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 Adjacent Possible: Steven Johnson Explains Reachable Ideas

Why did it take so long for the invention of the computer to take hold? How can different people, working independently, come up with the same innovation? Good ideas don’t materialize miraculously from nothing. Instead, they build on existing knowledge and ideas. Emergence from the adjacent possible, Steven Johnson argues, is a hallmark of the most successful ideas. Keep reading to learn what the adjacent possible is and how we can mine it for good ideas.

How to Get Things Done Faster: 3 Ways to Streamline Routines

What tasks do you do routinely? What if you could get them done more efficiently and free up time for more substantive work? In Someday Is Today, Matthew Dicks argues that achieving your dreams and overcoming mediocrity is possible, but only if you start acting now. He shares advice on how to maximize your time, efficiency, and productivity when it comes to everything you have to do, including your routine tasks. Continue reading to learn how to get things done faster in three practical ways.

How Can We Save the Planet? By Saving the Humans First

How can we save the planet? What’s wrong with most of the current solutions? Though it’s become widely accepted that climate change is real, the questions still remain of what steps we should take to fix the damage and whether they’ll be enough. In Apocalypse Never, Michael Shellenberger explains why he thinks most initiatives are misguided and provides his own proposals. Read more to learn Shellenberger’s analysis of the climate problem and to discover the fix he thinks we need.

Tony Fadell at General Magic & Philips: A Decade of Failure?

What led Tony Fadell to a job at General Magic? Why did the smartphones from Philips fail to sell well? In his book Build, entrepreneur Tony Fadell outlines his career trajectory. He talks about how he failed to build a smartphone several times before finally hitting it big with the iPhone. He refers to that time in his career as a “decade of failure.” Read more to learn about Tony Fadell at General Magic and Philips.

Discover Your Purpose: 3 Ways to Turn Your Interests Into Impact

How to Find Your Major Definite Purpose in Life

What did you enjoy as a child? What makes you different? What do you care about most? In The Daily Laws, Robert Greene argues that we lead our lives guided by false beliefs. He discusses how you can break free from false notions of success and happiness by identifying your unique life purpose and pursuing mastery in your field. Read more for Greene’s advice on how to discover your purpose and an exercise to help you implement Greene’s ideas.

A Network of Ideas: Harnessing Social & Neural Connections

When you network, do you deliberately share and collect new ideas? Do you seek out opportunities for collaboration? According to Steven Johnson, good ideas don’t just appear from nowhere. Rather, they build on existing knowledge and ideas. New ideas proliferate in networks. The more connected you are, the more you’ll find and develop good ideas. Read more to learn how you can plug into and benefit from a network of ideas around you.

How to Stop Overanalyzing & Start Getting Things Done

Are you a perfectionist? Do you analyze every last detail only to miss the big picture? In Someday Is Today, Matthew Dicks shares tips for accomplishing extraordinary things. He discusses ways to maximize your time, efficiency, and productivity so you can become as successful as possible, as soon as possible. One solution is to stop being a perfectionist and a micro-analyzer and just get on with the task at hand. Continue reading to learn how to stop overanalyzing and start getting things done.

Tony Fadell, Nest, & the Beginning of the Smart Home Revolution

How did world travel inspire the concept of a smart home? Why did Tony Fadell end his relationship with Nest? In Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making, entrepreneur Tony Fadell tells the story of his career. He talks about starting Nest—a smart home device company—and later selling it to Google for billions of dollars. Keep reading to learn about Tony Fadell, Nest, and the start of the smart home revolution.

Climate Change & Energy Consumption: What’s the Solution?

How can we move toward fuel sources with higher energy density and power density? What difference does that make for the environment, the economy, and society as a whole? The primary driver of climate change, and the most important issue to tackle, is society’s ever-growing energy consumption. In Apocalypse Never, Michael Shellenberger explains the problem and explores our options as we move into the future. Continue reading to learn about climate change and energy consumption.

How to Appear Powerful: Robert Greene’s 3 Strategies

Would you like people to perceive you as powerful? How can you take better control of the impression you make? People are watching you, and they’re making judgments. That’s a fact you can’t change. But, according to Robert Greene, you can influence their judgments to a higher degree. He offers recommendations in three areas of your professional and social life. Read more to learn how to appear powerful to others.