Hannah Aster

SEO Team Lead

Hannah is a seasoned writer and editor who started her journey with Shortform nearly five years ago. She grew up reading mostly fiction books but transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018. When she's not writing or traveling, you can find Hannah working on home reno projects, crafting, or taking care of plants.

Expertise

Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and minors in professional and creative writing

The 4 Biggest Decision-Making Barriers: Explained

What are the biggest decision-making barriers? Why does expanded choice make decisions even more difficult? In his book The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz asserts that expanded choice comes with four distinct pitfalls: missed opportunities, regret, disappointment, and unfavorable comparison. These decision-making barriers can have many side effects, such as decision paralysis, anxiety, and depression. Here’s a breakdown of the four decision-making barriers that come with expanded choice.

6 Tips for Staying Focused on Your Purpose

Do you have a purpose in life but struggle to stay on track? What strategies can you use to focus on your purpose every day? Having a purpose in life that you’re working towards will make you feel more fulfilled and overall happier. However, it can be easy to lose sight of your purpose when you get caught up in the everyday routine. That’s why self-help guru Robin Sharma put together this list of strategies to help you maintain focus on your purpose. Continue below for Sharma’s six tips for focusing on your purpose.

The Psychology of Commitment and Relationships

Does committing to one relationship make you happier—or more anxious? Why do relationships require so much time commitment? In the book The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz explores the connection between commitment and relationships. He argues that, just like in other areas of your life, you will be happier with limited choices rather than seeking the freedom to be with whomever you want, whenever you want. Here’s an overview of Schwartz’s ideas about relationships.

William Easterly: Foreign Aid Is a Civilizing Mission

What are William Easterly’s views on modern foreign aid efforts? How is the top-down approach to international aid reminiscent of the civilizing mission? According to the author of The White Man’s Burden, William Easterly, foreign aid is doing more damage than good. He compared the common top-down aid model to the civilizing mission of the 19th century—when Europeans and Americans believed they had to fix countries that they saw as backward. Here’s why the top-down foreign aid model is doing more harm than good, according to Easterly.

William Easterly: The Problem With Humanitarian Aid

What are the major problems with humanitarian aid? How does bureaucracy get in the way of aid efforts? According to economist William Easterly in his book The White Man’s Burden, the bureaucracy surrounding international aid efforts is getting in the way of progress. The bureaucratic system causes a lack of accountability, coordination, and clear goals. Continue below to learn more about Easterly’s problems with humanitarian aid programs.

Human Aid Can’t Help Bad Governments

Why can’t the countries in the West impose democracy and capitalism on developing nations? Is there another way to fix bad governments? In his book The White Man’s Burden, economist William Easterly argues that the West needs to stop trying to fix bad governments. He says that imposing top-down aid is not what’s going to help struggling nations. Here’s why Easterly thinks democracy and capitalism can’t be imposed.

Why Imposed Free-Market Reforms Aren’t the Answer

Why shouldn’t the West try to impose free-market reforms on developing countries? What problems can this inflict upon the locals? Free-market capitalism can lead to economic growth, but that doesn’t mean that it should be forced upon developing nations that aren’t ready for such reform. When more developed countries try to impose their will upon other nations, it usually does more harm than good. Keep reading to learn what economist William Easterly has to say about this topic of controversy.

Why the Bottom-Up Aid Model Is the Most Successful

Why does the bottom-up aid model work better than the top-down model when it comes to international aid? In what ways is the bottom-up aid model more effective? American economist and professor William Easterly explores the top-down and bottom-up international aid models in his book The White Man’s Burden. He comes to the conclusion that the bottom-up aid model is much more effective than the top-down model because it empowers locals and doesn’t treat them like needy children. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of bottom-up humanitarian aid.

Olivia Fox Cabane: What Makes Someone Charismatic?

What makes someone charismatic? Are some people just born that way or is it a trait that can be learned? Charismatic people are magnetic: their personalities make you want to spend time with them. According to Olivia Fox Cabane, the author of The Charisma Myth, charisma is a combination of three traits: mindfulness, authority, and goodwill. Here is a breakdown of each trait so you can better understand what charisma is.

Olivia Fox Cabane: The 2 Steps to Developing Charisma

How can you become more charismatic? What two steps must you master to become a charismatic person? According to Olivia Fox Cabane, the author of The Charisma Myth, there are two steps to becoming charismatic: 1) master your mind, and 2) practice speaking with charisma. She describes why these steps are so important and how to do them. Here is a brief overview of each step.