Want to be mediocre and be happy about it?

Then this book is for you. And I'm not saying that in a cynical way, but factually, this is a book sized pitch for mediocrity and how to be okay with it. Kind of like the western version of zen, or "if you can't have what you like, start liking what you have". If that's your goal (and honestly, it is not a bad goal, just isn't what I want), read this book. It'll give you useful strategies for achieving peace of mind and enjoying a life without striving for extremes and being happy with with what you can get without getting out of your comfort zone.

Having listened to this book right after "Elon Musk" by Ashlee Vance (a GREAT book) the contrast between the two philosophies couldn't be greater. Should Elon have read this book and took it to heart early in his career, we wouldn't have PayPal, Tesla and Space-X, but there would be a happy camper insignificant Elon Musk working on some minor project that he could do without "unreasonable" expectations and being such a controversial perfectionist shooting for the moon (quite literally) and refusing to give up no matter what, and refusing to settle for less no matter what. That's exactly what the book argues AGAINST. He even quotes psychology experiments that "prove" that aiming lower results in better performance (note: obviously, the selection of participants for the experiment must have skewed the result - if you design an experiment about "achievement" and only include average people, i.e. non-achievers like 99.99% of the population, then your experiment just proves that average people feel uncomfortable and perform less if they are stressed because of high expectations - the very stress that brings out the best in high achievers).

So, according to the author, the recipe for happiness is to aim for less to prevent disappointment. Really? Musk, Jobs, Bezos, Zuckerberg and many others would probably disagree. The BIG point the author misses: while MOST people don't believe that they are destined to or capable of or even need to achieve anything extraordinary (99.99% of the people are happy if they are healthy, have a happy family, no financial stress and an OK job - but you have to admit that that's really not much to aim for as one's "goals in life"), his approach, while safe for the masses, is a huge turnoff and NOT true for anyone trying to achieve BIG things.

If enough potential high achievers read this book, we can go back to hunting and gathering and be perfectly happy about it. Ironically, most of the things that made it possible for the author to create, and for me to read this book (the internet, online payments, audio books, my iPhone I used to listen to it, Amazon.com, etc.) wouldn't even exist if the creators of those breakthrough tools would have decided to suppress their urges to accomplishing great (always looking "unreasonable" at the time) revolutionary advancements in technology in favor of their "peace and happiness". Yet, that's what the author recommends for you and I to do.

I will admit that I AM a perfectionist and got this book because I thought it would give me strategies for getting the great results I want by being less of a perfectionist, but I got none of that from the book - instead, it tried to convince me to settle for less. No thanks.

On the other hand, if you actually are the kind of person who would trade achievements for comfort, if you don't mind not doing anything really significant with your life and you want to feel OK about it, this book will do a great job making you feel OK.

The narrator is great.

p.s. I corrected and improved this review about 30 times because I'm a perfectionist :-). If it was useful to you because it's well written, then that proves this book wrong :-)

20 people found this helpful

Please read 8,100,352 times

Where does How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most life-changing books I have ever read and listened to and read and listened to. I'm guessing it would impact anyone's life in a very positive manner, if taken to heart. Guise takes aim at perfectionism in an honest, engaging way and the wonderful advice is easily applied. Guise has a lot of down-home clarity and he impresses me with his humility and transparency regarding his own struggles with perfectionism. I highly recommend it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism?

The discussion of analog vs. binary ways of evaluating our efforts was particularly helpful.

What about Daniel Penz’s performance did you like?

I found it hard to believe he is not Stephen Guise! Often when listening to recordings of books, I think the narrator is not understanding what he is reading; Penz reads it like he wrote it! He has a great voice and manner of speaking.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both - it was funny and made me laugh at the author and my own foolishness, but I also felt sad as I realized that I had created so much suffering for myself and others with my perfectionism, and that I had so little appreciated my own efforts, just because they were imperfect.

Any additional comments?

A must read for a healthy, productive life.

19 people found this helpful

No, no, no...

This may be a wonderful book that will be helpful to many people in overcoming perfectionistic traits. I don't know, because I had to bail on it after only 20 minutes of listening. Within this time, the author suggests that anorexia nervosa is the result of a person's desire to attain the "perfect weight." This is utter nonsense. It is a complex psychological condition, the exact causes of which are unknown, and with a likely predisposing genetic factor. For anyone to make the claim that they have done "research" to support their theories, and then propound this kind of nonsense, strikes me as someone who has taken tolerance for "imperfection" to an unacceptable level. Gah!

