In all honesty, I'll read anything that Gretchen Rubin writes. So I knew I would love this-and I did. My only criticism is that it is way too short! I wanted more, more stories from Gretchen! However, I will be buying a hard copy of this for my own shelves. It's the kind of book that is savored and read a little bit at a time, not all in one go like I did. But I'll go back and reread it like this. It's full of her aphorisms, which her fans know all about. Many of them I have already read about in her other books, so I wish there were some newer ones. But I just adore anything Gretchen writes.

As a follower of Gretchen Rubin and an avid reader of her Five Things e-newsletter, I was very excited to read Secrets of Adulthood. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a gathering of aphorisms but it is so much more. This book is not the type to be read once and then put aside. These nuggets of wisdom will be ones to mull over quite awhile. Some are just common sense, while others made me think deeply. As I was reading, I was constantly making mental notes of the people I wanted to share specific bits with. Instead, I think I'll just purchase multiple copies and hand them out like candy.

Gretchen Rubin is a delight! Secrets of Adulthood is a short, yet powerful book. It was a quick read but then I took the time to go back and savor it and to highlight and think through ‘aphorisms’ that really spoke to me. There is a lot of wisdom packed into these pages! This book would make an excellent gift for pretty much anyone. Gretchen breaks down her wisdom into helpful categories, such as relationships, making things happen, and making tough decisions. The wisdom spans from the uber practical (e.g., search for a missing item thoroughly for 10 minutes in the spot you most think it will be) to the profound (e.g., accept yourself, expect more from yourself). Highly recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I am a huge Gretchen Rubin fan. I've read all but her 3 earliest books, I listen to her podcasts, and I've even had the opportunity to meet her in person.

This book is a bit different than her others. It is full of aphorisms, that is a succinctly stated truth. Most come from other people throughout history and into the current day. A few are by Gretchen herself. And, as is often the case, the opposite of a truth can also be a truth (oh wait, that is indeed one of the aphorisms). It is light on text but has several benefits to recommend it. I think a big plus of this book is that you can take one short sentence or passage and really contemplate it, see how it is reflected in your own experiences and life. I think it would make a good "read-one-aphorism-a-day" book. The Secrets of Adulthood would also make for great journal prompts. I recommend this for those who like to dwell on philosophical matters, truths of being human, and psychology.

Secrets of Adulthood
By Gretchen Rubin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am a huge fan of Gretchen Rubin’s books and podcast, this one is very different but also great! It is a book of aphorisms which Gretchen wrote for her daughters l and to remind herself what she has learned through her own experiences! I found myself highlighting a lot in this short book! It is great because it is jam packed with knowledge! I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to come back to it when I need a gentle reminder in a tough time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Add this lovely book to your TBR!! It will be published April 1, 2025! Add it to your TBR!!

Gretchen wrote this as a sort of gift book for her grown daughters, Eliza and Eleanor. As I read it, I heard Rubin’s voice in my head repeating the many ideas and mantra’s that she has shared so many times on her podcast. I can’t say there is anything especially new in this book, but I found it a kind of Gretchen Rubin reference library.

This is a quick read but packed with insights for oneself, greater society, and the human experience. I enjoyed the structure of this book and Gretchen's short essays. This would be a great gift for a graduate or someone who just needs a little reminder of how universal some things are. My favorite aphorism remains: The days are long, but the years are short. I can't think of anything that so simply sums up life. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy and the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be for some people but not everyone. I am in the latter group. However, even though I am not supposed to quote this book until publication, I do find the aphorism on page 30 along the vein of "if you don't have anything nice to say, just don't say anything at all"- instead, just think to yourself, "maybe this just doesn't suit my taste."

****Publishing April 1, 2025****

Gretchen Rubin wrote “Secrets of Adulthood” for her daughters. She wanted to share her experiences and advice, so they didn’t have to make the same mistakes. She gives advice on happiness, love, relationships, friendships, work, responsibility, creativity, tough decisions, etc. A book you can read cover to cover or just read a section that interests you at the time. This would make a great gift for a friend or someone who is graduating and just beginning their adulthood!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Gretchen’s insights into the secrets of adulthood will make you stop and think! Her aphorisms are quick witted and thought provoking. As someone who listens to her podcast weekly, I could hear her voice saying most of these wise words since she does share them often. It was nice to see them written in one place and commented on. The space at the back to fill your own was a nice touch as well!

