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)

Resource Theory: Identify & Cater to What People Value Most

What’s resource theory? How can you leverage it to deepen relationships? In Captivate, Vanessa Van Edwards provides strategies to help you become a social superstar. She explains how you can apply Uriel G. Foa’s resource theory to understand people better, communicate with them effectively, bring out the best in them, and ultimately connect with them on a deeper level. Read more to learn how to identify what people value most in life and then use that information to strengthen your relationships.

The 3 Future Work Skills You Need to Thrive in the 21st Century

What skills do you bring to the table? How can you compete in this economy—and in the economy of the future? The world is changing fast. Thomas L. Friedman, in his book The World Is Flat, explains that the increasingly globalized nature of the world requires workers to have three skills to keep up: cooperation, integration, and versatility. Continue reading for a discussion of these future work skills and an exercise that will help you consider your career in the globalized world.

Confidence in Public Speaking: Beat Anxiety & Speak Boldly

Why is public speaking so scary? What could you accomplish if you overcame that fear? Public speaking anxiety is legendary. But, public speaking is extraordinarily powerful—both for the audience and the speaker. The audience gains knowledge and gets inspired. The speaker gets their message across, spreads their influence, and develops skills for success. Keep reading to learn about the power of public speaking and several misconceptions and truths that surround it. We’ll also share practical tips on how to gain confidence in public speaking by attacking the speech and attacking your fear.

How to Read Someone’s Personality & Play to Their Key Traits

How can you show support to a person who’s neurotic? How can you effectively work alongside someone who isn’t very open? Vanessa Van Edwards aims to help you connect more comfortably with others and build deeper relationships. In this context, she examines how to identify and cater to people’s personality traits so you can communicate with them as effectively as possible. Continue reading to learn how to read someone’s personality and use that knowledge to navigate your relationship.

Infrastructure in America: How We Can Thrive Amid Globalization

Does the infrastructure in America allow us to compete in the world? What, if anything, needs to change? Thomas L. Friedman argues that developing the infrastructure to connect and innovate in a globalized world is vital for America. He identifies two key areas in which the U.S. needs to build and maintain a strong infrastructure: internet technology and services, and scientific research and development. Read more to learn Friedman’s argument.

Shortform Reads: Between High Literature & Airport Bookstore

What’s the best thing about an old-fashioned British detective story? What does a book about Buddhist emptiness have in common with a book about computer science? Daniel could tell you. Based in Burma, he’s a computer programmer at Shortform. We interviewed him recently to learn a bit about his relationship with books.

How to Read Faces to Build Deeper Connections

Is it possible to accurately read someone’s facial expressions? What can be learned? When should you try to do this? In Captivate, Vanessa Van Edwards discusses Paul Ekman’s concept of universal facial expressions in the context of building deeper relationships. We’ll see how she recommends using the technique and what Ekman has to say about its abuse. We’ll also discuss a study that challenges the theory. Keep reading for a discussion on how to read faces and what you can learn from doing so.

Global Free Trade: Striking the Right Balance With Regulation

Should we fight job outsourcing or automation? What tax policies support growth? When does the protection of intellectual property cross the line into over-protection? To thrive amid globalization, the U.S. must find the right balance between global free trade and government regulation. Thomas L. Friedman looks at three issues that illustrate the importance of finding this balance: the outsourcing and automation of jobs, tax policies, and intellectual property laws. Keep reading to learn Friedman’s ideas for balancing global free trade and government regulation.

Education Reform in the U.S.: 3 Ways to Thrive Amid Globalization

Are schools preparing students to adapt to changing workplace demands? Are students equipped for innovation? America has all the tools necessary to thrive in a global economy. If it wishes to do so, though, it must make some changes in the way it educates its youth. Thomas L. Friedman, in his book The World Is Flat, offers three recommendations. Keep reading for Friedman’s advice for education reform in the U.S.

How to Be More Likable & Memorable: 5 Ways to Win People Over

Do you want to learn how to be more likable and memorable with people you meet? How might your life be different if you could win people over like never before? Vanessa Van Edwards is a self-proclaimed “recovering awkward person.” She’s also a TEDx Talk presenter and blogger on how to master interpersonal skills. She’s developed strategies to make yourself magnetic, and she shares them in her book Captivate. Keep reading for five strategies from Van Edwards that will make people like and remember you.