Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Experimentation and Innovation: How Testing Unlocks the Future

What’s the relationship between experimentation and innovation? Why is it useful to take things apart? How can you figure out what will work in the future? In The Innovator’s DNA, Hal Gregersen, Jeff Dyer, and Clayton Christensen describe five behaviors and skills—what they call Discovery Skills—that are most likely to generate creative ideas. One of these is experimentation. Read more to understand how experimentation in business is critical for innovation and to learn four ways to experiment with new ideas.

The 4 Generational Archetypes & Their Roles in Society

As you age, how does your role in society change? How much do young people impact the culture? Are generational archetypes like story archetypes? According to William Strauss and Neil Howe, each generation in society fits into one of four different archetypes: the Prophet, the Nomad, the Hero, and the Artist. Each generational archetype has its own role to play in the culture. Continue reading to learn about generational archetypes and the various ways they function and interact in society.

Do Humans Cause Climate Change? The Question Is How Much

Do humans cause climate change? If so, to what extent? What’s the evidence? Steven E. Koonin argues that the human impact on the climate is relatively small. He shows this with his analysis of greenhouse gases and aerosols released into the atmosphere. Continue reading to learn about Koonin’s findings and conclusions about manmade climate change.

Why Is Innovation Important in Business? New, Not Just Improved

Why is innovation important in business? What kind of innovation makes the most difference? Innovative businesses change the world. In The Innovator’s DNA, Hal Gregersen, Jeff Dyer, and Clayton Christensen explain how to drive meaningful change by embedding into your organizations and teams the key skills that are shared by the world’s most innovative business leaders. Read on to learn about the importance of innovation in business.

Individualist vs. Relationalist Views of Marriage (David Brooks)

Does your marriage leave you with unmet expectations? What sacrifices should marriage require? David Brooks compares two approaches to life and, thus, marriage. The first approach is characteristic of individualism, which prioritizes personal liberty and spurns commitment. The second approach is characteristic of relationalism, which celebrates community and prizes commitment. Continue reading to learn about two views of marriage based on these two approaches to life.

How Accurate Are Climate Models? 3 Ways They Miss the Mark

How accurate are climate models? Can we trust them to give us a good picture of the future? Steven E. Koonin contends that climate scientists’ models don’t reliably predict future climate change. He points to three flaws: The grids they use are too large, they require initial conditions that we can’t measure, and they have to be “tuned” to avoid contradictions. Read more to understand each of these flaws better.

The Innovator’s DNA: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

Which of your skills should you focus on if you want to be a disruptive innovator? Do you network for ideas and brainstorm for questions? Hal Gregersen, Jeff Dyer, and Clayton Christensen explore why innovation in business is so important. They outline the five behaviors and skills you can adopt to cultivate innovative thinking and explain how to drive meaningful change by embedding these behaviors and skills into your organizations and teams. Continue reading for our overview of The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators.

David Brooks’s The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life

Are you an individualist or a relationalist? What commitments have you made in life? What approach do you take to each one? David Brooks contends that the Western individualist worldview breeds selfishness and deprives your life of greater meaning. Consequently, he argues that you should embrace relationalism—the worldview that prioritizes selflessness and service to others—to lead a deeply fulfilling life. Continue reading for a comprehensive overview of David Brooks’s The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life.

Is the Weather Getting More Extreme? What the Trend Reveals

Is the weather getting more extreme? What’s the actual long-term trend? Former energy industry scientist Steven E. Koonin claims that public misconceptions about human-induced climate change are common. One of these misconceptions is that manmade climate change is causing extreme weather. Let’s take a look at Koonin’s argument and see what the evidence is.

What Are the 5 Discovery Skills? (The Innovator’s DNA)

How can the five Discovery Skills make you a disruptive innovator? Is it necessary to master all five? What’s the most important one? Creative thinking is crucial to innovation. The authors of The Innovator’s DNA describe five behaviors and skills—what they call “Discovery Skills”—that are most likely to generate creative ideas. These are associative thinking, questioning, observing, idea networking, and experimenting. Keep reading to learn the five Discovery Skills, a couple of important considerations about them, and tips for practicing each one.