Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

An Alternative to Brainstorming: Why Question-Storming Works

How does question-storming work? Is it a superior alternative to brainstorming? Warren Berger says that many organizations value knowledge and obedience over curiosity and creativity. But, the most successful companies are those that encourage employees to ask questions and search for innovative answers. He recommends that organizations hold question-storming sessions. Keep reading to learn about this intriguing alternative to brainstorming.

Peter Attia: Strength Training for Health Is a Key to Longevity

How much muscle mass do you have? How’s your muscle mass connected to your overall health? According to Peter Attia, strength training is a key to longevity. If you want to live a long and healthy life, you need to prevent chronic disease. Metabolic health is a major aspect of this prevention, and it’s easier to achieve metabolic health when you have high muscle mass. Keep reading to learn about strength training for health over the long term.

Elon Musk’s Early Life: From South Africa to North America

What kind of abuse did Elon Musk experience in his childhood? How did he first make money? Why did he move to North America? The insightful yet combative nature that would come to define Elon Musk later in life had its roots in his upbringing. His childhood was shaped by early trauma, compounded by the difficulties caused by his neurodivergence. Read more to learn about Elon Musk’s early life, from South Africa to North America.

Embrace the Mastery Plateaus & Reject the Easy Shortcuts

What does the path to mastery look like? Should you expect a steady upward progression? The truth is, says George Leonard, most of the mastery journey does not feel like success. The majority of the path consists of plateaus, and it’s only now and then that you experience a leap forward. He urges you not to get discouraged and to embrace the flat zones as an important part of the process. Read on to learn more about mastery plateaus and how to embrace these stages.

Tiny Tweaks: 3 Ways to Grow Through Gradual Change

Do you want to change but don’t know where to start? Does it seem overwhelming to you? Susan David says that emotional agility includes living by true values rather than false narratives. To shift in that direction, she recommends making tiny tweaks. This means making successful, gradual changes regarding your belief in your abilities, your attitude toward change, and your routines. Continue reading to learn about the tiny tweaks principle and how it can work for you.

Words That Change Minds: Book Overview & Takeaways

Are there people in your life you just can’t understand? Does it sometimes sound like they’re speaking a different language? In many ways, they are. Words That Change Minds, a book by Shelle Rose Charvet, contends that each individual makes sense of the world in a unique way. When two people approach the same situation with completely different frames of mind, it can cause miscommunications, conflict, and animosity. Continue reading for an overview of this book that can help you understand others as well as speak their language.

Peter Attia: Protein Might Be More Important Than You Think

What does your body use protein for? How much should you eat? Should you eat a lot of meat? According to physician Peter Attia, protein in your diet is something you need to pay attention to. Your body needs it to function well and ward off disease. In his book Outlive, he discusses the importance of protein for a long and healthy life. Continue reading to discover why protein matters and what Attia recommends in regard to your diet.

Questions to Ask in Business: Fostering Curiosity & Creativity

What question launched Uber? What questions did Toys “R” Us leaders fail to ask? The most successful companies ask a lot of questions. And, they ask the right questions. That’s the view of Warren Berger. In his book A More Beautiful Question, he explains why every person in every workplace needs to ask the fundamental questions “why,” “why not,” “what if,” and “how.” Continue reading to learn about these “beautiful questions” to ask in business.

The Path of Mastery: Expect a Journey, Not a Destination

What’s mastery? What’s the life of a master like? Is being a dabbler, an obsessive, or a hacker keeping you from becoming a master? If you want to master something, you should expect to travel a path, not arrive at a destination. George Leonard explains that mastery isn’t an end goal so much as a continual process of learning, discovery, and exploration of that skill, whether it’s taekwondo, oil painting, marathon running, or chess. Read more to learn what to expect on the path of mastery.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming Theory: Mental Habits Shape Us

What mental habits do you have? How do they impact your behaviors and choices? How can you leverage what you know about someone else’s mental habits? Communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet argues that, if you learn how another person thinks, you can consciously match their frame of reference and speak in a language they understand. Then, you can influence them more effectively. Read more to learn about the psychological basis for Charvet’s assertion: neuro-linguistic programming theory.