Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Microwave Background Radiation: When the Cosmos Glowed

What’s cosmic microwave background radiation? What does it tell us about the history of the universe? After the Big Bang, all of the universe’s matter comprised a sea of hydrogen and helium gas so dense that any light it gave off was quickly reabsorbed. A universal dark age began that would last nearly 400,000 years. Then, the cosmos began to glow. Read more to learn about this glow that we can still observe today and to understand what it tells us about the universe and its history.

Happiness and Love: How Joy Depends on Loving Unconditionally

What’s the connection between happiness and love? How is unconditional love different from other emotions? How is it practiced? To find enduring happiness, you must practice unconditional love. That’s the view of Mo Gawdat as presented in his book Solve for Happy. He explains what unconditional love is and offers advice on how to practice it. Continue reading to learn how joy depends on loving unconditionally and how to cultivate this trait in your life.

Personal Change Management: 4 Ways to Navigate the New You

How can you embrace and foster positive change in your life? What should you expect in your journey of transformation? When you commit yourself to a life of integrity, you’ll change. Martha Beck shares four ways to leverage that transformation for maximum impact: embrace the unknown, embrace unity and connectedness, find a higher purpose, and spread alignment (integrity) to others. Read more to understand these aspects of personal change management and learn how to put them to work in your life.

Matter and Antimatter: Why the Universe Isn’t Just Empty Space

What was the universe like during the Big Bang? Why is there matter in the universe today and not just a void? In his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the Big Bang and explains how matter and antimatter battled each other during the process. He uses simple terms to help anyone understand this fascinating moment in the history of the cosmos. Keep reading to learn how the war between matter and antimatter ended up, resulting in the universe we have today.

A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy (Overview)

What’s a good life? How can you live one? According to William B. Irvine, those are the basic questions at the heart of Stoic philosophy, an ancient Greek and Roman school of thought whose answers, he says, are just as relevant today as they were almost 2,000 years ago. In his book A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, he shares those answers. Keep reading for an overview of the book, including a brief history of Stoicism, a description of its philosophical tenets, and a step-by-step guide to Stoic techniques designed to help you live

We Are Immortal: Mo Gawdat’s Argument That Death Isn’t the End

Why do some people believe that we are immortal? Should this remove any fear of death? Citing the double-slit experiment, the Big Bang theory, and the theory of relativity, Mo Gawdat argues that death isn’t the end of us. Thus, we shouldn’t let a fear of death interfere with our happiness. Continue reading for a discussion of Gawdat’s ideas about death.

Accepting Change in Life: Pursue the Path to Equilibrium & Joy

What is “the path”? How can it help you with accepting change in life? Mo Gawdat’s formula for happiness involves understanding that change is inevitable. If you don’t embrace change, you’ll suffer. He argues that pursuing “the path” is the best way to stop resisting change in life. Continue reading to discover Gawdat’s advice for accepting change and see how this is connected to your happiness.

How to Live With Integrity: 5 Ways to Be True to Yourself

When it comes to being true to yourself, what role do habits play? What price do you pay for living with integrity? Martha Beck shares five techniques for being true to yourself in her book The Way of Integrity. She discusses committing to telling the truth, focusing on making small adjustments, focusing on your yearning, enjoying the benefits of integrity, and forgiving yourself for violating your integrity. Continue reading for Beck’s five-part advice on how to live with integrity.

Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Big Bang Theory: Making It Simple

What does the Big Bang theory suggest? How could understanding it better help us unlock one of science’s greatest mysteries? In his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the Big Bang theory in terms that anyone can understand. He discusses what the theory tells us and what it might help us understand in the future. Read more for the thoughts of Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Big Bang theory.

What Is Stoic Philosophy—and What Isn’t It? Realities & Myths

What is Stoic philosophy? What’s the difference between Greek and Roman Stoicism? What are some common misconceptions about Stoicism today? In A Guide to the Good Life, philosophy professor William B. Irvine offers a brief history of Stoicism and an overview of its basic tenets. He compares Greek and Roman views of Stoicism, and he explains why the philosophy isn’t always well understood today. Continue reading for Irvine’s explanation of Stoic philosophy that sheds light on the good life and its pursuit.