Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Ask “How” Questions to Turn an Ideas Into Realities

Do you have a lot of great ideas but struggle to execute them? What type of questions should you be asking in order to turn ideation into execution? In A More Beautiful Question, Warren Berger urges us to ask important questions again as we did as kids. He discusses three “beautiful questions”—“Why?”, “What if?”, and “How?”. The “How” questions in particular have the power to help us capitalize on the creativity that the other questions produce. Read more to learn why you should ask “How” questions.

How to Understand Your Feelings: Be Objective About Them

Are feelings experiences or truths? Are emotions connected to personality? How should your emotions about the past be understood differently from what you’re feeling right now? Susan David explains that most people react instinctively to their perceptions of events. She argues that you can break free of these controlling narratives by practicing emotional agility. She shares recommendations for understanding both your present and past emotions. Read more to learn how to understand your feelings by being objective about them.

SpaceX and Tesla: Musk’s Technological Quests to Save the World

Why did Elon Musk start SpaceX and Tesla? What’s the common thread in their respective missions? Elon Musk has arguably pushed technology forward more than any other living person in the modern age. In a way, he’s made it his personal mission to bring human civilization to other worlds via his company SpaceX while weaning us away from fossil fuels by developing electric vehicles through Tesla. Continue reading to learn about SpaceX and Tesla and why they’re far more than just successful business ventures.

Warren Berger’s A More Beautiful Question: Book Overview

What if you asked as many questions now as you did when you were a kid? What if you asked “What if?” more often? Warren Berger’s A More Beautiful Question urges you to recapture your childlike curiosity and inquisitive nature. Berger contends that, if you ask more questions (and the right questions), you’ll get more out of life both personally and professionally. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will help you be more reflective, insightful, and ultimately successful.

Peter Attia: Zone 2 Exercise Helps You Build Endurance

How intense is Zone 2 exercise? What are its benefits? How much of it should you do every week? According to physician Peter Attia, Zone 2 exercise is part and parcel of a long and healthy life. He contends that the earlier you start building a healthful exercise habit, the better chance you have of circumventing mental and physical decline. Continue reading to learn about Attia’s Zone 2 exercise recommendations.

Elon Musk’s Psychology: The Roots of His Troubled Nature

What’s Elon Musk’s psychological makeup? What clues do we have from his childhood that might explain his mental and emotional wiring? Elon Musk’s intense drive and sweeping accomplishments come at a personal cost, a fact that he freely owns up to. The psychological challenges that Musk struggles with don’t determine every aspect of his personality, but they strongly color how other people view him. Read more to understand Elon Musk’s psychology, according to biographer Walter Isaacson.

The 4 Fundamental Questions: Why, Why Not, What if, and How

Are you always that one person in the room who’s asking all the questions? Should you be? In A More Beautiful Question, author and journalist Warren Berger highlights four fundamental questions: Why, Why not, What if, and How. He calls them “beautiful questions” and contends that they form the basis of larger questions that can help you succeed in life both professionally and personally. Read more to relearn how to raise the questions you almost certainly asked all the time as a child.

Peter Attia VO2 Max Exercise: Stretch Your Physical Limits

When you exercise, do you push your limits? What’s the best way to raise your VO2 max? According to Peter Attia, VO2 max exercise ultimately enables you to do more challenging physical activities. It also helps you extend your life and its quality. That’s why he recommends it as part of a longevity-focused exercise program. Read more to learn about the benefits of a high VO2 max and how to achieve it.

How to Determine Your Values: Envision Your Ideal Life

Are your values based on the truth? Are they truly your own, or have they been imposed on you? Susan David advocates cultivating the skill of emotional agility, and she outlines four steps you can take to get there. The last step is to choose your values. It starts with figuring out whether your current values are based on reality and whether they’re truly your own, and it culminates in envisioning your future. Read more to discover how to determine your values with David’s process.

George Leonard’s Mastery: The Keys to Success (Book Overview)

Are you a master of anything? Are there any shortcuts to a life of fulfillment? George Leonard’s Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment is about the life lived in disciplined dedication to one’s skill, craft, or art. In Leonard’s view, mastery isn’t an end goal. Instead, it’s a path. Continue reading for an overview of a book that could put your life on a new and exciting course.