5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding and very helpful book

K. · December 16, 2011

This is undoubtedly the best and most helpful book on perfectionism that I have ever read. I had never fully recognized how perfectionistic I had become in my work as a physician and how the perfectionism was actually hindering my providing optimal patient care rather than helping. I also knew that I wasn't being the kind of mother and wife I wanted to be, but didn't realize that it was perfectionism that was getting in the way of my doing things for and with my family. Dr. Syzmanski's book has been extraordinarily helpful in the way it distinguishes between helpful and hurtful perfectionism, and it provides excellent strategies for dealing with the hurtful perfectionism so it no longer is in control of one's life. I have shared this with 12 of my colleagues, and every one of them has come back and talked about how helpful the book has been to them and also to the patients with whom they work. It is an outstanding book, one which I would highly recommend to anyone who is struggling with perfectionism, or even wonders whether they might be.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight and practical help

D. · May 9, 2012

I agree with the other positive reviews below. The content is excellent, and it is well organized and easy to read. i found it most helpful that Dr. Szymanski does not characterize perfectionism as either positive or negative, but as a trait that can be viewed as part of a continuum, and one that can be helpful in some circumstances and detrimental in others. As a person who works in a field where perfection is rewarded and often necessary, this approach allowed me to re-evaluate areas of my life where it was neither necessary nor desirable. I have given this book to several people (including my accountant, who I hope will continue his perfectionism in his work but be freed from its tyranny in other areas) and they have all found it very helpful.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great Read

C. · December 4, 2012

I think this a great book for understanding both the positive and negative aspects of perfectionism as a personality trait. It has a lot of self-assessment questionnaires within it, which is something I wish I had known before purchasing the E-book instead of the paper version. It is written in a common-sense manner, and brought a lot of clarity to the issue without being overly dense and academic. It has helpful suggestions for ways to combat the negative aspects of perfectionism as well. While definitely not an overly expansive volume on the subject, it was all I was looking for in this book.I'd definitely recommend for anyone who considers themselves a perfectionist.

5.0 out of 5 stars High Anxiety? Less-than-desired results? This book is for you...

O. · October 20, 2016

This is great practical, bare bones advice for busy, ambitious people who have the anxiety but not the desired results. Today's world incites high states of readiness to do it/get it done! Not always a good thing to achieve your goal. If you are always tired or second-guessing yourself, but feel like you fall short, well - this book may tell you why. Buy it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome

N.M.A. · February 5, 2013

Very awesome book!I learnt heaps!And I recommend this book to everyone!I learnt how to effectively deal with mistakes.Awesome. Which I could write more. But this is a C task. Those who read the book, will know what I'm talking about.

1.0 out of 5 stars It did not fit my situation.

N.J. · February 26, 2013

I am a retired school teacher who has always been a perfectionist to a fault. I thought this book could help me use my organizational skills in a very positive manner. However, it mainly addressed perfectionism in the workplace, which does not apply to me. This book was a waste of time for a person like me who is no longer in that situation.

3.0 out of 5 stars A little too simplistic

c. · February 8, 2020

He has some generally good recommendations (like inviting feedback at work), and he incorporates sound, evidenced based approaches like Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), but — at least for those two methods — his interpretation seems like an oversimplification, one that loses the essential spirit of those methods. At one point he acknowledges the ‘myth’ that we’ll change our behavior the moment we see how our behavior is irrational or ineffective. Well duh - I think most people know they can’t always simply will themselves to change behavior, that we do things despite reason and intention all the time. It’s the subtleties, the spirit of ACT that would actually be helpful in addressing this challenge, but seems to be very much missing from this book. I’d say it’s an overly mechanistic, top down understanding of the mind, one that presumes reason is (and should be) dominant to our emotions. It’s my understanding that contemporary psychology does not support this view, and that taking this approach to behavior change is going to be very limited in terms of efficacy.Much of advice of the book seems pretty well summarized by its full title: “....: Take Risks, Invite Criticism, and Make the Most of Your Mistakes.”All that said, there were a handful of specific ideas and tools I found interesting and think could be helpful. And it’s possible I’m not the intended audience, that others may find this book resonates for them.

1.0 out of 5 stars a mish mash of OK and good idea. No plan for implementation of even a ...

H.A. · May 23, 2017

a mish mash of OK and good idea. No plan for implementation of even a subset. Must be done both locally and globally. Disappointing

Got bored while reading

N.R. · December 18, 2016

I think that the content of this book is very well researched. However for me it was too scientific to read through. I hoped for more direct practical advice that you can implement in your life.