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There are subtle signs that this is a used item. It is well-cared-for and has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item is complete, unmarked and works perfectly. The pages themselves are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine is undamaged. There are subtle signs that this is a used item. It is well-cared-for and has seen limited use but remains in great condition. The item is complete, unmarked and works perfectly. The pages themselves are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine is undamaged. See less
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How to Be Miserable in Your Twenties: 40 Strategies to Fail at Adulting Paperback – March 1, 2020

by Randy J. Paterson PhD (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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Following in the footsteps of his snarky self-help hit, How to Be Miserable, psychologist Randy J. Paterson uses his trademark wit and irony to help you tackle the most common roadblocks that stand in the way of successful “adulting.”

Are you living in your parent’s basement? Can you measure your life by the hours you spend video streaming or gaming? Do you have absolutely no idea who you really are or what matters to you? Are you emotionally stunted and incapable of mature relationships? Great! Keep it up. If you just can’t get enough of being miserable, you’re on the right path.

In How to Be Miserable in Your Twenties, you won’t find platitudes or promises of love, happiness, and a fabulous life. What you will find are 40 strategies to help you cultivate a life of abject misery. On the other hand, if you want to take control of your destiny, find meaning and a sense of purpose, or just be a damn grownup, feel free to do the opposite of what this book says. You may yet join the ranks of happy people everywhere!

So, keep getting caught in the same self-defeating traps that have led you to an unfulfilling existence—or not! Either way, this book will help you take a good long look at yourself and your life, and come up with a solid action plan for your worst (or best) future.
 
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  1. Print length
    280 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    New Harbinger Publications
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.7 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    168403471X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1684034710
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“When you find yourself underlining so many passages that the whole book is basically one long underline...it’s time to recommend that book. Highly. And be grateful it exists.”
—Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow, and founder of Free-Range Kids

“Pathological social withdrawal (called ‘hikikomori’ in Japan) is now increasingly considered a global mental health and socioeconomic concern. Withdrawal behaviors tend to be regarded as negative and maladaptive. Is this perception always correct? Randy Paterson’s book challenges such preconceptions and prejudices regarding hikikomori-related behaviors while also suggesting multidirectional solutions to this phenomenon.”
—Takahiro A. Kato, MD, PhD, associate professor in the department of neuropsychiatry, and chair of the hikikomori research clinic at Kyushu University Hospital in Fukuoka, Japan

“Randy Paterson has done it again! In his latest book, How to Be Miserable in Your Twenties, Paterson provides insight into how young adults can avoid common traps that can contribute to unhappiness. It includes a range of well-tested, commonsense strategies that are especially relevant for those transitioning into adulthood and independence. This engaging and humorous book is a must-read for young adults (even those who are not in their twenties) who want to prevent the thoughts, behaviors, and habits that can lead to feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious. I highly recommend it!”
—Martin M. Antony, PhD, ABPP, professor in the department of psychology at Ryerson University in Toronto, ON, Canada; and coauthor of The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook and The Anti-Anxiety Workbook

“Innovative and inspiring.... The provocative mood makes the reading easy; the structure in lessons makes the book an on-demand pool of instructions the reader can refer to whenever needed. Randy Paterson has made great work to collect life situations and convert them into such practical actions.”
—Ivan Ferrero, PsyD, cyberpsychologist, speaker, trainer, educator, edge innovator, and futurologist

“How to Be Miserable in Your Twenties reads with a tender irreverence. Paterson’s voice is heart-catching, imaginative, and wise as he invites emerging adults to abandon many of their self-defeating delusions which they have caught from their culture like a virus. Paterson gifts the reader with fresh agility to better dance with the paradoxical vicissitudes of life. You will find his creative re-rendering of the path to misery accessible, charming, and a helpful tool for reorienting you to a wise life.”
—Scott Spradlin, LPC, LMAC, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapist and trainer in Wichita, KS; and author of Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life

About the Author

Randy J. Paterson, PhD, is a psychologist and director of Changeways Clinic—a private psychotherapy service—in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He is author of The Assertiveness Workbook, How to Be Miserable, and Your Depression Map; and coauthor of the free online Antidepressant Skills Workbook. He presents lectures and workshops internationally on topics, including mental health policy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the nature and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, and the failure-to-launch phenomenon. For more information, visit www.randypaterson.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Harbinger Publications
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2020
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 168403471X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1684034710
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.7 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the author

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Randy J. Paterson

Randy J. Paterson

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I am a psychologist in Vancouver Canada. My practice includes the treatment of clinical depression, the range of anxiety disorders, and major life transitions. I am also interested in positive psychology, the transition from adolescence to adult independence, and critical perspectives on the mental health system.

Most of my work takes place through Changeways Clinic (changeways.com), which I established in 2002 and has grown to be one of the city's largest private psychotherapy services. In addition to providing direct clinical services, we work on alternative methods of disseminating psychological ideas and self-care strategies. The Changeways Core Program, for example, is Canada's most widely-used group treatment protocol for clinical depression, and has been implemented in the USA, Great Britain, China, Hong Kong, Australia, and elsewhere.

