Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

Financial Optimism: The Key to Investing Success

Are you an optimist or a pessimist when it comes to money? Why does financial optimism work better than financial pessimism? In his book The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel says that you should remain optimistic when it comes to finances and investing, no matter what others say. He outlines three reasons why financial pessimism often seems like the smartest route but isn’t. Keep reading to learn why an optimistic view on finances and investments is beneficial.

Eric Berne: What Are the “Games” People Play?

What is Eric Berne’s Games People Play about? How can you tell someone is playing a game on you? Games People Play is Berne’s 1964 classic about the many ways that we habitually relate to one another through “games.” These aren’t fun, harmless social games, though—they’re subtle, largely unconscious patterns that harm us and our relationships. Berne explains how most of us don’t even notice our games, and how we’re missing out on the fulfillment of game-free living. Keep reading to learn about Berne’s concept of “games” and why we play them.

How Personal Finance Stories May Be Influencing You

Do you allow personal finance stories to change how you use your money? Do finance stories scare you away from making certain decisions or inspire you to invest in certain things? According to Morgan Housel, the author of The Psychology of Money, falling for financial success stories can cause you to make poor financial decisions. Listening to the personal finance stories of others can influence you to risk your financial health based on hope, or even make you think that you have more control than you actually do. Here’s why you should be careful what stories you believe about money.

Spending More Than You Earn = A Lifetime of Poverty

Do you ever make purchases even though you know they will put you in debt? Do you know how spending more than you earn can affect you for years to come? In his book The Millionaire Fastlane, MJ DeMarco discusses insatiable consumption, or the never-ending desire to spend money. While spending money isn’t fundamentally a bad thing, if you spend more than you earn, you are dooming yourself to a lifetime of poverty. Here’s why you should think twice before buying things you don’t need.

Why Do People Play Mind Games?

Why do people play mind games? Do they serve a purpose? At some point in your life, you’ve most likely encountered somebody who likes to play mind games. According to psychiatrist Eric Berne, we all play mind games on each other—it is a normal phase of psychological development. Here’s why we play mind games and why these games matter.

Why the Traditional Formula for Wealth Falls Short

What’s the traditional formula for wealth? Does the formula work? What uncontrollable factors doesn’t it account for? In The Millionaire Fastlane, multimillionaire entrepreneur and investor MJ DeMarco challenges conventional wisdom about how to create wealth. He says that the traditional formula for wealth—getting a stable job and investing—may work, but it’s not necessarily going to make you happy. Here’s why you should re-think your financial plan.

How to Develop a Survival Mentality Around Money

What does it mean to have a survival mentality around money? What three ideas around money should you develop? In his book The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel suggests developing a survival mentality around money. This means accepting that you could lose all your money at any time, so you follow certain steps to ensure you protect your assets. Here are the three steps for developing a survival mindset.