Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, & the Merits of Value Investing

What did Warren Buffett learn from Benjamin Graham? How did the 1929 stock market crash impact their investment mindset? In The Warren Buffett Way, Robert G. Hagstrom discusses the ways Buffett was influenced by his teacher Benjamin Graham. Warren Buffett learned about value investing from Graham, and Buffett embraced his teacher’s numbers-driven approach to evaluating companies. Read more to understand what Buffett picked up from Graham.

Are Identity Politics in America to Blame for Growing Polarization?

What’s more important in American politics—issues or identities? What’s fueling the increasing political polarization in the country? It seems that, more and more, America has an “us vs. them” mentality when it comes to politics. People used to discuss the issues; now, they talk about other people. Ezra Klein argues that this results in growing divisions among Americans. Read more to learn about this troubling function of identity politics in America.

What Do You Care About? Pinpoint & Prioritize What Matters

What do you care about most? How much time do you give to what’s most important in your life? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss shares advice from a variety of people on how you should spend your time. Many agree that, to make choices about your time investments, it’s necessary to identify what matters most to you and prioritize meaningful causes over other ways you could use your time. Continue reading to discover how to pinpoint and prioritize what you care about most in life.

Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why are humans so drawn to water? How do we benefit by looking at, being near, and being in water? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state he refers to as Blue Mind. He shares ways we can enjoy water’s benefits and discusses the challenges that some face in having access to water. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will have you thinking about water in a new way.

Trust in Marketing: The Basis of Profitability (Seth Godin)

How important is trust in marketing? How can you concretely build it and keep it? In Permission Marketing, Seth Godin discusses two approaches: Interruption Marketing and Permission Marketing. Both owe their profitability to the fact that they built customer trust in a brand. However, Godin asserts that Permission Marketing builds trust in a far more cost-effective way. Read more to learn about building customer trust through Godin’s permission model.

John List’s The Voltage Effect: Book Overview & Takeaways

Is your idea scalable? If so, what’s the best way to scale it over time? In his book The Voltage Effect, John List uses the word “voltage” to describe the power and momentum of scalable ideas. He lays out a framework for building and preserving your idea’s voltage as you scale. Continue reading for an overview of John List’s The Voltage Effect.

The Third Door: Alex Banayan Uncovers the Mindset of Success

How do people like Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates succeed? What lessons from their lives and careers can you apply to your own? In The Third Door, Alex Banayan writes that success is like a nightclub with three doors. He argues that the third door is the best—and really, only—route to getting ahead of the crowd. He learned this from interviewing (and trying to interview) several wildly successful people. Continue reading for an overview of Banayan’s book, and find out what “the third door” is.

How to Choose a Topic & Develop Ideas for Maximum Impact

Have you been asked to give a speech or write an article? How should select the subject matter and flesh out what you’re going to say? In Public Speaking for Success, Dale Carnegie shares advice on how to choose a topic and develop ideas. While his tips are provided in the context of public speaking, they’re applicable to essays, books, and more. Continue reading to learn how to figure out what topic and ideas you should present.

Warren Buffett’s Intrinsic Value Formula: How He Finds Good Deals

How does Warren Buffett determine what companies he should invest in? Why does he look for a margin of safety? One of Warren Buffett’s investing strategies is to buy stock in companies that are undervalued. In order to identify such companies, he calculates a company’s intrinsic value. Then, he translates that value into a margin of safety. Keep reading to learn Warren Buffett’s intrinsic value formula, as described in The Warren Buffett Way by investment professional Robert G. Hagstrom.

The Polarization of Political Parties: Why the GOP Is Impacted More

How has growing political polarization in America affected Democrats and Republicans? Why are these parties impacted differently? The Democratic and Republican parties are different, not just in their platforms, but in their culture and makeup. Ezra Klein says that this explains why political polarization affects these two major parties differently. Continue reading to understand the polarization of political parties in America.