Overview

A ground-breaking and honest examination of the recent rise in perfectionism, which asks how we got here, how we can embrace imperfection and, ultimately, how as a society we might get out. 'This book will transform how you think about success' Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, creators of High Performance Today, burnout and depression are at record levels, driven by a combination of intense workplace competition, the comparative world of social media, the quest for elite credentials, and helicopter parenting. Society continually broadcasts the need to want more, and that we have to be perfect to get it. Why is this a trap, and how can we escape it? Gathering a wide range of contemporary evidence, acclaimed professor at the London School of Economics Thomas Curran calls for both a mindset shift and broader, societal change. He explores the paradoxical effects of perfectionism on everything from performance to social and financial inequality, and shows what we can do as individuals to resist the modern-day pressure to be perfect - and how we can create a culture that celebrates the joys of imperfection.

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9781847943866

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Reviews

"A powerful, poignant book on the impossibly high expectations that stand in the way of happiness, health, and success. Thomas Curran is the world's leading expert on perfectionism, and he's written the definitive book on why it's rising, how it wreaks havoc on our lives, and what we can do to stop it. If you've ever found yourself fearing failure, ruminating about mistakes, or just feeling that you aren't good enough, this is a must read. -- Adam Grant, bestselling author of THINK AGAIN Even if you don't think of yourself as a perfectionist, this remarkable book will illuminate some insidious effects of perfectionism in your life, as well as in society writ large. Fortunately, Thomas Curran offers a way out, a way to increase our fulfillment and joy by learning how to embrace the power of ""good enough"". Research-based, wise, and practical,?The Perfection Trap is a must-read -- Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School and author of RIGHT KIND OF WRONG Packed with vivid and thought-provoking case studies, this book will transform how you think about success. It reveals how perfectionism has come to plague all our lives - and what we should do in response. It is a must-read for anyone interested in living meaningfully and achieving lasting happiness -- Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, creators of HIGH PERFORMANCE A beautiful, reflective and rigorous exploration of the causes and consequences of perfectionism. Curran doesn't shy away from analyzing either the psycho-spiritual, or the political, cultural and economic, sources of this malaise, yielding a fascinating and panoramic analysis of perfectionism in modern capitalist societies -- Grace Blakeley, author of STOLEN In this timely and bracing book, Thomas Curran has revealed a danger that often masquerades as a virtue: our desire to be perfect. He shows that perfectionism corrodes our well-being rather than improves our performance-that it is the very opposite of resilience, flow, and genuine excellence. The Perfection Trap offers a hopeful beacon and a steady path for anyone struggling to find their footing in a world of impossible standards -- Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of DRIVE and THE POWER OF REGRET"

Author Information

Thomas Curran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics. Perfectionism is his primary area of expertise. He has written for the Harvard Business Review, and his work has been covered by publications including the Guardian, Telegraph, and Ariana Huffington's 'Thrive Global' campaign. In 2018, he gave a TEDMED talk entitled 'Our Dangerous Obsession with Perfectionism is Getting Worse'.

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