Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Managing Emotions in Communication: 4 Ways to Keep Your Cool

Do you tend to raise your voice or stop listening when you get frustrated? When you’re angry, do all of the right words come out in the right order? Emotions are a huge part of life. So is communication. When emotions and communication come together, the message often gets lost. That’s why James Williams identifies emotional control as a core communication skill. Continue reading to learn how to effectively handle emotions in communication.

Career Decline: Are You Professionally “Losing It” as You Age?

At what stage are you in your career? Does it feel like you’re slowing down while the work—and your colleagues—are racing ahead? Supermodels and professional athletes aren’t the only ones whose professional attributes carry an expiration date. That’s the view of management expert Arthur Brooks, the author of From Strength to Strength. He presents the problem of professional decline and shares strategies to pivot and flourish as you get older. Read more to gain an understanding of career decline as it very well could relate to your life.

The 3 Characteristics of a One-Person Business (+ Pros & Cons)

What exactly is a one-person business? How is it different from other types of companies? Is it the right choice for you? In Company of One, Paul Jarvis advocates for one-person businesses that limit their growth and focus on creating quality products and services. He argues that, by owning such a company, you can exercise more control over your work and form meaningful, successful relationships with customers. Read more to learn the three main characteristics of a one-person business.

Annie Grace’s This Naked Mind: Book Overview & Takeaways

Did you have to acquire a taste for beer or wine? Does social drinking help you fit in? Is drinking in moderation beneficial? Most alcohol addiction programs are designed to get you to resist the temptation to drink; you’re left with the impression that you’re missing out by abstaining. This Naked Mind, a book by Annie Grace, offers a different approach: See alcohol for the nasty poison it truly is, and you won’t even want to drink. Continue reading for an overview of Grace’s practical book This Naked Mind.

To Read Nonfiction Faster, Do This Before You Read

What should you do before you read a work of nonfiction? How can reading more content actually help you read faster? The authors of 10 Days to Faster Reading offer this surprising speed-reading strategy: Familiarize yourself with the content before you begin. It might seem like you’re taking unnecessary extra time, but you’ll be able to read faster—and with more comprehension—when you take this step. Let’s take a closer look at this reading strategy.

Why Do People Become Alcoholics? Ignorance Is to Blame

Why do people become alcoholics? Is there an “alcoholism gene”? Are certain people more vulnerable to addiction? In This Naked Mind, Annie Grace contends that alcoholism results from an ignorance of the truth about alcohol. She identifies common misconceptions about drinking, and she explains why everyone’s at risk for addiction and how a denial of that fact leads to alcohol abuse. Read more to understand Grace’s enlightening argument.

Malcolm X’s Political Beliefs: His Radical Approach to Civil Rights

What were Malcolm X’s political beliefs? How did his approach differ from that of Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders? Malcolm X was critical of the American civil rights movement and its more moderate leaders. Coming from his perspective of the Nation of Islam (and later Islam), he advocated a different approach through strategies of separatism, self-defense, & pan-Africanism. Continue reading to learn about Malcolm X’s political beliefs in the context of civil rights and Black liberation.

Raymond Cattell’s Intelligence Theory: What It Means as We Age

How does your intelligence change as you get older? How can you leverage your changing brain to maintain your success over time? It’s typical to experience some degree of mental decline as we age. But, management expert Arthur Brooks says there’s good news. To continue being successful in your career, you just need to start relying on a different type of intelligence and find work that suits this different skill set. Keep reading to learn how Raymond Cattell’s intelligence theory provides us with some encouragement.

Break These 3 Bad Reading Habits if You Want to Read Faster

Do you tend to read at the same speed that you talk? Do you lose your place or your focus when you read? The book 10 Days to Faster Reading provides several strategies for quicker, more effective reading. One way to improve your reading speed is by addressing three bad reading habits: mouthing or speaking the words, accidentally rereading what you’ve already read, and getting lost in thought. Let’s take a look at several behaviors that people commonly engage in that slow down their reading—along with some tips for breaking these habits.

5 Myths About Alcohol: Why It’s Your Enemy & Not Your Friend

Does alcohol help you relax? How much wine is good for you on a daily basis? Why do so many people struggle to stay sober, even after treatment programs? You’re being lied to. Society promotes untruths about alcohol that make people think it’s beneficial, at least when it’s “done right.” That’s the view of Annie Grace, who says that ignorance about alcohol and its abuse lulls people into a false sense of safety in regard to drinking, ultimately leading to addiction for many. Keep reading to learn five myths about alcohol that will cause you to think again about your