Be Who You Want: Unlocking the Science of Personality Change

From cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Christian Jarrett, a fascinating book exploring the science of personality and how we can change ourselves for the better. What if you could exploit the plasticity of personality to change yourself in specific ways? Would you choose to become less neurotic? More self-disciplined? Less shy? In Be Who You Want, Dr. Christian Jarrett takes readers on a thrilling journey as he proves that not only are we capable of significant personality change, but that we can deliberately shape our personalities to influence the course of our lives. Dr. Jarrett draws on over twenty years of research to provide evidence-based ways to change each of the main five personality traits, including how to become more emotionally stable, extravert, and open-minded. He features compelling stories of people who have achieved profound personality change such as a gang-leader turned youth role model, a drug addict turned ultra-runner, and a cripplingly shy teenager turned Hollywood mega-star. But you don’t have to make such dramatic changes to your traits in order to enjoy meaningful benefits in your life. Even modest changes can pay dividends and set up an accumulating cascade of real-life consequences. Filled with quizzes and interactive exercises to help you better understand the various aspects of your personality, your life story and your passions, Be Who You Want will appeal to anyone who has ever felt constrained by how they've been characterized and wants to pursue lasting change.