In "Better Than Before," Gretchen Rubin explores the intricacies of habit formation, revealing how understanding our unique tendencies can transform our lives. Through a blend of personal anecdotes and scientific research, she unveils a framework that helps individuals craft enduring habits tailored to their personalities. Rubin identifies four distinct types of people—Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels—each with their own strengths and challenges in establishing new routines. With actionable strategies and thought-provoking insights, the book serves as both a practical guide and an inspiring invitation to embrace change. Can you unlock the secrets to becoming your best self?
By Gretchen Rubin
Published: 2015
"People tend to think that they must change in order to get happier, but they may actually be happier if they change the way they think."
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Happiness Project and “a force for real change” (Brené Brown) examines how changing our habits can change our lives. “If anyone can help us stop procrastinating, start exercising, or get organized, it’s Gretchen Rubin. The happiness guru takes a sledgehammer to old-fashioned notions about change.”—Parade Most of us have a habit we’d like to change, and there’s no shortage of expert advice. But as we all know from tough experience, no magic, one-size-fits-all solution exists. It takes work to make a habit, but once that habit is set, we can harness the energy of habits to build happier, stronger, more productive lives. In Better Than Before, acclaimed writer Gretchen Rubin identifies every approach that actually works. She presents a practical, concrete framework to allow readers to understand their habits—and to change them for good. Infused with Rubin’s compelling voice, rigorous research, and easy humor, and packed with vivid stories of lives transformed, Better Than Before explains the (sometimes counterintuitive) core principles of habit formation and answers the most perplexing questions about habits: • Why do we find it tough to create a habit for something we love to do? • How can we keep our healthy habits when we’re surrounded by temptations? • How can we help someone else change a habit? Rubin reveals the true secret to habit change: first, we must know ourselves. When we shape our habits to suit ourselves, we can find success—even if we’ve failed before. Whether you want to eat more healthfully, stop checking devices, or finish a project, the invaluable ideas in Better Than Before will start you working on your own habits—even before you’ve finished the book.
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“People tend to think that they must change in order to get happier, but they may actually be happier if they change the way they think.”
Better Than Before
By Gretchen Rubin
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Gretchen Rubin is a bestselling author and speaker renowned for her insights on happiness and human behavior. Her most famous work, "The Happiness Project," chronicles her year-long quest to test happiness theories through concrete changes in her daily life. Rubin hosts the popular podcast "Happier," where she shares practical advice and personal stories alongside her sister, Elizabeth Craft. With a background in law and literature, she blends research and personal anecdotes to engage readers in meaningful self-improvement. Gretchen continues to explore the themes of habits, happiness, and well-being in her writing and public speaking engagements.
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