Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Lead From the Future: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

Do short-range concerns leave you without the time to plan for the future of your business? Are you vulnerable to missing out on big opportunities and being caught off guard by major problems? In Lead From the Future, Mark W. Johnson and Josh Suskewicz offer business leaders a new mindset and strategic approach. This mindset and approach will promote the growth and relevance of their organizations far into the future. Continue reading for an overview of this how-to book for leaders.

Jordan Peterson: Beauty Deserves a Room in Your Home

Remember the sense of wonder you had as a child? How much of that do you still have? According to Jordan Peterson, beauty plays a vital role in life. In Beyond Order, he urges you to adopt this rule: Try to make one room in your home as beautiful as possible. He explains what difference this can make in your life. Continue reading to learn about the importance of beauty from Peterson’s perspective.

How to Rebel: Pushing Boundaries in the Name of Fun

Are you a rule keeper or a rule breaker? What would happen if you pushed back against your own habits and others’ expectations? In The Power of Fun, Catherine Price uses research and personal anecdotes to explain why fun is fundamental to living a happy and healthy life and how everyone can start having more fun. One of these ways is to push the boundaries of what’s perceived as normal for you and even society. Keep reading to learn how to rebel and have more fun.

America’s Obesity Epidemic: How Comfortable Diets Can Kill

Do you eat even when you’re not hungry? Do you tend to reach for a pizza instead of a salad? One of the consequences of our modern lifestyles is obesity. Michael Easter discusses some of the harmful effects that comfortable diets have on health, and he points the finger at several causes. Read more to learn about some of the causes of America’s obesity epidemic, including an ancient one.

How to Learn Concepts: The Value of Conceptual Knowledge

How well can you explain what you know to others? How might you go past a surface-level knowledge of something and reach a deep understanding? True learning entails comprehension. You can memorize a set of facts and never understand them. Not only is conceptual knowledge valuable in itself, but you also can use it as a springboard to elevate you to an even higher level of learning. Continue reading for tips on how to learn concepts—and to understand the value of doing so.

Using Future-Back Thinking to Shape Your Company’s Tomorrow

What’s future-back thinking? How can it boldly take your business into the future? In Lead From the Future, business strategists Mark W. Johnson and Josh Suskewicz argue that, to drastically improve your organization’s chances of successful growth in the long term, you must anticipate and shape the future rather than simply react to challenges as they arise. Read more to learn about this approach and how it can work for your business.

Jordan Peterson: Resentment, Deceit, & Arrogance Are Avoidable

Do you grow more bitter the older you get? Do you justify bad behavior because life’s been hard on you? According to Jordan Peterson, resentment, deceit, and arrogance can easily develop when you travel through life and face its hardships. However, he urges you to resist them and maintain your character as you deal with life’s challenges. Read more to learn how to rise above suffering instead of letting it get the best of you.

Make Time for Fun: Reclaiming the Role of Fun in Your Life

How much time do you waste every day? What if you used that time to have more fun in life? In The Power of Fun, award-winning science writer Catherine Price argues that fun is fundamental to a happy and healthy life. She explains two ways that modern society has made it harder to prioritize fun. Then, she discusses how to make time for fun. Continue reading to get a handle on why making time for fun can be so difficult and to discover the first step you can take to turn that around.

The Benefits of Boredom: 3 Advantages of Idle Moments

How often does your brain get to rest? Do you have near-constant stimuli from technology and other inputs? Modern society seems to shun boredom. You probably sense a need to stay occupied, busy, and productive. The problem is that this doesn’t give your brain a break. Michael Easter contends that this is one of the problems of the modern world that you should fight back against. Keep reading to learn several benefits of boredom.

Learn by Making Mistakes: Incremental Progress With Trial & Error

What are you learning these days? Are you discouraged by the challenge? What if you saw mistakes as progress? One of the hallmarks of learning is that you don’t get something right the first time. True learning is a process that takes time, and it often requires baby steps and even missteps. Incremental progress is progress all the same, and it can be an incredibly effective way to learn. Read on for advice and encouragement to learn by making mistakes.