Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Views of Human Nature: From Rousseau to Modern Marxists

When did the traditional view of human nature go out of fashion? How did this transformation occur? Carl Trueman explains that traditional Christian teachings hold that human nature is fixed, universal, and not determined by the individual. That view has changed significantly over the last few decades. Trueman takes us on a historical journey from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to today’s Marxists. Read more to understand these various views of human nature throughout Western history.

How to Read and Understand Effectively: 3 Tips to Read Like a Pro

When you read, does it feel like the material doesn’t stick? Do you wish you could read faster without sacrificing comprehension? Reading is one thing. Understanding what you read is another. Recalling what you read is yet another thing. In Learn Like a Pro, Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe provide strategies to help you become a more efficient reader. Take a look at their advice on how to read and understand effectively.

How to Understand YouTube Analytics & Gauge Your Videos’ Value

How do you know your videos are really delivering the value you intended? Do YouTube analytics overwhelm you? If you want to have a successful YouTube channel, you need to understand the metrics for your videos. In YouTube Secrets, prominent YouTubers Benji Travis and Sean Cannell help you decipher YouTube’s algorithms and leverage them for ranking. Keep reading to learn how to understand YouTube analytics and make use of their insights.

How to Motivate Yourself to Learn: 5 Ways to Bypass Discipline

Do you get tend to give up when a challenge is too difficult? Does anyone encourage you to learn and hold you accountable? You’re probably well aware that motivation and self-discipline help when you want or need to learn something new. In Learn Like a Pro, Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe contend that, the more motivation you have, the less self-discipline you need. Keep reading for their advice on how to motivate yourself to learn.

Advice for Christians: 4 Ways to Keep Traditional Values Alive

Are you worried about the decline in traditional values? Can anything be done to preserve them in today’s climate? In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman claims that traditional Christian views have become stigmatized as immoral, irrational, and bigoted. He considers modern cultural changes a disaster, as they undermine the traditional Christian morality that forms the foundation of Western culture. Continue reading to learn Trueman’s advice for Christians in today’s society.

YouTube Secrets: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

How do you come up with ideas for videos? What should you consider when you write a title for your videos? Is crowdfunding a viable method of making money on YouTube? In YouTube Secrets, Benji Travis and Sean Cannell walk you through a plan to create a successful YouTube channel. They discuss how to generate valuable content, build community, and develop revenue streams for your channel. Continue reading for an overview of this book that can put you on the road to YouTube success.

How Active Recall Learning Helps You Absorb More Information

What’s the best way to learn? Does active recall learning work with all types of material? Whether you’re a student, professional, or lifelong learner, Learn Like a Pro by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe can help you become a more effective learner. The authors offer tips and techniques for excelling at the key elements of learning, including how to actively engage with your materials. Continue reading to understand how active recall learning works.

The Rise of the LGBTQ+ Movement: A Product of the Modern Self

When and how did the LGBTQ+ movement start? Does it spell the end of Christian culture in the West? In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman analyzes how our sense of the self has undergone a revolution in the last few centuries. He discusses how the modern self shaped the LGBTQ+ movement, transgender identity, and modern understandings of marriage. Keep reading to understand Trueman’s analysis of the LGBTQ+ movement and how it came to be.

How to Use Focused and Diffuse Modes of Attention in Learning

What’s the best way to use the Pomodoro method when learning something new? Is it possible to deliberately switch between two different modes of attention? In Learn Like a Pro, Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe explain that the brain has two modes of attention: focused and diffuse mode. They discuss how each mode works and then show how you can use both focused and diffuse modes of attention in learning. Read more to understand how these modes of attention work, and how you can effectively put them to work for you.

Cultural Gender vs. Biological Sex: The Origin of the Debate

When and how did the idea of cultural gender, distinct from biological sex, come about? How does it rely on the modern sense of the self? Just a few short decades ago, the traditional biblical understanding of gender was mainstream throughout Western societies. Most people espoused the view that gender was inseparable from biologically determined sex. Carl Trueman discusses how mainstream thought is changing. Keep reading to learn about the origin of the debate about cultural gender vs. biological sex.