Better Than Before
by Gretchen Rubin
Rubin's habit book organizes strategies by personality: the four tendencies (how you respond to expectations), plus distinctions like abstainer versus moderator and lark versus owl. The strategies, monitoring, scheduling, accountability, pairing, are standard; the insight is that different ones work for different people, and she helps you figure out which.
Read it if…
generic habit advice has failed you and you suspect it was built for someone else.
Skip it if…
you want the science; this is self-knowledge and practical experiment.
Three things you will actually use
- Know your tendency before choosing a strategy.
- Abstainers quit cold; moderators ration; pick your type.
- Schedule the habit; it is the single most reliable tactic.
Do this first
Decide whether you are an abstainer or a moderator with your biggest temptation, and act accordingly for a week.
Our verdict
Useful for self-tailoring; the four tendencies alone justify it.
Compare with other Habits books
Discipline Equals Freedom
Jocko Willink · Habits
Blunt and effective for the right reader.
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