I wonder if the author supposes that no one with this condition will read his book? Has he considered the possibility that he might actually be doing harm to that person? People with mental illnesses are vulnerable, and their welfare should be taken into consideration by anyone discussing mental illness in any context. There is a difference between being particular about certain things and being "OCD." There is a difference between feeling nervous about entering new situations and having "social anxiety." Not everyone who is nerdy is "on the spectrum." I do wish we, as a society and as individuals, would exhibit more sensitivity in the ways we discuss mental illnesses, and avoid such casual references to things that very real people struggle with in very real ways.

16 people found this helpful

THANK YOU FOR THIS BOOK.

Honestly, I started listening to this on audible and just could not seem to “put it down” or pause it. During all my trips from and to work and other places I listened to this book in the car and every time it spoke to me SO much I struggled with this idea of perfectionism for such a long time, I couldn’t quite describe it or explain it to people what was going on in my head I just KNEW that I was feeling like a complete failure, I had been inactive and stagnant after losing 40+ lbs and gaining it all back within like 8 months, striving to do everything perfectly exercise at 7am, run 30 min do 2 sets of abs anything short of that was a bad workout, this mindset led me to binge eating, I put extremely unrealistic and high expectations on myself and OTHERS in my life, it was ruining relationships, it was mentally draining, I didn’t know what was going on WHY I couldn’t just get it together and act like a normal person. The weight gain only increased my self hate and guilt, I had stopped doing things I enjoyed doing like hanging out in groups because I thought everyone was judging me in their heads. It was honestly just a dark and ugly place I downloaded this book from audible on my phone and I kid you not the first chapter had me hooked, Stephen explained one step at a time EXACTLY what was going on with me I could finally express myself to people and say I had been trying to be a perfectionist and I forgot my identity and humanity. I apologized to people, I started “rebellions” against my needs for approval and I FELT FREEDOM again after a lonnnng time!!! Thank you for this book. This is my first book by Stephen but I have already downloaded Mini Habits. Can’t wait. Life changing.

11 people found this helpful

Very Disappointed

Author literally spent the first 3 chapters hawking his other products. I’m not easily offended but this sent me over the edge.

10 people found this helpful

Awful narration makes a decent book worse

I wasn’t sure what was worse: the awful narrator that reminded me of a sleazy salesman who used finger guns to make himself seem more likable or the frequent attempts at lame humor spread throughout the book or just the awful advice that sometimes makes you question how much you should take the rest of what he’s saying seriously. For example, he says that in order to stop anxiety, stop being anxious! Really? He also seems to like to brag about how his book is a best seller and is being translated into many languages. His insecurities really come out throughout the book, and it’s off-putting.

10 people found this helpful

Just Not Right

The narrator or the book make it really hard to follow. Is he reading a subtitle or what? The author kept mentioning avoidance is how perfectionists deal with things and they watch a ton of TV to escape how they are?? I've never heard of such an odd way to look at it and it is not how I am at all. I am a workaholic with my own business and cannot relax because I'm always trying to be perfect! I hate watching TV! I strive to please everyone and I'm fine listening about my flaws so I can change and be my best, but after 2 hours, I couldn't relate or take it anymore, between the author and the narrator, I'm glad this was one of my free starting audiobooks.

7 people found this helpful

Disappointing

What was most disappointing about Stephen Guise’s story?

The author uses the same few examples over and over. Unfortunately, these examples were limited in scope as I believe all or at least the great majority were only based on one person (the author himself). While absolutely valid examples, I was looking for a wider range that would be more applicable.

How could the performance have been better?

The author slips into a condescending/shaming voice when referring to his past perfectionistic perspective. I found this quite sad and discouraging. It made me feel sad that he seemed to be shaming his "past self" rather than having empathy for himself as he looked back on his own story.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Sadness & Disappointment

Any additional comments?

The author seems as though he may have more to offer, as he continues through his own journey.

6 people found this helpful

Superb - This book identified my source issue

The narrator is great.
The book content spot on in the source of anxiety and depression, forgiveness...

Will see. I just read it, but this book might have saved my life.

4 people found this helpful

Misleading Title

i thought the title was misleading. talked mostly about women's shame issues instead of perfectionism.

3 people found this helpful