The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough

Summary

In the bestselling tradition of Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection, this illuminating book by an acclaimed professor at the London School of Economics explores how the pursuit of perfection can become a dangerous obsession that leads to burnout and depression—keeping us from achieving our goals.

Today, burnout and depression are at record levels, driven by a combination of intense workplace competition, constant social media compelling us to compare ourselves to others, the quest for elite credentials, and helicopter parenting. Society continually broadcasts the need to want more, and to be perfect. Here, in The Perfection Trap, author Thomas Curran tells us to stop chasing perfection and instead, encourages us to embrace “good enough.”

Gathering a wide range of contemporary evidence, Curran calls for both a mindset shift and broader, societal change. His three main principles to live by are:

1. let things go (prioritize what’s important)
2. meet the world where it is (accept disappointment and calmly pivot in a new direction)
3. strive for “purpose” instead of “more” (commit to causes beyond yourself that have bigger meaning)

Curran explores the paradoxical effects of perfectionism on performance and shows how perfectionism contributes to social problems and even psychological pain. He shows what we can do as individuals to resist the modern-day pressure to be perfect—and how we can create a culture that celebrates the joys of imperfection.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the soul-crushing need to compete for more or to be the best, The Perfection Trap is for you. Now you can find enlightenment, purpose, and joy by letting go and focusing on what matters most to you—regardless of whether it meets someone else’s definition of perfect.