Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

Tara Westover at Cambridge: How It Changed Her

What’s it like to study at the University of Cambridge? What’s it like to study there when you’ve had little formal schooling and you hadn’t heard of the university until you applied? This was Tara Westover’s Cambridge experience. Tara Westover’s Cambridge experience is entirely unique, but it also conveys the culture shock many people experience when they go to a new place. Learn how Tara Westover’s experience in Cambridge changed her life, as depicted in her memoir Educated.

Trevor Noah and Babiki: A Hilarious First Date

Who is Babiki in Noah’s memoir Born a Crime? What can the story of Trevor Noah, Babiki, and the big dance teach us about the sometimes negative consequences of a country with 11 official languages? And how bad can a first date get? Babiki was Trevor Noah’s first date, whom he took the big matric dance, which is the equivalent of a high school prom in America. First dates are typically awkward, and love can be a language all its own, and a hard one to learn. Let’s look at how learning the language of romance is complicated by South

Trevor Noah’s Mom: The Life of Patricia Noah

Who is Trevor Noah’s mom? In what ways did push the boundaries of apartheid and post-apartheid era South Africa? And how did she shape the comedian into the success he is today? Trevor Noah’s mom is Patricia Noah. She chose to give birth to Noah as an act of protest during apartheid and raised Noah primarily on her own. Trevor Noah’s mom taught him to be assertive, creative, and independent. Learn how Patricia Noah’s early life turned her into the woman she became, and how her relationship with Trevor developed over the years.

Tara Westover’s Life in a Mormon Survivalist Family

Perhaps one of the best-known Mormon survivalist families is the Westovers, made famous in daughter Tara Westover’s memoir Educated. What was it like to be a child in the Westover family? We’ll cover the parts of the book that best demonstrate what growing up in a Mormon survivalist family was like for Tara.

Audrey Westover: Why She’s Estranged From Tara

Who is Audrey Westover? What is Audrey’s relationship with her sister Tara like? Are they still in contact? Audrey Westover is the fictional name Tara Westover gives to her only sister in the memoir Educated. We’ll cover parts of Educated that demonstrate the complicated relationship between Audrey Westover and the author. We’ll also look at why they’re no longer in contact.

Tyler Westover: Tara Westover’s Savior and Inspiration

Who is Tyler Westover? What is Tyler’s relationship with his sister Tara like? How did he inspire her to become educated? And why does Tara Westover choose to use his real name in her book? Tyler Westover is one of the five brothers of Tara Westover, author of the memoir Educated. He inspired Tara to attend college, the pivotal break from her abusive home life. We’ll look at Tyler Westover’s relationship with the author and cover parts of Educated that might indicate why Tara chooses to write about him using his real name (she gives her parents, brother “Shawn,” and

How to Find Mutual Gains in Negotiation

When entering a negotiation, you often think only of your own interests. How could it benefit you to negotiate a deal that results in mutual gains? And is it possible to achieve mutual gains without compromising what you want? Believe it or not, finding mutual gains is in your best interest as well as the other party’s best interest. We’ll look at why seeking mutual gains is important in negotiations and how to find mutual gains.

Shawn Westover: Tara Westover’s Brother and Abuser

Who is Shawn Westover? What is Shawn’s relationship with his sister Tara like? And why doesn’t Tara Westover reveal his real name? Shawn Westover is the fictitious name Tara Westover gives to one of her brothers in her memoir Educated. We’ll look at Shawn Westover’s relationship with the author and cover parts of Educated that might indicate why Tara chose not to reveal Shawn’s real name, even though she used the real names of at least three of her four other brothers.

Choosing a School? Beware the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect

What is the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect? And how does it affect me? The Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect is the theory that we compare ourselves to the students around us. When you’re a high-achieving student in a low-achieving school (a big fish in a little pond), you’re likely to have more confidence in your intelligence and academic ability than a student with the same IQ in a high-achieving school (a big pond). Learn why it’s so important to understand the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect, especially if you’re a student (or the parent of one!).

4 Simple Steps to Principled Negotiation

What is principled negotiation? And how will it help you get better deals with less conflict? Principled negotiation is a negotiating tactic designed to generate fair agreements efficiently and civilly. Learn how to use principled negotiation and why you should.