Author: Gretchen Rubin 

“Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives” by Gretchen Rubin is a comprehensive guide on how to form and maintain good habits. Here’s a detailed summary and some reviews:

Summary

Gretchen Rubin explores the science and psychology behind habit formation, offering practical strategies to help readers build better habits. The book is structured around several key concepts:

1. The Four Tendencies Framework: Rubin introduces a framework that categorizes people into four types based on how they respond to expectations:

• Upholders: Meet both inner and outer expectations.
• Questioners: Question all expectations and meet them only if they make sense.
• Obligers: Meet outer expectations but struggle with inner ones.
• Rebels: Resist all expectations, both inner and outer.

2. The Strategy of Monitoring: Keeping track of your behavior helps you understand and change it. Rubin emphasizes the importance of self-monitoring as a tool for habit formation.

3. The Strategy of Foundation: Focuses on building habits that serve as the foundation for other good habits, such as getting enough sleep, eating healthily, and exercising regularly.

4. The Strategy of Scheduling: Scheduling habits into your daily routine makes them more likely to stick. Rubin discusses the importance of creating a structured environment to support habit formation.

5. The Strategy of Accountability: Having someone to hold you accountable can significantly increase your chances of success. Rubin suggests finding accountability partners or groups.

6. The Strategy of Abstaining vs. Moderating: Understanding whether you are an abstainer (someone who finds it easier to give up something entirely) or a moderator (someone who can indulge occasionally without going overboard) can help you tailor your approach to habit formation.

7. The Strategy of Convenience: Making habits convenient and removing obstacles can make them easier to adopt. Rubin advises simplifying the process of starting a new habit.

8. The Strategy of Pairing: Pairing a habit you want to form with an activity you already enjoy can make the new habit more appealing.

Reviews

Goodreads: The book has a rating of 3.82 out of 5 from over 41,000 readers². Many readers appreciate Rubin’s practical advice and the personalized approach to habit formation. One reviewer mentioned that the Four Tendencies framework was particularly insightful and helped them understand their own behavior better.

Amazon: With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 from over 1,200 ratings³, the book is praised for its actionable strategies and relatable examples. Reviewers highlight Rubin’s engaging writing style and the usefulness of the various strategies she presents. One reviewer noted that the book helped them make lasting changes in their daily routines.

Sam Thomas Davies: The summary on Sam Thomas Davies’ website emphasizes the book’s focus on understanding oneself to create effective habits¹. The review highlights key takeaways such as the importance of self-monitoring and the role of accountability in habit formation.

Overall, “Better Than Before” is highly regarded for its practical and insightful approach to habit formation. It is recommended for anyone looking to understand their habits better and make positive changes in their lives.

Source:
(1) Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives – Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22889767-better-than-before.
(2) Summary: Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Ou…. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25410992-summary.
(3) Book Summary: Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin – Sam Thomas Davies. https://www.samuelthomasdavies.com/book-summaries/self-help/better-than-before/.
(4) Summary of Better Than Before: by Gretchen Rubin – Goodreads. https://goodreads.com/book/show/25341229-better-than-before.
(5) Better Than Before Summary | BookSummaryClub. https://booksummaryclub.com/better-than-before-summary/.