Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Making the Most of Your Time: 5 Ways to Maximize Efficiency

When should you delegate tasks? How can you streamline your decision-making process? Who should go on your “adversaries list”? To reach your full potential and accomplish extraordinary things, Matthew Dicks says you must first learn how to make the most of your time. Stop wasting time on unnecessary tasks, accomplish necessary tasks as quickly as possible, and reap the most benefits from the tasks you spend time on. Keep reading to explore Dicks’s five main principles for maximizing efficiency.

Education Reform Ideas: Embracing the Latest Science of Learning

When students struggle, what if we took advantage of that difficulty rather than trying to “fix” it? What’s a productive alternative to marking test answers as wrong? In Limitless Mind, math educator Jo Boaler shows that the brain is capable of learning new skills and incorporating new ideas throughout our lives and that struggling to learn and making mistakes are integral parts of cognitive growth. With this in mind, she urges us to rethink education. Keep reading to learn several education reform ideas put forth in Boaler’s book.

What Is the Fourth Turning? Strauss and Howe’s Theory of Crisis

What is the Fourth Turning? Was the Third Reich a Fourth Turning? How do crises transform nations? In The Fourth Turning, historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe explain how Anglo-American history follows a pattern of four 15- to 25-year periods, called Turnings. The Fourth Turning, they say, is a Crisis. Continue reading to learn about Strauss and Howe’s theory of the Fourth Turning and their predictions for America’s next one.

Codependent No More Exercises to Help You Break Free

Are you plagued by stress and guilt? Do you forget to take care of yourself because you’re busy managing other people’s lives? Codependent No More is a guide to reclaiming your life from codependency. Melody Beattie encourages readers to overcome codependency with powerful messages about finding yourself, recovering self-esteem, and living a life that’s free and full of joy. Continue reading for nine Codependent No More exercises that will help you break free from codependency.

Steven Johnson: 7 Innovation Goldmines Where Ideas Are Found

What drives innovation? Where do new, groundbreaking ideas come from? According to best-selling author and theorist Steven Johnson, innovation happens when we seek out new ideas and cultivate environments in which fresh ideas can emerge and grow. In Where Good Ideas Come From, he explains the various avenues you should explore to come up with the best ideas. Read more to learn about the seven goldmines of innovation that Johnson discusses.

The 4 Components of an Effective Team: A Surprising Combination

Who understands what the customer wants? Who can help you mitigate business risks? Who holds the CEO accountable? Entrepreneur Tony Fadell shares his tips for creating a successful product-based business and building a great team. He contends that there are four components of an effective team, and they might not be what you think. Continue reading to learn Fadell’s surprising yet sensible advice.

The Fourth Turning Predictions: Were Strauss & Howe Right?

Does history follow a pattern? If so, can we make solid predictions about the future? In The Fourth Turning, historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe explain how Anglo-American history follows a pattern of four 15- to 25-year periods, called Turnings. They wrote during a Third Turning, and they made predictions about the Fourth. Keep reading to learn the Fourth Turning predictions they made and how accurate they turned out to be.

The Importance of Attitude in Learning: Why It Outshines Aptitude

Does the aptitude theory of learning hold water? What can help you excel even if you’re not in the “gifted” category? Science now says that we’re capable of learning more and better than we think. So, built-in aptitudes are no longer seen as the be-all and end-all when it comes to how much and how well we learn. Math educator Jo Boaler explains that the way we think about learning matters tremendously. Keep reading to discover the importance of attitude in learning.

Getting the Love You Want: Exercises to Apply the Book’s Principles

Are you unhappy and have no idea why? Are you and your partner drifting apart? Can anything be done to rescue a relationship in a downward slide? We all have a deep-rooted need to be loved, but often a rift opens between our romantic partners and ourselves. Over time, we may even resent the traits in our loved ones that initially brought us together. The book Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples explores these ideas and offers solutions. Keep reading for two Getting the Love You Want exercises that will help you apply the book’s principles.

How to Build a Product-Based Business: Advice From Tony Fadell

How do you build a world-changing product-based business? How do you set the right foundation and then weather the storms that come? Entrepreneur Tony Fadell answers these questions and more in Build. The book is part career encyclopedia and part memoir, detailing Fadell’s journey building the iPhone and starting Nest, a smart home device company that he sold to Google for billions. Keep reading to learn how to build a product-based business from a successful business veteran.