In the “Four Tendencies” personality framework, tech legend Steve Jobs was a Questioner. At a crucial moment, his question was ignored—with profound consequences. 

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We discuss how we’re doing on some items from our “25 for ’25 lists,” and how book writing is going for both of us. Plus we talk about the joys of reading commercial fiction from the 1980s.

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• Sign up for the 30-day summer reading challenge at gretchenrubin.com
• For the Love with Jen Hatmaker

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Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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We discuss why it’s useful to identify the "ugliest thing" in your life—i.e., what aspect needs the most attention? We also share an easy hack about enhancing family memories, and we explore a Four-Tendencies situation involving a young-adult son's surprising reaction to his father's lateness. We wrap up with listener suggestions for creative before-and-after photo books.

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• Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• After Hours with Jamie Rubin podcast
• The Four Tendencies 
• Take The "Four Tendencies" Quiz
• Download the Happier app
• Elizabeth is reading: Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas (Amazon, Bookshop) 
• Gretchen is reading: Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles (Amazon, Bookshop)

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Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

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With time and experience, we learn “Secrets of Adulthood,” and parenthood teaches us many of those lessons.

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• "Secrets of Adulthood" 

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In a recent Secrets of Adulthood Substack Live conversation, I talked to the terrific Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action (the nation’s largest grassroots group fighting gun violence. We discuss insights from her latest book and how we've arrived at several of our own Secrets of Adulthood, including why it’s important to ask yourself whether your life goals are your own or someone else's, the cost of indecision, and when to double-back or double-down.

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• Subscribe to Secrets of Adulthood on Substack
• Playing with Fire by Shannon Watts on Substack

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Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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We share a treasure trove of creative, easy parenting hacks from our listeners, as well as a happiness hack about creating a "prep station" bin to stay organized for trips and special events. In our "Know Yourself Better" segment, we explore how the desire to manage our own worry can lead us to burden or try to control others. Plus, we share some ideas related to reading.

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• Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• Subscribe to Secrets of Adulthood on Substack
• Subscribe to Happier in Hollywood on Substack
• Check out the Libby app
• Elizabeth is reading: Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas (Amazon, Bookshop) 
• Gretchen is reading: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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The familiar proverb “It’s not a bug, it’s a feature” is a reminder that one person may seek out a product, an experience, or a situation for the very reason that someone else avoids it.

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Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

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We talk about why it can helpful to trust our interests and inclinations about what to read, watch, or listen to, without imposing a lot of judgment on our choices.

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• Elizabeth's treadmill desk

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In this Very Special Episode, we share dozens of ideas from listeners—and ourselves—about how to add an element of whimsy to everyday life, without needing to spend much time, energy, or money.  

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• Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
• My article: Why Whimsy Is Having a Moment
• Elizabeth's newsletter: Happier in Hollywood
• Gretchen's book Happier at Home
• Bookshop.org
• Join other readers in person at an in-store event! For a list, head to happiercast.com/read25day

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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New Yorker magazine covers capture something both true and elusive about the city, by distilling New York in single images, so that the place feels simultaneously familiar and out of reach.

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Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

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