Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How the Law of Attraction Works: Napoleon Hill Explains

Do you know how the law of attraction works? Do you believe in it? Wildly popular, often misunderstood, and sometimes ridiculed, the law of attraction is a feature in much of the self-help literature over the past century. Napoleon Hill, who popularized the law in his books, explains that it’s simply the notion that “like attracts like.” That’s why he stresses the importance of positive thinking. Keep reading for Hill’s discussion of the law of attraction.

Why You Should Embrace the Randomness of Life

How much of life is random? What can be gained by accepting that randomness? You could understand anything in the world by learning a finite set of rules and patterns that apply to all aspects of life. That’s the premise of The Great Mental Models series of books from Farnham Street (FS), a website dedicated to timeless knowledge and insightful ideas. The Great Mental Models Volume 3 argues that we can benefit by accepting that most of life is random. The benefits include making better decisions, making fewer prediction errors, and enjoying more creativity. Keep reading to learn more about what

How to Save Money for College: Mutual Funds & More

Do you have a plan to pay for your child’s education? What option is best? Paying for your child’s education likely will require advance planning and many years of investment. In The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton recommends having a mutual fund for this purpose. He discusses the advantages and the timing for when to redeem the funds. Read more for advice on how to save money for college.

Why Independent Thinkers Can’t Be Taken by the Devil

What kind of person does the devil target in particular? Who’s in a better position to resist the devil’s influence? If you aren’t in control of your own life, the devil is happy to assume that control for you. That’s the view of Napoleon Hill. In his book Outwitting the Devil, he discusses how independent thinkers can resist the devil far more easily than passive people who just drift through life without minds of their own. Read more to learn what independent thinkers are like and how this makes them stronger.

How to Live Within Your Means: 6 Tips for Saving

Do you spend more than you make? How much credit card debt do you carry? Do you have an emergency fund? A great way to save money is to live within your means. David Chilton, the author of The Wealthy Barber, says that living within your means doesn’t have to mean careful budgeting. If you implement big-picture financial planning, day-to-day spending choices like whether you buy coffee or order take-out don’t matter too much. Keep reading for advice on how to live within your means.

How to Look at the Bigger Picture: A Novel Approach

As you go through life, how clearly are you seeing things? Are you seeing them in their true and full context? You’ll stand the best chance of success if you have an accurate view of the world. Unfortunately, because each of us has a limited perspective, sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture—and easy to misinterpret some situations as a result. The Great Mental Models Volume 3 argues that understanding distributions—a model drawn from mathematics—can help us see the big picture more clearly. The basic idea is that, by thinking statistically, you’ll have a clearer context for the things

How Passive People Are at Risk From the Devil

Are you just drifting through life? How much are you in danger of being under the devil’s influence? In the book Outwitting the Devil, Napoleon Hill writes that the devil distinguishes between two types of people: those under his control, whom he claims to make up nearly 98% of all people on Earth; and those who have escaped his influence. What separates these two groups is that those under his influence take a fundamentally passive role in their own lives, while those who have resisted take a more active role. Much of Hill’s advice to the reader encourages them to

How to Pay Less in Taxes: Tips to Minimize Your Tax Bill

What kind of investments provide tax breaks? Should you hire a tax consultant? What kind of loan can lower your tax burden? You might be paying more taxes than you need to. In The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton discusses ways to save money. Minimizing your tax bill is one of them. He shares recommendations for reducing how much you pay in taxes each year. Keep reading for advice on how to pay less in taxes.

How to Think Long-Term: 2 Novel Ways to Plan Ahead

Do you tend to live in the moment only to neglect the future? How might you make better choices today that will pay off in the future? The book The Great Mental Models Volume 3 by Rhiannon Beaubien and Rosie Leizrowice provides some fresh approaches to long-term thinking. They draw from models in economics and science to show us how we can make life investments today that will bring us rewards in the future. Continue reading for some unconventional advice on how to think long-term.

How the Devil Works Against You: Napoleon Hill’s View

How does the devil operate? How does he seek to manipulate you? According to Napoleon Hill, author of Outwitting the Devil, the devil is a threat to you now, not after you die. In the book, Hill argues that you can outmaneuver the devil if you go to work against him in the right way. First, you must understand how he operates. Hill asserts that the devil seeks to rob you of success and fulfillment by manipulating your desires and fears. Continue reading to learn more about this view of how the devil works.