Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Spend Leisure Time: 3 Ways to Escape From Busyness

What do you do with your free time? Are you in dire need of getting some free time? Jenny Odell says that the attention economy of modern society makes you constantly feel pushed to be productive. She shows how you can “do nothing” to take back control of your life and engage with the world in a deeper, more satisfying way. Read on to get Odell’s practical advice for how to spend leisure time and connect with the world around you in a way that heals.

The Importance of Credibility: Tips From Ferriss, Gates, & Angelou

Can credibility be borrowed? Does “fake it ’til you make it” actually work? The Third Door by Alex Banayan is a compilation of what Banayan learned about success—not only from the people he interviewed—but also from the process of pursuing them. From his interviews with Tim Ferriss, Bill Gates, and Maya Angelou, he learned about the importance of credibility. Keep reading to learn how these three life stories illustrate how credibility is a key to success.

The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication (Overview)

How can you involve other people in preparing for a presentation you’re giving? What are your particular speaking strengths? Speaking is a skill that’s in demand in every field. In The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication, internationally renowned speaker John C. Maxwell shares his secrets to becoming a confident and effective communicator capable of delivering any message to any audience. Read more for an overview of this practical book.

John Mark Comer: Sabbath Observance Helps You Eliminate Hurry

How does a weekly holiday sound to you? What might you learn from Jesus about keeping the Sabbath? According to John Mark Comer, Sabbath observance is an excellent way to follow the example of Jesus and slow down your pace of life. He discusses how Jesus honored the Sabbath and shares ways that you can observe and enjoy it. Keep reading to understand how to honor the Sabbath as Jesus did.

Direct Your Attention to These 2 Places to Avoid Burnout

What’s an “attention economy” mindset? Is your attention susceptible to manipulation? In How to Do Nothing, professor and visual artist Jenny Odell argues that the feeling that you always need to be doing something is created by broader social and economic forces. She contends that directing your attention to “non-productive” things is a form of healing and social activism. Read more to learn the importance of where you direct your attention and how to reclaim control of it.

How to Connect With Your Audience: Tips From John C. Maxwell

When you speak, do people tune out? How does your audience know that you care about them? According to John Maxwell, your primary goal when communicating should be to connect with your audience and to provide them with valuable and meaningful content. He explains why connection matters and how to build it. Keep reading for Maxwell’s advice on how to connect with your audience when you speak.

The Four Mechanisms of Evolution (On the Origin of Species)

How much did Charles Darwin understand genetics? Where did the term “survival of the fittest” come from? A foundational work in the field of biology, On the Origin of Species revolutionized the way we look at life on Earth. Published in 1859 by the naturalist Charles Darwin, this work explains and argues for his theory of evolution. Keep reading to learn about the four mechanisms of evolution that Darwin believes are at work.

Jesus’ Lifestyle: The Perfect Remedy to a Hurried Life (Even Today)

How fast was the pace of Jesus’ life? How did he observe the Sabbath? Is his lifestyle transferable to modern society? Jesus had a lot of excellent habits. Two of them, in particular, allowed him to cultivate an unhurried lifestyle that gave him peace and helped him accomplish meaningful tasks. John Mark Comer discusses these two habits and urges you to adopt them if you want to escape a hectic existence. Read more to learn about Jesus’ lifestyle that you can emulate.

5 How to Do Nothing Quotes From Jenny Odell (With Context)

How can you keep life’s experiences from being chaotic? What’s #NOMO? Whom do you know better—your neighbors or your Twitter followers? The perceived need to constantly be doing something is overwhelming. You might feel you have to use all your available time to advance your career or accomplish something productive. Jenny Odell says this feeling is created by broader social and economic forces. Read more for several How to Do Nothing quotes that help you understand Odell’s argument that devoting attention to “non-productive” things is a form of healing and social activism.

Darwin’s Theory of Adaptation: How Evolution Shapes Life

What would happen if you moved an animal from one environment to another? Why and how do ecosystems entail the interdependence of organisms? In On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin argues that a process of evolution has shaped the natural world around us. He explains how evolution shapes organisms by adapting them to their environments and ecosystems. Read more to learn about these two aspects of Darwin’s theory of adaptation.