How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism

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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.

14 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.

5 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.

2 people found this helpful

This book has transformed my life.

One of the best self help books ever. I've read so many, but this has had a stronger impact and the habits in this book have been way more do able. The book is easy to understand and will really take you out of your comfort zone.
It truly is a paradigm shift!

1 person found this helpful

Life changing!

A great pragmatic guide to overcoming perfectionism. I struggle with it as well and this book has been highly encouraging and illuminating. Thank you for the great work! must listen.

1 person found this helpful

Amazing!

This is an amazing book! The author pointed out the flaws that I make in my thinking process. He suggested very simple, easy to accomplish solutions. For example, I did a 10 minute yoga exercise this morning at home. Because I didn't have time to do the full 60 minute session. I'd skip it all together and feel guilty about it before listening to the book. I also didn't realize how much energy is needed for thinking process. "If it takes 1 or 2 minutes to do something, don't even think whether you should do it. Just do it!" :)

The narrator Daniel Penz did a great job! I'll look for books that were narrated by him. That's a first for me! :)

Ashley

1 person found this helpful

Life changing

This author has changed my life twice now. First with his first book Mini Habits and second with this one. Just buy it

1 person 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.

3 people found this helpful

Not particularly impressive, but still useful.

This is one of those books that didn't quite leave an impression on me, though that's probably because I had high expectations for it in the first place. I think I'll have to give this another listen to be able to implement the author's suggestions fully and really get a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Some of the suggestions in the book were a bit extreme and somewhat absurd (such as lying down in public just to put yourself out there), though some were quite concrete and were nicely summarized in the final chapter of the book.

1 person found this helpful

Life Changing

This book will lift a weight off your shoulders if your are anything like me someone who wants to be good but does not always succeed. This book will tell you how to be a success step by step or mini habit by mini habit. Stephen’s examples are simple but easy to relate to and do illustrate how to implement the various strategies. I highly recommend this book as it is informative and entertaining and very enjoyable.

1 person found this helpful