Me, But Better - by Olga Khazan (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Is it really possible to change your entire personality in a year? An award-winning journalist experiments with her own personality to find out--and reveals the science behind lasting change.

In recent years, Olga Khazan had been spiraling toward an existential crisis. Though she treasured her loving relationship and her dream job, her neurotic personality often left her snatching dissatisfaction from the jaws of happiness. While her overachieving had always been a professional asset, Olga lately felt like her brittle disposition could shatter under the weight of just one more thing--but could she really change her entire personality?

Research shows that you can alter your personality traits by behaving in ways that align with the kind of person you'd like to be--a process that can make you happier, healthier, and more successful. In Me, But Better, Olga embarks on an experiment to see whether it's possible to go from dwelling in dread to "radiating joy." For one year, Olga reluctantly clicked "yes" on a bucket list of new experiences--from meditation to improv to sailing--that forced her to at least act happy. With a skeptic's eye, Olga brings you on her journey through the science of personality, presenting evidence-backed techniques to help you change your mind for the better. Sharply witty and deeply fascinating, Me, But Better offers a probing inquiry into what it means to live a fulfilling life, and how you can keep diving into change, no matter how uncomfortable it feels.

Review Quotes

"It is a testament to Khazan's self-deprecating humor that [Me, But Better] is so entertaining... her message is hopeful and quietly radical."--Alice Robb, Bloomberg

"This book shatters the myth that personality is set in stone. Drawing on state-of-the-art evidence and rich personal experience, Olga Khazan artfully reveals what our traits really are--and how we can adapt them to achieve our goals."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

"Me, But Better is everything you want in a nonfiction book. It's funny, intelligent, thought-provoking, and mind-changing."--Derek Thompson, The Atlantic staff writer

"Me, But Better is a hugely readable, deeply researched and often hilarious investigation of the challenges involved in changing who we are. It is also an embodiment of its own ultimately uplifting message: reading it, I felt myself turning into someone more able to pursue more fulfilling ways to live."--Oliver Burkeman, bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks

"One of the most important questions we ask ourselves is, 'How do I change, if I want to change--if change is even possible?' Olga Khazan tackles this challenge for herself with a determination that's both comical and admirable. Hilarious, honest, and packed with cutting-edge research, this book got me turning the pages and making lists of things to try in my own life."--Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of Life in Five Senses and The Four Tendencies

"With journalistic rigor and come-sit-by-me warmth, Olga Khazan once again brilliantly weaves science and her own intrepid research to deliver actionable takeaways. Me, But Better, is a gift to anyone who's ever felt they could use more grace, perspective, or good cheer. Anyone who thinks they don't need this kind of advice probably needs it more."--Ada Calhoun, New York Times bestselling author of Why We Can't Sleep

About the Author

Olga Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic and the author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change. Her first book, Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World, came out in 2020. She has also written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is a two-time recipient of the International Reporting Project's Journalism Fellowship and winner of the 2017 National Headliner Awards for Magazine Online Writing.