Elizabeth Whitworth

Senior SEO Writer

Elizabeth has a lifelong love of books. She devours nonfiction, especially in the areas of history, theology, and philosophy. A switch to audiobooks has kindled her enjoyment of well-narrated fiction, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century works. She appreciates idea-driven books—and a classic murder mystery now and then. Elizabeth has a Substack and is writing a book about what the Bible says about death and hell.

Expertise

History, Theology, Government

Awards

Contributions to joint task force efforts (FBI), Contributions to Special Operations Division (DOJ & DEA), Efforts to fight the war on drugs (NSA), Contributions to Operation Storm Front (US Customs Service)

The Rise of the LGBTQ+ Movement: A Product of the Modern Self

When and how did the LGBTQ+ movement start? Does it spell the end of Christian culture in the West? In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman analyzes how our sense of the self has undergone a revolution in the last few centuries. He discusses how the modern self shaped the LGBTQ+ movement, transgender identity, and modern understandings of marriage. Keep reading to understand Trueman’s analysis of the LGBTQ+ movement and how it came to be.

How to Use Focused and Diffuse Modes of Attention in Learning

What’s the best way to use the Pomodoro method when learning something new? Is it possible to deliberately switch between two different modes of attention? In Learn Like a Pro, Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe explain that the brain has two modes of attention: focused and diffuse mode. They discuss how each mode works and then show how you can use both focused and diffuse modes of attention in learning. Read more to understand how these modes of attention work, and how you can effectively put them to work for you.

Cultural Gender vs. Biological Sex: The Origin of the Debate

When and how did the idea of cultural gender, distinct from biological sex, come about? How does it rely on the modern sense of the self? Just a few short decades ago, the traditional biblical understanding of gender was mainstream throughout Western societies. Most people espoused the view that gender was inseparable from biologically determined sex. Carl Trueman discusses how mainstream thought is changing. Keep reading to learn about the origin of the debate about cultural gender vs. biological sex.

Freudian Marxism: The Fusion of Class & Psychological Domination

What do the ideas of Marx and Freud have in common? How did they help form the modern conception of the self? Carl Trueman argues that cultural developments of the past three centuries have transformed our conception of selfhood from a self rooted in religion, tradition, and community to one rooted in individualism, emotion, and sexuality. The ideas of Marx and Freud contributed to this transformation. Read more to learn about the roots and the emergence of Freudian Marxism from Trueman’s perspective.

Ready, Fire, Aim: Michael Masterson’s 4-Step Business Strategy

What should be your top priority during the first stage of your business? What are some effective ways of coming up with new product ideas? How can you keep your business growing after initial success? In Ready, Fire, Aim, Michael Masterson presents a strategy for building and growing a profitable business. He says successful, multimillion-dollar businesses progress through four stages of development, each presenting different challenges and objectives that entrepreneurs must prioritize. Read more for an overview of this book that can help you ensure continued growth and profitability for your business.

How to Write Marketing Copy: 4 Steps to Communicate Your Edge

Do you have an excellent product that deserves excellent marketing copy? What’s the best way to capture your product’s essence in words? To succeed in business, you must effectively market and sell your product or service. Not only must you refine what your product or service is, but you must also refine how you present it. In Ready, Fire, Aim, Michael Masterson provides a four-step strategy to do that. Read more to learn how to write marketing copy in four simple steps.

The Importance of Memory in Learning (Learn Like a Pro)

How do your working memory and long-term memory work together? What are some ways to improve your memory so you can learn more effectively? In Learn Like a Pro, Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe argue that you can become a better learner if you understand more about how your brain functions and adopt learning methods that work with your brain’s learning capabilities rather than against them. A key function they discuss is memory. Keep reading to understand the importance of memory in learning.

Sigmund Freud’s Philosophy About Self: Sexuality as Identity

What did Freud believe about identity and the self? How influential are his ideas? In the 19th century, through the work of Sigmund Freud, sexuality came to form the center of human identity. In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman places this in a historical context, explaining how the concept of the self transformed over time. Keep reading for an overview of Sigmund Freud’s philosophy about self.

How to Use Attribute Substitution to Influence People

Do you want to be more persuasive when you speak? How much would it help if you could understand the way people think and feel? Peter D. Andrei says that attribute substitution is behind a variety of cognitive biases and can be used to influence your audience in subtle yet powerful ways. He explains how you can do this by using emotions as replacement attributes, providing abundant evidence, and presenting social proof. Read more to learn how to use attribute substitution to influence people.

The Sovereign Individual: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

How does technology shape society? How major has the transition to the information age been? In the 1990s, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg predicted that “sovereign individuals” would be the future. They discuss this prediction and others about society and the economy in their book The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age. Continue reading for an overview of this prescient book.