Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin - Habits & Self-Help Non Fiction - Paperback

Details:
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781444769012
Publisher: John Murray Press
Age Range: Adult

Overview

Better Than Before is Gretchen Rubin's practical, research-driven exploration of why we struggle to change our habits and how we can finally succeed. Rather than offering a single one-size-fits-all method, Rubin argues that habit change only works when tailored to our individual nature. Drawing on psychology, science and real-life stories, she introduces her famous Four Tendencies framework, helping readers understand how they respond to expectations and use that insight to build habits that stick, from healthier eating to better productivity.

About the Book

Most of us have a habit we would like to change, and there is no shortage of advice promising quick fixes. Yet, as Gretchen Rubin discovered through years of research, no single approach works for everyone. In Better Than Before, she answers questions that have puzzled habit-changers for generations: why is it hard to build a habit around something we enjoy? How do we protect healthy routines when temptation is everywhere? How can we help someone else break a habit holding them back?

Central to the book is Rubin's widely recognised theory of the Four Tendencies, dividing people into Upholders, Obligers, Questioners and Rebels, each responding differently to inner and outer expectations. A personality quiz helps readers identify their own tendency, giving them the self-knowledge needed to choose strategies that genuinely work rather than fighting their nature.

Combining rigorous research with engaging storytelling and Rubin's own habit-change experiments, this book goes beyond generic willpower advice. Whether the goal is eating more healthily, cutting down on phone use, exercising regularly or finishing a long-postponed project, Better Than Before equips readers with the insight to start changing their own habits, often before finishing the book.

• Introduces Rubin's popular Four Tendencies framework with a built-in personality quiz
• Offers practical, tailored strategies rather than generic one-size-fits-all advice
• Combines psychological research with relatable real-life anecdotes
• Covers everyday challenges: health, productivity, technology use and more
• Written in Rubin's accessible, engaging non-fiction style
• Ideal for readers of self-help, psychology and personal development

About the Author

Gretchen Rubin is one of today's most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. Born Gretchen Anne Craft in Kansas City, Missouri, she studied at Yale University, where she was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. She is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller The Happiness Project, as well as Happier at Home, The Four Tendencies and Outer Order, Inner Calm. Rubin also hosts the award-winning podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, exploring practical strategies for a happier, more habit-savvy life.

Why You'll Love This Book

Warm, witty and thoroughly researched, Better Than Before replaces guilt and generic advice with genuine self-understanding, making it a refreshing, motivating read for anyone ready to make positive, lasting change stick.

Please Note: Cover design may vary slightly from the image shown; this is the UK paperback edition with UK ISBN 9781444769012.