Horizon Information Portal

e-branch

Home

My Account/Renew Loans

Find Magazine Articles & more

The perfection trap : embracing the power of good enough / Thomas Curran.

by Curran, Thomas, 1987-

View full image

Scribner, 2023.

Perfectionism (Personality trait)

Self-acceptance.

9781982149536 (hc.)

vii, 279 p. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 241-266) and index.

"Thomas Curran, an associate professor of psychology at the London School of Economics, debuts with a clear-eyed look at how perfectionism and its capitalistic “obsession with boundless growth” has contributed to mass discontent and insecurity. He outlines different types of perfectionism, including self-oriented (perfectionism directed from within), socially prescribed (perfectionism directed from external sources), and other-oriented (the notion that other people must be perfect). Overcoming perfectionism isn’t simple, Curran acknowledges, advising readers to begin by recognizing it as a problem and “making a wholehearted commitment to acceptance of who we are and where we’re at in life,” even if “such acceptance may never be fully realized.” His tips for reaching toward acceptance include making a list of “what perfect looks like to you,” choosing to challenge that notion in some way (such as by striking up an impromptu conversation with a stranger, risking embarrassment), and learning that anxiety will pass. Curran adds that despite the perfectionistic urge to “sacrifice ourselves at the altar of our jobs,” research reveals that “employees who give themselves work-life balance are far more productive.” Ultimately, he advises readers to “trust... that you can be happy when things are good enough.” Supported by scholarly research and down-to-earth personal anecdotes, Curran's explication is smart, thorough, and reassuring. The burned-out will find solace here."--Publishers Weekly.

Thomas Curran is a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics and author of a landmark study that the BBC hailed as “the first to compare perfectionism across generations.” His TED talk on perfectionism has received more than three million views. His research has been featured in media ranging from the Harvard Business Review to New Scientist to CNN and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs.

Horizon Information Portal 3.24_8902M

© 2001-2013 SirsiDynix All rights reserved.

Horizon Information Portal