In 'Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It', Gary Taubes critiques the 'calories-in, calories-out' model of weight gain, arguing that carbohydrates and insulin play a crucial role in obesity. He presents a low-carbohydrate diet as a solution to maintaining a healthy weight. The book is based on extensive scientific research and historical analysis of nutritional science.
In 'Better Than Before', Gretchen Rubin explores the science and practice of habit formation. She identifies 21 strategies for making and breaking habits, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge and tailoring habits to individual personalities. Rubin categorizes people into four tendencies—Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels—and explains how these tendencies influence habit formation. The book is filled with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and rigorous research, making it a comprehensive and engaging guide to building happier, stronger, and more productive lives.
In 'The Happiness Project', Gretchen Rubin chronicles her year-long journey to enhance her happiness. Despite having a fulfilling life, Rubin realized she wasn’t focusing enough on her own happiness. She divided her project into twelve months, each with a different area of focus and specific goals. From boosting energy and improving her marriage to enhancing her work life and leisure activities, Rubin tested various strategies, including those from Epicurus, Thoreau, and modern scientists. The book combines historical wisdom, scientific research, and personal anecdotes to provide practical advice on how to make life happier and more fulfilling.
In 'Happier at Home', Gretchen Rubin builds on the lessons from her previous book, 'The Happiness Project', by undertaking a new project to make her home a happier place. Starting in September and continuing through May, Rubin dedicates each month to a different theme, such as possessions, marriage, time, and parenthood. She experiments with concrete, manageable resolutions to boost her happiness and that of her family. The book combines memoir, science, philosophy, and experimentation, offering practical tips and insights to help readers find more happiness in their own lives[1][3][5].
In this ridiculously enlightening episode, Brooke chats with Gretchen Rubin, the New York Times best-selling author of Better Than Before, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home.
This show starts out as any other - a regular conversation - in this instance, about happiness and habits and the changes Gretchen is most proud of in her own life. But somewhere around the middle it shifts into something different… A personalised habits counselling session, as Gretchen digs into why Brooke is inclined to take on too many projects and burn out in a big way.
They also discuss the Four Tendencies of Habits, and why that means Brooke is less likely to do a morning yoga class by herself, but more likely to turn up if Ben joins her.
This is such a fun conversation with plenty of insight into why we do and do not find making changes easy. And for anyone looking to make a shift towards a slower, simpler life, there are plenty of tips and tricks from Gretchen to help you make those changes as seamlessly as possible.
Also, in light of the #slowhomeexperiment, Gretchen has some killer insight into why some changes stick while others fall by the way, so if you’re giving up sugar along with Brooke and Ben this February, you’ll definitely want to tune in.
For show notes from today's episode, head to http://www.slowyourhome.com/44
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The Tortoise with Brooke McAlary 
