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)

How to Take Advice From Others & Your Own Intuition

Do you blindly adopt or reject advice? What’s the best way to make the most of counsel? When Tim Ferriss wanted some advice, he sent the same list of 11 questions to scores of experts, promising to put his favorite responses into a book. The result is Tribe of Mentors. The book starts with a topic that might influence how you read the rest of it: how to take advice from others and even yourself. Keep reading for some insights on how to interpret and apply advice.

The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom: Book Overview

How did Warren Buffett learn to invest? What criteria does he use to choose his investments? How does he manage his portfolio? The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom answers these questions and more. Hagstrom believes that, rather than hiring someone else to manage your investments for you, all you need to do is follow Buffett’s way of investing. Continue reading for an overview of this practical how-to book.

Seth Godin on Freebie Marketing: Break the Ice With Customers

Is freebie marketing a smart approach? If so, how and when should it be done? In Permission Marketing, Seth Godin recommends opening a line of communication with consumers by offering them valuable freebies in exchange for their contact information. This is the first step in his three-part permission marketing strategy. Continue reading to learn how to break the ice with prospective customers by giving out freebies.

Closing Your Speech Effectively: How to Leave Them Wanting More

How detailed should you be when you plan the ending of your speech? Is it ever a good idea to close with a quote? In his classic book Public Speaking for Success, Dale Carnegie shares his essential teachings about crafting and delivering a memorable speech. He includes some guidelines on closing your speech effectively. Read more to learn how to close your speech in a way that leaves your audience wanting more.

Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, & the Merits of Value Investing

What did Warren Buffett learn from Benjamin Graham? How did the 1929 stock market crash impact their investment mindset? In The Warren Buffett Way, Robert G. Hagstrom discusses the ways Buffett was influenced by his teacher Benjamin Graham. Warren Buffett learned about value investing from Graham, and Buffett embraced his teacher’s numbers-driven approach to evaluating companies. Read more to understand what Buffett picked up from Graham.

Are Identity Politics in America to Blame for Growing Polarization?

What’s more important in American politics—issues or identities? What’s fueling the increasing political polarization in the country? It seems that, more and more, America has an “us vs. them” mentality when it comes to politics. People used to discuss the issues; now, they talk about other people. Ezra Klein argues that this results in growing divisions among Americans. Read more to learn about this troubling function of identity politics in America.

What Do You Care About? Pinpoint & Prioritize What Matters

What do you care about most? How much time do you give to what’s most important in your life? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss shares advice from a variety of people on how you should spend your time. Many agree that, to make choices about your time investments, it’s necessary to identify what matters most to you and prioritize meaningful causes over other ways you could use your time. Continue reading to discover how to pinpoint and prioritize what you care about most in life.

Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why are humans so drawn to water? How do we benefit by looking at, being near, and being in water? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state he refers to as Blue Mind. He shares ways we can enjoy water’s benefits and discusses the challenges that some face in having access to water. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will have you thinking about water in a new way.

Trust in Marketing: The Basis of Profitability (Seth Godin)

How important is trust in marketing? How can you concretely build it and keep it? In Permission Marketing, Seth Godin discusses two approaches: Interruption Marketing and Permission Marketing. Both owe their profitability to the fact that they built customer trust in a brand. However, Godin asserts that Permission Marketing builds trust in a far more cost-effective way. Read more to learn about building customer trust through Godin’s permission model.

John List’s The Voltage Effect: Book Overview & Takeaways

Is your idea scalable? If so, what’s the best way to scale it over time? In his book The Voltage Effect, John List uses the word “voltage” to describe the power and momentum of scalable ideas. He lays out a framework for building and preserving your idea’s voltage as you scale. Continue reading for an overview of John List’s The Voltage Effect.