Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Reduce Expenses: 3 Practical Tips From an Early Retiree

Guaranteed Basic Income: Creating A Better Tomorrow

Do you have debt? Do you buy things that don’t really add to your life? How could your life be different if you had a lower cost of living? Jacob Lund Fisker permanently retired at age 33. He shows how you, too, can retire at an extremely early age. Fisker urges you to avoid unnecessary debt, stop buying things you don’t need, and maximize the value of every purchase. Continue reading to learn the details of Fisker’s advice on how to reduce expenses and buy yourself more freedom in life.

5 Left and Right Brain Differences That Might Surprise You

What’s the difference between the left and right brain? Is one hemisphere more important than the other? In his 2009 book, The Master and His Emissary, Iain McGilchrist cites an array of scientific evidence intended to dispel the myth that the right hemisphere is “minor.” He contends that the right brain is actually dominant over the left brain and explains five significant differences between the hemispheres. Keep reading to learn about five left and right brain differences that speak to McGilchrist’s intriguing argument.

Using Stories in Conversation: Level Up as a Communicator

Do people consider you a sparkling conversationalist? Would you like to make your exchanges less predictable and boring? For a long time, orators have known that storytelling in speeches goes a long way. Stories hold people’s attention, and they powerfully convey messages. The same is true in basic conversation. However, your conversations will feel a lot less basic once you start telling engaging stories when you talk with others. Keep reading to learn how to use stories in conversation to powerful effect.

How to Create a Protagonist: Your Relatable Main Character

How can your protagonist help you figure out what details to include in your story? How can you set up your protagonist for an internal struggle and, thus, advance your plot? The protagonist is what helps you as a writer determine what details are important and what aren’t. The protagonist is who the story is about, and it’s the character your reader will need to relate to in order to feel engaged in the story and understand the importance of everything that happens. Read more to learn how to create a protagonist, according to writer and producer Lisa Cron.

Invest Thoughtfully: 25 Stock Market Questions to Ask Yourself

What kind of investor are you—or should you be? Do you invest according to your age? What’s your ideal asset allocation? If you’re an investor, a speculator, or you’re considering getting into the market, you want to invest with knowledge. That includes knowledge about the stock market as a whole, certain stocks in particular, and you as an investor. Continue reading for several stock market questions designed to help you understand yourself as an investor as well as your current and prospective investments.

Where Did Life Originate on Earth? A Trip to the Bottom of the Sea

Where did life originate on Earth? How can we know? Biochemist Nick Lane’s understanding of a cell’s requirements leads him to a hypothesis of where life began. In his book The Vital Question, he discusses the type of environment that’s best suited to give rise to the first cells. Keep reading to learn what Lane believes is the most likely candidate for where life on Earth originated.

How Diverse Skills Can Help You Get the Lifestyle You Want

Are you a specialist in just one area? If so, are you aware of how that could be holding you back? Retired astrophysicist Jacob Lund Fisker argues in Early Retirement Extreme that it’s possible to break out of the unsatisfying cycle of consumerism. Part of the equation is increasing your financial security by diversifying your skills. Read more to discover how diverse skills can help you get the lifestyle you want.

18 Procrastination Questions to Help You Stop Putting Things Off

Are you a serial procrastinator? A serial procrastinator who’s ready to turn things around and get things done? Nearly 95% of people say they procrastinate. That’s according to Piers Steel, the author of The Procrastination Equation. He defines procrastination as purposefully putting off tasks against your better judgment and contrary to your best interests. If this sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading for several procrastination questions designed to help you examine and tackle your procrastination habit.

The Optimal Connection Between the Left and Right Brain

How should the brain hemispheres work together? What’s the proper connection between the left and right brain? Popular opinion holds that the left brain does more “important” work than the right brain, so it should dominate. But, Iain McGilchrist takes the opposite view, contending that the left brain should be subservient to the right brain. Continue reading to learn what McGilchrist believes is the optimal relationship between the two brain hemispheres.

5 Sci-Fi Writing Prompts: Putting the Science in Science Fiction

Do you want to write a sci-fi story but don’t know where to start? Is it important to you to include real science in your fiction? In A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking explains modern physics to a general audience. These ideas provide excellent jumping-off points for science fiction stories. Keep reading for five Hawking-inspired sci-fi writing prompts that will help you use real science in science fiction.