Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Launch a Business Using the Ready-Fire-Aim Strategy

What’s the easiest way to figure out how to reach customers? Why should you experiment with multiple versions of your product? In Ready, Fire, Aim, Michael Masterson argues that you shouldn’t try to perfect your product before putting it on the market. Rather, you should go ahead and put variations of it out there. Then, let that experience help you perfect your marketing strategy. Continue reading to learn how to launch a business in Masterson’s unorthodox way.

How to Improve Your Working Memory & Learn More Efficiently

What are the limits of your working memory? How can you keep it from getting overloaded? Whether you’re a student, professional, or lifelong learner, Learn Like a Pro by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe can help you become a more effective learner. They provide proven techniques for mastering new skills and knowledge quickly and efficiently, including simple strategies for improving your memory. Keep reading to learn how to improve your working memory.

Karl Marx: Human Nature Is Determined by Socioeconomic Status

What determines whether a person is good or bad? Are we inherently one or the other? According to Karl Marx, human nature isn’t fixed or universal. That philosophy stands in contrast to the traditional Christian view of human nature. Carl Trueman argues that Marx’s concept of political selfhood reshaped our ideas about the self, morality, and human nature—ultimately transforming society. Keep reading for an introduction to Marx’s philosophy of human nature in this intriguing historical context.

Think Big: Grace Lordan Explains How to Build the Future You Want

What’s the key to transforming your life? How can little things add up to big achievements? In Think Big, Grace Lordan explains how you can take small steps and build the future you want. One key is to go slow and steady. Another is to overcome the cognitive biases that often get in the way of your goals. Continue reading for an overview of this practical and inspiring book that can propel you toward your ideal future.

How Persuasive People Take Advantage of the Zero-Risk Bias

Why do people have a zero-risk bias? How can it be used to one’s advantage? Peter D. Andrei explains that effective communication takes psychology into account. When you understand how people’s minds work, you’re more likely to be able to persuade them. He discusses several cognitive biases, including the zero-risk bias, in the context of rhetoric. Keep reading to learn how to take advantage of the zero-risk bias, even when the risk isn’t zero.

How to Figure Out Who You Want to Be: Naming Your True Desires

Do you tend to keep doing the same thing without a good reason for it? Which work tasks do you truly enjoy? What skills does your future self have? In Think Big, behavioral science expert Grace Lordan addresses the fact that many people fail to transform their lives despite a desire to do so. She acknowledges that achieving big goals takes a few years and provides practical advice for making the journey toward your ideal self. Read more to discover how to figure out who you want to be—the first step on that journey.

The Future of the Virtual Economy—as Predicted in the 1990s

3 Major Tips From Charlie Munger on Investing

What’s the impact of the virtual economy on commerce? To what extent have digital currencies replaced fiat currencies? In the 1990s, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg predicted that the virtual economy would overtake physical economies. In their book The Sovereign Individual, they discuss what that would mean for the economy as a whole and for civilization in general. Keep reading to learn Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s predictions about the virtual economy and, in retrospect, see how close they got.

Set Up a Management Team Structure to Optimize Your Business

Do your managers efficiently and consistently manage your business’s daily operations? Or, do operational tasks constantly distract you from leading your business? If you have a successful business and want to keep it hitting on all cylinders, you need effective systems. A well-structured management team can oversee these systems, ensure smooth operations, and optimize your business over the long haul. That frees you up to focus on leadership and business growth. Read more to learn how to set up an effective management team structure.

Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

What’s the best way to remember what you learn? How can you plan for interruptions when you study? What are some tips for effective note-taking? Learn Like a Pro: Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe is a user-friendly guide to improving your approach to learning. Whether you’re a student in school or picking up a new skill, you can become a more effective learner. Continue reading for an overview of this practical book.

Rousseau: Human Nature Is Good—Contrary to Public Opinion

What was Rousseau’s view of human nature? How did his philosophy find its way into the mainstream? In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the traditional Christian view of innate sinfulness began to give way to a new school of thought in the West. According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, human nature is essentially good. This philosophy took hold in Western thought, and it ultimately transformed society. Read more to learn about Rousseau’s view of human nature, morality, and the self.