Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

Powerless Communication: How to Win People Over

What are the benefits of powerless communication? How can being less assertive help you win people over? In his book Give and Take, Adam Grant discusses the benefits of powerless communication. Grant explains that while trying to present or sell an idea, showing some hesitancy, vulnerability, and warmth will cause your audience to trust you and be more receptive. Here is why you should drop your aggressive approach to persuasion and adopt some humility.

How to Maintain Weight Loss: Tips for Success

Do you cycle through losing and gaining weight endlessly? How can you keep the weight off for good? In his book The Hacker’s Diet, John Walker says that most people who go on diets tend to gain back all of the weight they lost and sometimes more. Walker proposed two methods for keeping weight off: daily weight tracking and meal planning. Keep reading for Walker’s advice on how to maintain weight loss.

Why Grit Is More Important Than Talent

What do you think is more important—talent or perseverance? Can talent overpower grit? Psychologist and author Adam Grant believes that grit is more important than talent when it comes to determining someone’s potential. Someone can have all the talent in the world but if they don’t have the determination to develop their skills, then they’ll never improve. Here is why grit is more important than talent, according to Adam Grant.

“Eat Watch”: Why You Can’t Stop Eating

Do you feel the urge to keep eating even if you don’t feel hungry anymore? Why do you think that is? Why does it seem like other people have natural limits and you just can’t stop? In his book The Hacker’s Diet, John Walker introduces the concept of the “eat watch.” Some people’s eat watch tells them when they’ve eaten enough and when to stop. However, some people have broken their eat watches which is why they don’t alert them when they’re eating over the limit. Keep reading to learn what to do if your eat watch is broken.

Don’t Be a Doormat: 3 Tips for Givers

Do you notice others around you being promoted while your hard work is ignored? Can you tell the difference between honest people and those who are trying to take advantage of you? If you’re a giver, don’t be a doormat in life. It may sound simple, but many givers are easily taken advantage of because of their trusting natures. Here are Adam Grant’s three tips for givers to gain some respect.

Planning Your Meals: The Key to Losing Weight

Do you plan your meals ahead? How can the simple act of planning your meals in advance help you lose weight? John Walker, the author of The Hacker’s Diet, claims that you can lose weight by eating the exact same foods you already eat, just in smaller portion sizes. Walker says that the easiest way to ensure you’re not overeating is to carefully plan your portions and to consider the happiness/calorie ratio of foods. Here’s how planning your meals in advance can help you lose weight and keep it off.

Adam Grant: Why Do People Give?

Why do people give to others? Are humans inherently altruistic? Or do we help others for personal gain? In his book Give and Take, Adam Grant discusses the age-old question: are humans inherently selfish? He presents studies that were done on the subject and looks at popular apps like Freecycle to see if he can gain some insight into the truth. Keep reading to learn why people give, according to Adam Grant.

Troubleshooting Dieting: Problems & Solutions

Are you trying to lose weight but are having dieting problems? Is your weight loss plateauing? Are you experiencing side effects? Losing weight is not a straightforward journey—it comes with frustrations, setbacks, and fluctuations. In his book The Hacker’s Diet, John Walker outlines some tips for troubleshooting your weight loss. Here are some of the most common problems that come with dieting.

How to Track Your Weight Loss With EWMA Formula

What is the EWMA formula? Why shouldn’t you rely on raw, weight loss measurements to track your progress? EWMA stands for the Exponentially Weighted Moving Average. In The Hacker’s Diet, John Walker suggests using this formula for tracking your weight loss progress rather than focusing on the daily weight fluctuations which can be caused by a number of variables. The EWMA formula, on the other hand, tracks the trend of your weight loss. Here is how to use the EWMA formula to track your weight loss.

John Walker: Why Is Losing Weight So Hard?

Why is losing weight so hard? If the concept of weight loss is so simple—burn more calories than you eat— then why isn’t everybody a healthy weight? Although the concept of weight loss is simple—calories in/calories out—it isn’t easy to implement in practice. Many people lack the motivation or willpower to eat less food, to pass up that donut, or to pay attention to the number of calories they’re putting in their body. Here is how John Walker explains the struggle of weight loss in his book The Hacker’s Diet.