Recently I have been developing online courses on psychological topics; these are hosted at psychologysalon.teachable.com and include What Is Depression, What Causes Depression, UnDoing Depression, How to Buy Happiness, Breathing Made Easy, The Parent Trap (a resource for parents of young adults having difficulty with independence), and a free "book club" series of demonstration videos to accompany The Assertiveness Workbook.

My books include How to be Miserable: 40 Strategies You Already Use, How to be Miserable in Your 20s, The Assertiveness Workbook (now in its second edition), Private Practice Made Simple, and Your Depression Map.

I also enjoy teaching, and have offered hundreds of training workshops for mental health clinicians on cognitive behaviour therapy, the treatment of depression and anxiety, diversity awareness, failure to launch, and private practice management. I also provide talks, keynotes, and longer workshops for nonprofessional audiences, and work with media outlets including print, radio, television, and podcasts.

Information on my books, workshops, talks, online courses, and media work can be found at randypaterson.com.

In my leisure time I enjoy travel and operate an orchard in the dry climate of the British Columbia interior, where much of my writing also takes place.

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Luke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I had already read How to Remain Miserable, and didn't really follow any of the suggestions Paterson offered. Why should I? I knew better. Thus, I remained miserable. Yet that book stuck with me, and I would occasionally revisit the notes I took from it. When I began to take my life a bit more seriously, I realized he was right. Exhausted by several highly recommended tomes of self-improvement written by self-professed gurus who unabashedly dress in garish clothing, I decided to give this one a try based on my experience with the first book in this series.

    And boy, howdy.

    Consider the author. This isn't written by a sociopath trying to train you to be a sociopath so you can hang out with other sociopaths. Religion isn't sold as the solution to all your problems. This isn't the first of five private lessons offered for five hundred dollars (a steal!). There are a lot books out there that want to help you. Because those make money. And who doesn't need more of that? However, this is one of the few written from a genuine perspective of compassion. Even if the author is having a sensible chuckle at your expense.

    One larger criticism of the previous book was this author's overabundant use of keen wit. Some couldn't tolerate it. I am happy to say that he hasn't backed off. Consider what this gentleman does for a living. He should be commended for having the sense of humor he possesses.

    The advice may seem like common sense to some. It is, really. Humanity has been marching on for quite a while, and hasn't evolved much. Stop doing nothing. Don't bet on luck. Keep improving yourself. Stay outside your head. Yes, this book has all that and more. Something about the way it is written sticks, though. A point is presented, and elaborated on in a manner that only years of experience cultivated from hearing the same problem from hundreds of people can produce. Since everything is organized in steps and all the chapters are to the point, taking notes for this book is very easy, as is memorization.

    Anyway, you're probably on your own quest, and I'm guessing it hasn't gone quite like you planned if you ended up here. Ditto. Don't worry. You already have everything you need. You just have to figure out how to motivate yourself. You've probably heard that before. It's common sense. But you might not have fully realized it until you heard it from someone who cares. Maybe this book will help you. Maybe it won't. But by reading it, you're showing motivation.

    And that's a start.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Chris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great writing and excellent advice!
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  • JackG41
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gave me an existential crisis
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2024
    Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase
    I'm a young man in his 20s
    This book was a total reality check
    Also gave me a week long depression
    10/10 would read again
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  • Dora
    4.0 out of 5 stars An insightful read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020
    Format: Kindle
    This book right here is timely! I wish I was in my twenties and got to read this, however, there are many insights and common traps that we fall into trying to fit in or achieve the success expected of us in life, and the author shares details on all this in the book.
    It's witty, fresh and written in the tone that I feel communicates the fact that twenties is not all about fun and exploration, but it is also an opportunity to make something of ourselves- and this is often overlooked.
    Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Paul Thiry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read if you‘re in your twenties
    Reviewed in Germany on May 5, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Really good follow-up to „How to Be Miserable“ with a slightly more positive undertone. Most-read, if you‘re in your teens or twenties. Let‘s you avoid some mistakes made by so many people which are carried on to way further points in life, if you don‘t recognize them! Absoluty a great book!
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  • Silvia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 19, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Comprei esse livro de presente para o meu filho e ele gostou muito!
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  • Richard D. Wright
    5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible and humorous ... and a great read
    Reviewed in Canada on April 9, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book a lot. Like Randy Paterson's previous book, "How to Be Miserable: 40 Strategies You Already Use", it's well-written, filled with pop culture references, and accessible. It's also full of ideas about one of the most challenging times in people's lives, but he presents them in a way that is quite different than a typical self-help book. Paterson's writing style is humorous and fun, but also at times is deeply thought provoking. Not many people can pull off that balancing act, but he does it well ... from the first page to the last.

    The 20s is a special time in our lives (but also challenging). And the stakes are high. When older people look back on their life and on their most memorable experiences, their memories often fit a pattern that includes something called a "reminiscence bump." This bump refers to their most vivid and treasured memories being of when they were in their 20s. This is when we have new experiences (and adventures). This is when many of us find new friends, mentors, careers, a life partner, perhaps travel the world ... and usually with far fewer responsibilities than we will eventually take on. It's an exciting time, and so many things about our path in life are often still to be determined. But it's also a time when things can begin to go off the rails. And a time when a fun-to-read "guide book" for enjoying these years can make all the difference.

    If you're not into self-help books ... but you're also wondering why there seem to be roadblocks that are holding you back, then this book might be for you. It's a good read.
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