Better Than Before

Not quite as good as her first book, but well worth the read. I probably should have gotten the abridged version, because as usual I got tired of the anecdotes.

I find her types interesting - there are upholders, obligers, questioners, and rebels. Apparently most people are questioners or obligers (I think - I may be wrong about the obligers). (I'm a questioner, so for once in my life I'm not weird.) Then she classifies people in additional ways, like abstainers or moderators and so on. In fact, there seems to be some sort of classification or label in nearly every chapter!

Anyway, the information in the book is useful, and I am already using it in analyzing my own habits and improving them. Rubin's reading voice is fairly pleasant (I listened to the Audible version), so I don't hesitate to recommend the book.

Solid Stories and Fun Insights

Rubin does a great job of turning anecdotes and observations into tangible, actionable strategies for habit formation. Very easy to read (though, at times, a bit overwhelmed by her own tendencies), she casts habits and behavior in many different lights, with personal insights that build empathy (mostly) and give you a sense of how you TOO can make positive changes. Short chapters, easy style and a solid list of additional resources makes it a solid choice.

An avid listener of Gretchen Rubin's podcast Happier, and a Gretchen Rubin fan in general , I figured I would pick up this book on habit formation (as an audiobook) as a way to set off the new year. While I found a lot of the information redundant (she's shared most of this info on her podcast), I still really enjoyed the listen and picked up a few useful tidbits. At the very least, I feel inspired to pick out some habits I want to develop, change, and keep - and feel that I now have the knowledge and passion to develop, change, and keep them. Would especially recommend this to anyone who has not listened to her podcast, as I really do think there is a wealth of useful information here.

BLUF: Great book, I highly recommend this to those who want to learn about habits and/or their own (and spouse's) habit tendencies. 4.5 stars.

This book covers everything you want to know about habits, including the importance of monitoring, the problems with rewards, and (of course) how to make habits work for you.
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“From what I've observed, our Tendencies are hard wired, and while they can be offset to some degree, they can't be changed.” “Yet whatever our Tendency, with greater experience and wisdom, we can learn to counterbalance its negative aspects.”

I read this book when it first came out whenever that was; 10 years ago? I enjoyed it then. The most original part was her 4 tendencies profile tool that defines people by whether their expectations of themselves is external (ie. in other people's “should”) or internal. I think this book is primarily targeted at beginners to habit change with external expectations (I call this “projected authority”). Rubin wants to save the world from themselves and she knows how. I found her I know better than you attitude a bit tiring. I originally rated this as a 4 but I'm dropping it to a 3.

I have listened to Gretchen's podcast and love the banter between Gretchen and Elizabeth. I sorta figured that I would already have this content in my head, but no. Gretchen creates a narrative arc with compelling stories and lots of categories and ideas that really making thinking about habits differently.

Love to be walking away with new ideas.