Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Improve a Skill: 3 Strategies for Skilling Up

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Use-It-or-Lose-It Tendency

What would you like to know how to do well? What would you try if you had a plan to succeed? You could have the best ideas in the world, but they’d amount to nothing without execution. Implementation takes skills, and Ron Friedman shares three strategies for developing skills: practice effectively, track your progress, and mitigate your risks while experimenting and innovating. Read more to learn how to improve a skill and, ultimately, implement your ideas.

How Is Food Produced? Why We Rely on Fossil Fuels for Food

How is food produced? How has food production changed over time? Can we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to produce food? Vaclav Smil says that modern methods of food production have improved the quality of life for millions. But, it comes at the cost of burning huge quantities of fossil fuels. He discusses the history of food production as well as the role fossil fuels play in producing the food we eat. Keep reading to learn how food production works.

How to Become the Person You Want to Be: 4 Steps to a New You

Do you like to imagine yourself as different in some way? What if you could create and travel a path toward your ideal self? In Think Big, behavioral science expert Grace Lordan argues that most of us fail to transform our lives because we try to change too much too quickly. Instead, we must set a big goal, acknowledge that achieving it will take a few years, and then take the regular, small steps necessary to achieve it. Continue reading to learn how to become the person you want to be.

How to Raise Your Consciousness: Choose Power, Not Force

Why is suffering connected to lower levels of consciousness? Why aren’t there any emotions associated with the highest level of consciousness? By raising your consciousness level, you can connect to the universal consciousness and glean its insights. Further, the higher you raise your consciousness level, the happier you’ll be, and the more you’ll contribute to the world. Read on to learn how to raise your consciousness and create positive outcomes for both yourself and others.

How to Improve Your Listening Skills: 4 Ways to Stop Missing Out

Do you ever check out in the middle of a conversation? How good are you at reading body language? In You’re Not Listening, Kate Murphy argues that listening skills are disappearing throughout society. She asserts that this has a disastrous impact because effective listening forms the foundation of healthy relationships, personal growth, and social cooperation. Read more to learn how to improve your listening skills with Murphy’s recommendations.

3 Simple Ways to Use Positive Reinforcement for Children

When and how should you praise your kids? When should you let natural consequences speak for you? In 1-2-3 Magic, clinical psychologist Thomas W. Phelan provides strategies for (1) stopping unwanted behavior, (2) helping kids initiate and sustain productive behaviors, and (3) fostering healthy parent-child relationships. The second part of his method entails a heavy dose of positivity. Keep reading to learn how to effectively use positive reinforcement for children.

The 3 Essential Components of a Story: What an Audience Expects

What makes a story a story? What does your audience expect from your narrative? In his 2018 book Unleash the Power of Storytelling, speechwriter-turned-actor Rob Biesenbach asserts that you can make any message much more compelling by simply telling a story. Whether you’re writing a novel or preparing a toast, you can learn from his advice. Keep reading to learn the three necessary components of a story, no matter what your message is.

Why CO2 Emissions From Manufacturing Industries Are Here to Stay

What role do fossil fuels play in manufacturing? How much do renewables help? What’s the solution to carbon emissions? Vaclav Smil believes that, in manufacturing industries, fossil fuels are here to stay—at least for the foreseeable future. Even green electricity relies on manufactured materials that are produced with power from fossil fuels. But, he says there are a few things we can do to reduce the use of these materials. Read more to learn about why CO2 emissions from manufacturing industries are a reality we have to live with, at least for now.

What Makes a Story Interesting? The 4 Things a Narrative Needs

What makes a story interesting? How can you, as the storyteller, humanize yourself to your audience? How can you communicate a message that transcends the plot? You can think of a character, a goal, and an obstacle as the basic requirements for a story. But, even with those elements in place, not every story holds a listener’s attention. Rob Biesenbach says a story needs four additional characteristics to make it engaging. Read more to discover the power of these four elements that keep your audience tuned in to your story.

How to Discipline Your Child Without a Fight (1-2-3 Magic)

Do you tend to get too emotional when trying to direct your child’s behavior? Do counting methods of discipline really work? In 1-2-3 Magic, clinical psychologist Thomas W. Phelan explains how to discipline your child in a way that lets you spend less time managing your child’s behavior and more time enjoying your relationship. He describes the problems with common discipline methods and shares his simple counting approach. Read more to discover the 1-2-3 Magic way of discipline and see how it might work for your children.