseller by a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why should you launch a movement and not just a product? How often should you publish content for your audience? How should your strategy change when you sell to a large group? Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson answers these questions and many more. The book serves as a how-to guide for creating excitement for your idea that turns potential customers into lifelong buyers, focusing on how you can tap into your audience’s emotions. Continue reading for an overview of this book, and learn the main “secrets” that will help you create loyal customers.

Gold Standard vs. Fiat Currency: Is the Issue Just Psychological?

Which is better—the gold standard or fiat currency? Could you make a sound economic argument for your position? In Narrative Economics, economist Robert J. Shiller argues that human beliefs and actions, rather than numbers and statistics, ultimately drive economics. Specifically, he writes that beliefs about the gold standard are part of a recurring American economic narrative. Read more to learn Shiller’s take on the gold standard vs. fiat currency debate.

Market Specialization: How to Reach the Niche in Your Submarket

Is it better to specialize or mass market? How did Dove soap carve out a niche? You should have a core market. Within that, you should have a submarket. Within that submarket, you should have a niche. Then, according to Russell Brunson, you should concentrate even further by creating a new category. Read more to learn Brunson’s advice for market specialization and to get some alternative ideas from other marketing experts.

Abraham Lincoln’s Early Life: 1809-1829 (And There Was Light)

What was Abraham Lincoln’s relationship with his father like? How did other children regard him? What influences formed his political views? Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential biographer Jon Meacham describes Abraham Lincoln’s early life in his book And There Was Light. He provides insights into Lincoln’s parents, education, and faith that help us understand America’s 16th president. Read more to learn about Abraham Lincoln’s early life.