Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Why Do You Need a Will? The Wealthy Barber Explains

Why do you need a will? What would happen to your assets if you don’t have one? An important part of sound personal finances is protecting yourself and your family. If you don’t have a will, all of your financial planning and success could be lost after you’re gone. David Chilton, in his book The Wealthy Barber, strongly advises that you have a will in order to leave a strong financial legacy and protect your family. Read more to learn why it’s important to have a will.

How to Understand Human Behavior Through Systems

Would you like to know how to understand human behavior better? Do you want to change your own behavior? A lot of the ideas in The Great Mental Models Volume 3 are concerned with understanding behavior. In fact, when the authors talk about systems, they are most interested in how systems explain behavior. In particular, they discuss what feedback loops and algorithms tell us. Let’s look at how systems shape our behaviors and explore some factors to keep in mind if the goal is behavior change.

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan: Overview

What does Carl Sagan mean when he says that the world is “demon-haunted”? What does he recommend as a solution to this problem? Renowned astronomer and science popularizer Carl Sagan believes the world is in a precarious position. Science has taught us a great deal about the world and brought about many beneficial changes to humanity, yet we still cling to unscientific beliefs and ideas at an alarming level. Sagan argues that, as we advance into the 21st century and beyond, our collective ignorance of scientific methods, values, and thinking may be catastrophic to us and the world we live

The Difference Between Internal and External Motivation

What’s the primary source of your motivation? Is your reference point yourself or others? The book The Gap and The Gain lays out the difference between Gap- and Gain- thinking, which are two ways to measure your progress and success in life. One feature that distinguishes these two mindsets is the source of your motivation. Gap-thinking is associated with external motivation (relying on standards set by others), while Gain-thinking involves internal motivation (relying on standards set by you). Continue reading to understand the difference between internal and external motivation and what impact they each have on your happiness.

How to Resist the Devil: The 6 Things You Must Do

Do you know how to escape the devil’s influence? What practical steps can you take each day to keep him from taking control of your life? In his 1937 bestseller Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill interviewed hundreds of American businessmen to gather their wisdom on how to achieve professional success. In his follow-up, Outwitting the Devil, Hill examines how failure and bad habits keep people from reaching their fullest potential, this time through a single interview—with the devil himself. Outwitting the Devil describes how you can escape the devil’s influence and avoid being turned toward inaction and evil by dedicating

Why Health and Disability Insurance Are Important

What would happen to your income if you got sick or disabled? Is your employer’s health and disability insurance policy adequate? If you’re sick or injured, you can’t work. You need a plan for such circumstances. Protecting yourself financially is a vital element of having a sound financial plan. In The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton discusses health and disability insurance in this context. Keep reading for more information on this kind of financial protection and why you need it.

How to Identify Bottlenecks: Where’s the Holdup?

What’s slowing down your business? How could your morning routine be more efficient? Every system has slow parts that drag the whole system down. Identifying bottlenecks is key to maximizing a system’s efficiency. In The Great Mental Models Volume 3, authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Rosie Leizrowice explain what bottlenecks are, how to identify them, and why bottleneck management is a necessary ongoing process in any system. Let’s look in detail at how to identify bottlenecks.

Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill: Book Overview

Is it possible to get out from under the devil’s influence? If so, how? If you succeed, how might your life be different? Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill is a self-help book that describes how you can resist the devil’s influence and find personal and financial success in life by choosing clear goals, pursuing them single-mindedly, and surrounding yourself with positive influences. Businessman and author Napoleon Hill emphasizes the law of attraction and the power of positive thinking as the primary tools that will keep you from drifting aimlessly through life or spiraling into failure. Let’s take a look

Do You Need Life Insurance? Consider These Factors

Do you need life insurance? If you have dependents, is it a must? If you get life insurance, what kind should you buy? If you’re expending the time and effort to become financially successful, you’ll want to ensure that your loved ones are provided for in the event of a loss. That might involve life insurance. You should determine whether or not you need it and, if so, what kind of insurance makes the most sense for you and your family. Let’s take a look at life insurance advice from The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton.

What Are Diminishing Returns? Why You Lose Traction

What are diminishing returns? If you want to learn a new subject, should you read every book on it? Why do horror movies seem to become trite after a while? In The Great Mental Models Volume 3, Rhiannon Beaubien and Rosie Leizrowice include diminishing returns as one of the thinking models that can boost your understanding and decision-making ability. While the law is often used in an economic context, the authors extend the principle to everyday applications. Read more to learn about diminishing returns and how understanding them can help you understand so much more.