Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Recenter Yourself: 4 Simple Tips From a Tribe of Mentors

What do you do when you find it hard to focus? How successful are you at changing your attitude when you should? Sometimes, you feel too tired or scattered to focus and do what you need to do or even want to do. This happens to everyone. Tim Ferriss, in his book Tribe of Mentors, shares how several successful people put themselves back into a positive, productive frame of mind when they get off track. Read on for advice on how to recenter yourself and return to the task at hand.

How to Structure a Speech: 3 Templates From Dale Carnegie

What are the various ways a speech can be organized? How does Dale Carnegie recommend you end a talk, regardless of its structure? Once you have a topic and some excellent ideas around it, you need to organize your ideas in a way that will reach your audience effectively. In Public Speaking for Success, Dale Carnegie provides three templates and shares some general guidelines that apply to any speech structure. Continue reading to learn how to structure a speech with classic advice from Carnegie.

Is Zen Buddhism Mahayana? How Ideas From India Influenced Zen

Is Zen Buddhism Mahayana? How did ideas from India shape a philosophy that emerged in China? Alan Watts discusses the origins of Zen Buddhism in his book The Way of Zen. He explains that Zen ideas came largely out of three different traditions. One of these is Mahayana Buddhism, and Watts outlines two concepts that the two philosophies share. Keep reading to learn how Mahayana Buddhism helped shape Zen Buddhism.

Sam Harris: Buddhism Has the Roadmap to Secular Spirituality

Which Buddhist teachings does secularist Sam Harris follow? Why? Sam Harris isn’t religious, but he’s spiritual. In his book Waking Up, he discusses how to separate spirituality from the confines of religion, and why, out of all the major faiths, Buddhism provides the most practical roadmap to having spiritual experiences without the baggage of superstition and dogma. Continue reading to understand why, for Sam Harris, Buddhism has something to offer.

Tips for Memorizing a Speech Without Sounding Scripted

How can you remember what you want to say—but avoid stiffly reciting it word-for-word? Is it possible to speak extemporaneously—but not aimlessly? Dale Carnegie says that, when you know your speech well enough, you can deliver it with conviction, feeling, and authenticity. Knowing it well enough, though, doesn’t mean memorizing every word. He shares three strategies for leveraging your memory for effective public speaking. Read more to learn his three tips for memorizing a speech in a way that allows you to speak naturally.

Why You Should Learn Zen: Benefits of an Ancient Tradition

Should you learn Zen? What impact can it have on your mind and, ultimately, your life? Alan Watts contends that expressing the principles of Zen benefits you by helping you break down the mental barriers that divide you from the rest of the world. Experiencing Zen lets you finally see the world and the present moment for what it is. Keep reading to learn why you should learn Zen, according to Watts’s classic book on the subject.

Sam Harris: The Self Is an Illusion That You Can Transcend

Are you an illusion? In what way does Sam Harris believe you are? According to Sam Harris, the self isn’t real. In his book Waking Up, Harris argues that consciousness and feelings of individual selfhood are two separate aspects of experience. While consciousness is real, your sense of self is an illusion. Read more to understand Harris’s argument and how he arrives at this belief.

Tribe of Mentors: Tim Ferriss Gets Advice From World-Class Experts

Where do you go for advice? What if you had a tribe of mentors to consult about your life and career? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss distills advice from more than 130 world-class experts such as actor Ben Stiller, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and media mogul Ariana Huffington. Ferriss reached out to these experts and compiled their advice when he was seeking direction in his own life. Continue reading for an overview of this book that can help you, too, find direction.

Permission Marketing by Seth Godin: Overview & Takeaways

Do you find a lot of advertising intrusive? Do you want to market your product or service without annoying prospective customers? Often, disruptive advertisements can feel more obnoxious than persuasive. In Permission Marketing, Seth Godin says there’s a better way for brands to get the attention of potential customers. Keep reading for an overview of Permission Marketing, which shows you how to create marketing that customers actually ask to see.

What to Do Before a Presentation: Dale Carnegie’s Timely Advice

What should (and shouldn’t) you eat before a presentation? How should you prepare the stage? If you have a presentation coming up, you know you must figure out what to say and how to say it. But, that’s not the only preparation you should do. Dale Carnegie suggests that, in the hours and moments leading up to your talk, you must turn your attention to several external and last-minute elements. Read more to learn what to do before a presentation, according to Carnegie’s classic book Public Speaking for Success.