Happier with Gretchen Rubin

We talk about why you should treat yourself like a grandchild (or a toddler, puppy, professor, or factory), and we share a helpful tip if you’re trying to do certain things every day. Plus we discuss a listener’s question about meeting inner and outer expectations as an Upholder. 

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My Four Tendencies personality framework

Take the "Four Tendencies" quiz

Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle

Graduation Gift Guide

Simon Haisells "slow reads"

My book Secrets of Adulthood makes for a great graduation gift 

Elizabeth: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Gretchen: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

A surprising formula to create a compelling title provides the name for a card deck of creative inspiration.

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If you’d like to look at the Muse Machine, and maybe even buy one for yourself, you can check it out here.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

As a part of the “Move 26” challenge, podcaster (“The Secret Life of Books”) and professor Sophie Gee joins for a literary walk. We explore the Metropolitan Museum together and look for items related to the iconic children's novel “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.”

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Secret Life of Books podcast, hosted by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole


From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg (Amazon, Bookshop) 


Join the "Move 26" challenge in the Happier app

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

We’re revisiting a listener-favorite episode from 2015, recorded as we cleared out Elizabeth’s closet. It's a hilarious discussion of many clutter-clearing ideas you can use right away.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Check out the Organization Hub on my website dedicated to my favorite tips, hacks, and advice for getting organized

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

We explore how asking paired questions can lead to more open, engaging conversations. We also discuss the “end-of-history illusion”; we keep changing more than we expect. Plus we share a simple hack for using photos to reduce worry.

Resources & links related to this episode:


Michael Melcher Writes Substack newsletter


The House by the Sea by May Sarton (Amazon, Bookshop) 


Sign up for the "5 Things Making Me Happy" newsletter 

Elizabeth: Liars by Sarah Manguso (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Gretchen: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: [email protected]

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.