Ep. 507: Happier Book Club: Elizabeth Strout Talks About Love & Secrets in “Tell Me Everything”

In honor of our tenth anniversary, we revisit a fan-favorite episode: The one where Elizabeth talks about giving a Ped Egg to her mother-in-law. Many listeners cited this segment as one of the all-time funniest discussions on the show. We also discuss Gretchen’s travel hack, the “Bowl of Requirement,” and our favorite wedding readings. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Collection of Wedding Readings Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Mars 36min

We explore a helpful approach for handling important tasks that can’t be dealt with at present, by stashing them in the metaphorical "messy closet" without guilt. Our happiness hack offers expert advice for managing social situations with difficult people. We also feature a special interview with legendary author Judy Blume about fostering a love of reading, her experiences with book banning, and insights from owning an indie bookstore. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Pre-order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Join me on book tour starting April 1, 2025 Take the Four Tendencies quiz Elizabeth is reading: Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretchen is reading: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Mars 31min

During my family’s trip to Normandy, reading the D-Day guide for soldiers gave me the “America feeling.” Its plain words, aimed at soldiers headed to France, captured my dream for America. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Mars 5min

We share what's making us happier: Survivor Fantasy League and teachers herding middle schoolers on the subway. We discuss whether reading is having a cultural moment (we think so) and explore the differences between club soda, sparkling water, and seltzer. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Take the Habits for Happiness quiz Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Mars 24min

We explore the powerful practice of distilling your hard-earned observations into concise "Secrets of Adulthood,” such as "Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination" and "The more I write, the more I write." We also talk about the simple pleasure of physical magazines, and we tackle a complex Four Tendencies question about supporting an Obliger mother-in-law whose helpfulness contributed to her health problems. Resources and links related to this episode: A Little Happier: The Power of Telling the Truth--What Nebraska's and Oslo's Tourists Know Pre-order my new book, Secrets of Adulthood Take the Next Novel quiz Take the Four Tendencies quiz Elizabeth is reading: Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretchen is reading: Give War and Peace a Chance: Tolstoyan Wisdom for Troubled Times by Andrew Kaufman (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Feb 31min

Three distinct childhood memories—from an art-carnival creator, a food writer, and a horror master—illuminate how the “luna parks” of our childhoods can live in our imaginations for our entire lives. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Feb 4min

For our 10th anniversary, we’re revisiting our very first episode of Happier. We discuss how the “one-minute rule” contributes to outer order and inner calm, the difference between a satisficer and a maximizer, and the one-coin loophole. Plus, for the first time, we give ourselves Demerits and Gold Stars. Resources & Links Related to this episode: One Minute Rule Are you a satisficer or a maximizer? Better than Before Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Feb 28min

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the podcast, we highlight our favorite ideas, hacks, and moments from the last decade. Everything from the “one-minute rule” to “clear the decks” to “give yourself a derby name” to Elizabeth’s famous recommendation of the Ped Egg. Resources and links related to this episode: Pre-order my new book, Secrets of Adulthood Better Than Before, my book about habit change Follow the one-minute rule Observe the family “update” Identify your signature anything: color, scent, personal symbol. Go to the doctor Celebrate minor holidays Start a side hustle “Identify your Happiness 911 song” Give yourself a “derby name” Create a five-senses portrait Organize trinkets Outer Order, Inner Calm book Packing cubes Share a podcast episode Closet-clearing montage Cleaning Elizabeth's office Hacks for reading more Hacks for making entertaining easier and more fun Hacks for performance Thank-you note debate Happiness lessons from teachers in episodes 324 and 326 Object sacrificing itself “Unplugged Episode” Clear the Decks Sweep the Decks Deck the Halls Voice memos from England Ped Egg “Have you ever been upset by a well-intentioned gift?” Happier in Hollywood podcast We made merchandise! Buy your merch! 10th Anniversary Celebration Sale Find the resources here Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Feb 37min