Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Know Your Product & Your Customer: Tips From Dan Kennedy

How much have you personally used the product you sell? Which is better—mass marketing or a narrow focus? In The Ultimate Sales Letter, Dan Kennedy shares strategies to craft powerful sales letters that will capture customers’ attention and make them want to buy what you’re selling. Kennedy says you must start with getting to know your product inside and out and identifying and understanding your target customer. Keep reading for tips on how to know your product and your customer.

Is the World More Peaceful Today? Steven Pinker Says Yes

Is the world more peaceful today than in years past? What do the statistics tell us? In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker defends the assertions in his previous book that world violence has declined. He updates the data to show that he was right in 2011 and that he’s still right, as of 2018 when his more recent book was published. Continue reading to learn why Pinker believes that we’re in an unprecedented time of peace.

The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy: Book Overview

Are sales letters still a thing? How can they be used to get customers to buy your product? In The Ultimate Sales Letter, Dan Kennedy (a multimillionaire entrepreneur and direct-response marketing consultant) shares strategies for crafting powerful sales letters. These letters capture customers’ attention and make them want to buy what you’re selling. Continue reading for an overview of this top-selling book.

The Global Distribution of Wealth: Good News or Bad News?

What is the status of—and the outlook for—the global distribution of wealth? Are the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer? Steven Pinker wants to set the record straight on wealth and inequality in the world. He presents compelling data regarding inequality, poverty, and social spending that might come as a surprise to many. Continue reading to learn Pinker’s argument and for a brief discussion of the prospect of a Universal Basic Income.

Why World Happiness Data Should Make Us Smile

Can happiness be measured? If so, what do the measurements tell us about the state and trajectory of happiness in the world? Steven Pinker believes that the world is getting better, and happiness is part of that. By sharing world happiness data, he shows that happiness levels are up and that the statistics on mental illness and loneliness look better than we might imagine. Read more to learn why Pinker is optimistic when it comes to world happiness.

Shortform Reads: Exploring Life’s Possibilities Through Books

What’s the most beautiful sentence ever written? What author shows you something new every time you reread his books? What book has one interesting fact after another? Jared could tell you. Based in Atlanta, he’s a book guide writer at Shortform. We interviewed him recently to learn a bit about his relationship with books.

The Simulation Heuristic: Undoing the Pain From the Past

Do you dwell on “what might have been”? Is it possible to undo the past by rewriting painful memories? Psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky sought to understand how people deal with the past. At the root of this exploration were Kahneman’s thoughts about how people avoid feelings of regret and the mental permutations they go through in order to cope with regret in the present. Continue reading to learn about Kahneman and Tversky’s simulation heuristic.

Human Rights Statistics: Why There’s a Good Reason for Hope

Is there progress in the arena of human rights? Are bigoted attitudes on the decline in the world? In Steven Pinker’s argument that humanity is advancing rather than worsening, he includes some hope-inspiring human rights statistics. He specifically considers racism, sexism, and homophobia to be the biggest contributors to human rights abuses. Keep reading to discover why Pinker believes that we should acknowledge the great advances the world has made in these areas.

Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky: A Revolutionary Duo

Who are Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky? What were their interests and career paths that eventually merged into a revolutionary partnership? Over the years, there have been collaborations, such as the Wright Brothers or Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, whose combined influence far exceeded what they would have achieved on their own. In psychology, Michael Lewis suggests that the quintessential duo was Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. Continue reading to learn about these two men.

Is the World Safe? Possibly More Than You Think

Is the world safe? Is violent crime getting worse? Are disasters more common and more deadly? In Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker presents statistics in several areas to support his argument that the world is getting better for humans everywhere. One of those areas is safety, so he looked at data on injuries and deaths. With one exception, he concludes that the world is safer than in the past. Continue reading to get a good picture of the data, according to Pinker.