Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

The Key Components of a Successful Conversation

Do you know how to engage in small talk? What are the mechanics of a successful conversation? Should you prepare in advance? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine breaks down all of the components of a successful conversation. She gives you advice for questions and answers you should prepare in advance, how to actively listen, cues to give your partner, and how to speak assertively. Here are Debra Fine’s tips on how to hold a successful conversation.

What Is Casteism?—Explained With Examples

What is casteism? How do caste systems contribute to social injustice? Casteism is a practice of maintaining a hierarchical social order where an inherent characteristic is used as a tool to designate people’s rank in society. Historically, powerful groups have used religion, ethnicity, or skin color to stratify societies. In this article, we’ll explore the notion of casteism and how it works on three real-world examples: America, India, and Nazi Germany.

How to Talk About Yourself: Tips for Telling Your Story

Do you hate talking about yourself? Why do you need to be willing to open up to others to make a connection? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine says that conversations should be balanced, meaning you can’t just keep asking your partner questions. Thankfully, you don’t have to go into conversations unprepared. Here is Fine’s advice on how to talk about yourself and tips on how to tell your story.

Raising Children With Grit: Tips for Parents

What exactly is “grit”? Why is it important to cultivate grit in children? The trait of grit, as described by Angela Duckworth, is the combination of passion and perseverance. It’s an important trait to have because it’s one of the biggest predictors of success. If you want your children to become successful, you should raise them with grit from the beginning. Here is what Angela Duckworth has to say about raising children with grit.

David Epstein’s Criticism of Grit by Angela Duckworth

Why does David Epstein think that Angela Duckworth’s book Grit is wrong? What are his issues with the “Grit Scale”? In his book Range, David Epstein gives Grit criticism for lumping together persistence and commitment. He goes further to say that too much commitment can actually be harmful rather than helpful. Here is how Grit gets it wrong, according to Epstein.

Debra Fine: How to Master the Art of Small Talk

Do you want to master the art of small talk? How do you politely start and end a conversation with a stranger? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, author Debra Fine teaches readers how to master the art of small talk. She goes over the four steps to a successful conversation, how to start a conversation with a stranger, how to end a conversation gracefully, and more. Here is an overview of Debra Fine’s advice on how to master the art of small talk.

What Is the Difference Between Race and Caste?

What is the difference between race and caste? How do race and caste work together to segregate societies? According to Isabel Wilkerson, race and caste are not synonyms. In her book Caste, she explains that race is the arbitrary manner of differentiating one group from another based on skin color. In contrast, caste is how we use that distinction to maintain division among groups and ascribe the appropriate lifestyles. Continue reading for an in-depth discussion on race and caste.

Tips & Questions to Ask to Keep a Conversation Going

How can you keep a conversation flowing smoothly? What kinds of questions should you ask to keep a conversation going? There are two methods you can use to keep a conversation going smoothly: asking open-ended questions about the other person and following up on their answers with additional questions. By avoiding straightforward questions, you give yourself the opportunity to connect more with the other person. Here are good questions to ask to keep a conversation going.

Range by David Epstein: Review, Context, & Approach

Are you thinking of reading Range by David Epstein? Is the book really worth all the hype? David Epstein is a former writer for Sports Illustrated who has built his career writing about the science behind athleticism. In Range, Epstein makes the case for generalism: a broad competence in many areas rather than the extreme mastery of one. Not only does cultivating range free you to pursue more of your interests, it entails professional advantages you could have never predicted. Here is our review of Range by David Epstein.

How to Be Good at Small Talk: The 3 Principles

Do you want to know how to be good at small talk? Should you wait for somebody to approach you or should you start the conversation? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, author Debra Fine says that anyone can master small talk if they practice the principles. Whether you like it or not, it’s impossible to avoid small talk because it’s present in many aspects of life, so you might as well get better at it. Here are Fine’s tips for how to improve your small talk skills.