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Quitting

A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance—and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free

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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Want to quit? Good. Learn to shape your life without fear—at work, at home, in relationships, and beyond.  

“Compelling,” (Cal Newport) “Liberating,” (Amy Dickinson) and “as entertaining as it is important” (Steven Levitt). 

Simone Biles quit the Olympics. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit The Firm. Millions of people have quit their jobs, seeking happiness and defining success on their own terms. Is it a mistake? As Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Julia Keller found out, it’s not. And, in fact, it might even save your life.

Diving into ‘the neuroscience of nope’ and the cultural messages that drive our reluctance to throw in the towel, Keller dismantles the myth of perseverance once and for all. Because grit isn't always great. Sticking it out doesn't always pay off. And quitting can be an unexpected act of self-love.

Quitting: A Life Strategy reminds us that, in order to live meaningful, satisfying lives, we have to be able to say “no”—full stop. With Keller’s guidance, readers will learn: 

  • The art of the quasi quit.
  • How quitting makes space for key breakthroughs.
  • Why bootstrapping is a lie.  
  • How to manage guilt and shame.

  • Weaving cutting-edge scientific research with incisive pop culture commentary and conversations with people who have made profound change in their own lives, Keller gives readers the confidence they need to pull the plug. 

    "If you’re thinking about quitting a job or leaving a marriage, don’t—at least not until you have read this book.” ―Joseph T. Hallinan, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of Why We Make Mistakes

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      • Booklist

        February 15, 2023
        Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of the Bell Elkins mystery series, Keller argues that quitting is often a smart strategy. Take, for example, the seed-eating finches of the Galapagos Islands. When they encounter seeds that are too difficult to extract, do they persevere, displaying grit and determination to get the seeds, no matter the effort? They do not. In the game of survival, it can be advantageous to move on. Human brains and bodies are similarly designed to tell us when it's time to let go, but this instinct is often overpowered by cultural messages like, "quitters never win, winners never quit." Keller pushes back on the cult of grit, drawing on scientific research, personal experience, and popular narratives, like the iconic moment in the film Office Space when Jennifer Aniston flips off her manager and walks out of a soul-crushing job. Captain Ahab, on the other hand, is a tragic figure precisely because of his inability to give up. Keller includes exercises, called permission slips, to help readers with their own strategic quitting, making this book practical and enlightening.

        COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

      • Library Journal

        April 1, 2023

        This manifesto on how, when, and why to quit things that are not leading to personal fulfilment opens with a simple yet poignant proclamation: "Quitting is an act of love." With this, Pulitzer Prize--winning journalist Keller explains why quitting is imbued with such negativity and how we can begin to see it as not just positive but necessary for self-preservation. Bolstering her approach with thorough citations, Keller uses mostly anecdotes to tell stories of people who have been tempted to stick to a plan or stand by a decision even when they feel they shouldn't. A dysfunctional marriage? A half-hearted half-marathon attempt? A dead-end job? Keller's research supports the idea that it's acceptable for people to step off their current path. Each chapter offers a permission slip suggesting ways to quit with dignity. She ends with a hopeful message of forgiveness: We should view quitting as a resource on our way to happiness, and we should be gentle on ourselves when we don't see things through. VERDICT Helpful for those who grapple with the idea that they must finish what they start, Keller's book will resonate with anyone who has questioned their path or their commitment.--Erin Dagenais

        Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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