Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Early Retirement Extreme by Jacob Lund Fisker: Book Overview

What are you willing to give up in order to work less (or not at all)? Do you carry debt that isn’t really necessary? In Early Retirement Extreme, Jacob Lund Fisker shows you how to do what he did: break free of consumerism and live a fulfilling, meaningful life—well before the typical retirement age. He provides straightforward strategies that you can adopt to make this significant lifestyle change. Continue reading for an overview of this book that invites you to take control of your life and future.

The Importance of Small Talk: A Stepping Stone to Connection

Do you hate small talk? Does it seem shallow and like a waste of time? Patrick King wrote an entire book about small talk. He sings its praises—and teaches the skill—because he recognizes the value of small talk as a stepping stone toward deeper connections. Read more to learn about the importance of small talk and how it’s just the beginning of substantive conversations.

Foreshadowing in a Story: Providing Your Reader With Memories

What does foreshadowing accomplish in a story? How can it be used to powerful effect with your readers? In Wired for Story, Lisa Cron explains that humans have an innate need to understand the reasons behind everything—to make sense of what’s happening to us and around us. One of the techniques that writers can use to satisfy this human need is foreshadowing. Keep reading for Cron’s exploration of foreshadowing in a story and how it affects readers.

How to Read Emotions: Body Language Tips From an FBI Agent

What does it mean when someone purses their lips? Why do people turn their feet away from others? Can you tell what someone’s feeling, despite what they’re saying? Joe Navarro, a retired FBI Special Agent, knows how to read people. In The Dictionary of Body Language, he examines some of the body language cues that indicate emotions, such as repetitive actions that suggest anxiousness and tense postures that indicate anger. Keep reading to learn how to read emotions through body language.

3 Reasons to Break Out of the Unfulfilling Cycle of Consumerism

Do you work more than you need to because you buy more than you need? Are you blindly following a narrative that just ain’t so? The modern world lures us into giving away our freedom, argues early retiree Jacob Lund Fisker. The vast majority of adults are caught in a needless cycle of consumerism. Luckily, he says, it’s possible to free yourself from this system. Read more to learn three reasons to break out of the unfulfilling cycle of consumerism.

Visual Perception in the Brain: How the Left & Right Brains See

How are the left brain and right brain different in the way they perceive objects? Do we need the function of each hemisphere to fully see something? Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist seeks to dispel the myth of left-hemisphere superiority by showing that the right hemisphere is responsible for several of the brain’s most essential functions. To this end, he examines the different ways that each brain hemisphere perceives objects. Keep reading for an intriguing exploration of visual perception in the brain.

The Vital Question by Nick Lane: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why does life work the way it does? Are life’s features the product of random genetic mutations, or did organisms have to evolve in a certain way to overcome specific physical and chemical challenges? In The Vital Question, Nick Lane argues that genetics can’t give us the answers by itself. To explain the origin of life, we have to understand how cells make use of energy and what environmental conditions gave rise to the molecular power plants found in every living thing. Continue reading for an overview of this book that seeks to answer some of life’s biggest questions.

The Evolution of Eukaryotes: Following Clues From “Junk DNA”

How did eukaryotes evolve? How can we even go about figuring it out? Biochemist Nick Lane follows clues provided by introns to learn how eukaryotes evolved. He takes us on a journey through time, explaining how eukaryotic life might have experienced ever greater organization and complexity, eventually evolving into the plant and animal kingdoms we know today. Keep reading to learn what Lane believes about the evolution of eukaryotes.

Story Pacing: Give Readers a Break With Subplots & Flashbacks

How should flashbacks be used in a story? What role do subplots play in a narrative? Good stories are powered by conflict. Struggle moves a plot forward toward its resolution. But, our brains can get overloaded when we don’t get breaks from conflict in a story. Lisa Cron, who approaches story writing from a neurological perspective, explains that effective story pacing is the answer. Read on for Cron’s exploration of two story pacing techniques: subplots and flashbacks.

How to Avoid Debt & Set Yourself Up for Early Retirement

Do you have a car loan, a mortgage, or student debt? How could your life be different if you were debt free? According to early retiree Jacob Lund Fisker, most people can do without many things they think they “need.” When you lower your annual expenses, the time it takes to save for retirement drops rapidly. Debt implies significant expenditures, and it adds to your expenditures in the form of interest. Keep reading to learn how to avoid debt and minimize your cost of living.