Synopses & Reviews
A brilliant new guide to living a happierlife (even if its not so perfect)Tal Ben-Shahar knows about the burden of perfection. As professor of the most popular course in Harvards history, he has seen the best and the brightest buckle under the pressures of perfectionism. In his provocative new book, he argues that people are unhappy because theyre caught in “The Myth of Perfection,” a dangerous trend fueling societys obsession with youth, beauty, money, success, and “having it all.” Ben-Shahar believes you need to be more realistic in your goals, and more accepting of yourself, to live a richer, fuller, happier life. The Pursuit of Perfect shows you how.
Filled with the same “Time-Ins,” meditations, and exercises that made his bestselling book Happier such an uplifting,interactive experience, this prescriptive guide uses practical strategies and positive psychology tohelp you get off the perfection treadmill, get in touch with your emotions, and happily get onwith your life.
Praise for Ben-Shahar and Happier
[Tal Ben-Shahar has] a rare brand of good sense that is embedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness.”
--Martin E. P. Seligman, authorof Authentic Happiness
“Ben-Shahar teaches that happiness isnt aselusive as people think.”
--Publishers Weekly
“One of the most popular teachers in Harvardsrecent history.”
--Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness andOn Becoming an Artist
Synopsis
DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO BE PERFECT?
We're all laboring under our own and society's expectations to be perfect in every way-to look younger, to make more money, to be happy all the time. But according to Tal Ben-Shahar, the New York Times bestselling author of Happier, the pursuit of perfect may actually be the number-one internal obstacle to finding happiness.
OR DO YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY? Applying cutting-edge research in the field of positive psychology-the scientific principles taught in his wildly popular course at Harvard University-Ben-Shahar takes us off the impossible pursuit of perfection and directs us to the way to happiness, richness, and true fulfillment. He shows us the freedom derived from not trying to do it all right all the time and the real lessons that failure and painful emotions can teach us.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE PERFECTLY HAPPY
In The Pursuit of Perfect, Tal Ben-Shahar offers an optimal way of thinking about failure and success--and the very way we live. He provides exercises for self reflection, meditations, and Time-Ins to help you rediscover what you really want out of life.
Praise for Tal Ben-Shahar's Happier:
This fine book shimmers with a rare brand of good sense that is embedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness. It is easy to see how this is the backbone of the most popular course at Harvard today.
-Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness
Synopsis
A Harvard professor argues that people are unhappy because they're caught in the Myth of Perfection--a dangerous trend fueling society's obsession with having it all. Ben-Shahar believes people need to be more realistic in their goals, and "The Pursuit of Perfect" shows them how.
About the Author
Tal Ben-Shahar,Ph.D., has receivedworldwideattention forhis now-famous Harvard course in“Positive Psychology,” the mostpopular class in the universitys history.He consults and lectures onsubjects including happiness, self-esteem,mindfulness, and leadershipto executives in multi-national corporations,the general public, andat-risk populations. He obtained hisPh.D. in organizational behavior andB.A. in philosophy and psychologyfrom Harvard University.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Perfect Trap
Chapter 1: Benevolent Jealousy
Chapter 2: The Upside of Anxiety
Chapter 3: Ordinary Expectations
Chapter 4: Dont Just Get Over It
Chapter 5: Understanding the Unknowable
Chapter 6: Succeeding at Failing
Chapter 7: Permission to Feel
Chapter 8: The Law of Identity
Chapter 9: The Platinum Rule
Conclusion