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Gretchen Rubin

Goodreads Author

Born

Kansas City, Missouri, The United States

Website

http://www.gretchenrubin.com

Twitter

gretchenrubin

Genre

Nonfiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Health, Mind & Body

Member Since

July 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/gretchen_rubin

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NEW AUDIBLE ORIGINAL AUDIOBOOK

In "Get It Done: How to Complete Your Dream Project," bestselling author Gretchen Rubin brings her signature approach to help you finally complete your dream project.

Drawing on her decades of knowledge of how people successfully change behavior, Rubin offers tools to help you break down any big project, stay focused, and keep moving forward. LISTEN ON AUDIBLE

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AUTHOR BIO

Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature.

She’s the author of many New York Times bestselling books, such as The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies, Life in Five Senses, and Secrets of Adulthood, which have sold millions of copies in more than thi ...more

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Gretchen Rubin’s books

Average rating: 3.68 · 301,781 ratings · 28,527 reviews · 46 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Happiness Project 3.65 avg rating — 181,612 ratings — published 2009	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives 3.82 avg rating — 42,575 ratings — published 2015 — 63 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better 3.83 avg rating — 23,889 ratings — published 2017 — 34 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin (Goodreads Author), Käthe Mazur (narrator) 3.55 avg rating — 20,299 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness 3.55 avg rating — 17,698 ratings — published 2019 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World 3.71 avg rating — 8,396 ratings — published 2023 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives 3.33 avg rating — 3,616 ratings — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill: A Brief Account of a Long Life 3.78 avg rating — 1,183 ratings — published 2003 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Happiness Project 2012 Calendar 3.64 avg rating — 678 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Best of the Happiness Project Blog: Ten Years of Happiness, Good Habits, and More 3.96 avg rating — 370 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Gretchen Rubin's Blog

How to Do a No-Spend Month (and What I Learned)

An earlier version of this article appeared on March 26, 2024

This year, for our “24 for 24” lists, my sister Elizabeth and I decided to observe a “No-Spend February.” A no-spend month means committing to buying only essential items for 30 days—no discretionary purchases. So, for the month of February, we didn’t buy anything unnecessary.

Why do a no-spend month?

A brief peri

Series by Gretchen Rubin

Better Than Before (1 book)
by

Gretchen Rubin (Goodreads Author)

3.82 avg rating — 42,770 ratings

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." -Jim Rohn Ah, January! The time of optimistic promises,...

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Gretchen’s Recent Updates

Gretchen Rubin finished reading Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13 hours, 59 min ago · 4 likes · like
Gretchen Rubin has read Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:24PM · 6 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gretchen Rubin has read American Gods: Tenth Anniversary (American Gods, #1) by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:24PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — American Gods by Neil Gaiman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gretchen Rubin has read A Murder Is Announced (Miss Marple, #4) by Agatha Christie	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:24PM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gretchen Rubin has read Good-Bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:23PM · 2 likes · like
Gretchen Rubin has read Christmas in Austin by Benjamin Markovits	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:23PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Christmas in Austin by Benjamin Markovits. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Christmas in Austin by Benjamin Markovits <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gretchen Rubin has read Random Harvest by James Hilton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:20PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Random Harvest by James Hilton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Random Harvest by James Hilton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gretchen Rubin has read Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 02, 2026 12:20PM · like
Gretchen Rubin has read Posession : A Romance by A.S. Byatt	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 20, 2026 09:01AM · 18 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Posession by A.S. Byatt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Posession by A.S. Byatt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Gretchen Rubin has read The Rim of Morning: Two Tales of Cosmic Horror by William Sloane	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 20, 2026 09:01AM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rim of Morning by William Sloane. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rim of Morning by William Sloane <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Gretchen Rubin (?)

“The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.”
― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

tags: feelings, giving, happiness, selfishness, selflessness

714 likes

“The days are long, but the years are short.”
― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

468 likes

“Never start a sentence with the words 'No offense.”
― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

tags: hypocrisy, kindness, offensive, politeness, tact

251 likes

See all Gretchen Rubin's quotes »

Polls

This is the Non-Fiction Poll for the May Group Read

The Missing Ink: The Lost Art of Handwriting by Philip Hensher

3 votes, 50.0%

Slipstream by Elizabeth Jane Howard

1 vote, 16.7%

The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin

1 vote, 16.7%

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

1 vote, 16.7%

6 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: WINTER CHALLENGE 2009-2010 COMPLETED TASKS	3143	3266	Feb 28, 2010 09:02PM
College Students! : Goodreads Authors	11	167	Mar 04, 2010 05:31AM
The Next Best Boo...: Krys's 2010 Reading Goal	14	133	Sep 19, 2010 08:32AM
Chicks On Lit: Krys's 2010 Reading List	15	122	Sep 19, 2010 08:32AM
The Seasonal Read...: * READERBOARD	10	611	Oct 17, 2010 10:08AM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2010 Completed Tasks (do NOT delete any posts in this thread)	2785	1209	Nov 30, 2010 09:03PM

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Gretchen’s Quotes

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson, An Apology for Idlers

tags: happiness, inspiration

60 likes

Gretchen’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by Luisa

Aug 19, 2009 04:07AM

I love Flannery O'Connor's works. But then I like a variety of writers and different genres.

Good seeing a title I hadn't read.

Luisa

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