This is a short book by a very successful author and podcaster to indulge her interest in and collection of aphorisms (def: a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”), due to be released just before graduation season, April 1, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I have a confession - I also love special quotes and aphorisms, although I have never used the word 'aphorism' in my life. I used to collect them as a kid, through college, and into young adulthood on bits of paper during that pre-internet time of life. So I relate to author Gretchen Rubin's connection to simple guidance to make sometimes big decisions.

Now onto the book. I loved the opening where she delved into some history of these types of sayings and the role of them in her life. I felt some of the most powerful aphorisms were in this opener!

From there the book is broken down into sections: Cultivating Ourselves, Facing the Perplexities of Relationships, Making Things Happen, and Confronting Life's Dilemmas. Within each of those sections we get sub-sections related to it, and quotes/aphorisms tied to the sub-section topic. Each section has a very brief introduction including a little history of Ms. Rubin's life tied to this subject. My favorite section was at the end: Simple Secrets of Adulthood, which has no sub-sections, but more a practical list of dealing with life and planning your life. Many great tips here.

I liked this book, but it took me less than 30-minutes to read it. It is definitely a light "reference" book, a good book for young people who will probably ignore all the advice within. It will be popular because it is written by Ms. Rubin and makes a good gift. And that's ok - it is worth a read for the great collection of sayings we all love. I have two kids in college and will probably buy it for them, although I doubt they'll read it lol. 4-stars because I think her intros to each section could have been a bit more robust and I felt like the book overall could have had a bit more meat to it.

Gretchen Rubin’s latest book, Secrets of Adulthood, presents a compilation of aphorisms that delve into themes such as: happiness, personal development, and the complexities of adulthood. This collection encompasses a range of topics, including personal transformation and interpersonal transformation. Engaging insights and relatable anecdotes are shared however, this novel does not compare to her earlier works. This book does provide a practical approach to growing up and surviving adulthood, which is appealing. However, this book predominantly consists of succinct, one-sentence truths, which may fall short for those in search of a more thorough self-help resource. I found this book to lack depth, due to the lack of breadth of each topic. Even though I didn’t enjoy this book nearly as much as Rubin’s earlier works, it could serve as a thoughtful gift for individuals embarking on a new life stage. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

2 🌟

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read “secrets of adulthood” in exchange for an honest review.

This was my 2nd book by Gretchen Rubin and it was nothing at all like her first one or how I expected this to be based on the description.

This book was a book of aphorisms she had compiled over the years to give young adults or adults seeking more knowledge insight into her secrets to success & happiness.

I found it a bit unhelpful because it’s too many to actually digest at one time. Maybe this book would be more helpful if you purchased a physical copy to reflect back on:

Overall, I don’t think I am the correct audience for this read.

I read this short book in one sitting, and while I enjoy Gretchen's work a great deal, this felt repetitve from her other works. Maybe it's supposed to?

The book is short aphorisms the author has created over her years of writing and research.

This would be a great gift for a graduate going out into the adult world on their own.

I'm a big fan of Gretchen Rubin; I've read most of her work and have learned so many things about myself through her observations. I was hoping for another eye opening read, but this didn't quite hit the target. While the blurb clearly says aphorisms, I didn't really understand what that was until I started reading, so I was a bit bummed to find it was a really short read filled with many thoughts familiar to me from her other books. Going back, it seems obvious to me this is a small book (even the cover alludes to it- for crying out loud!) I did enjoy reading this but feel it's best as a gift book for graduates, newlyweds, retirees, etc. I highly recommend reading this a few bites at a time, stopping to reflect when one really speaks to you.

This is a book I'll return to because it is so packed with punchy wisdom! It will be an excellent graduation gift.

I’m a longtime fan of Gretchen Rubin—her books and her podcast, which she co-hosts with her sister, Elizabeth. She has often mentioned her love of collecting quotations, koans, and aphorisms, and I’ve been curious about what she has gathered. This book satisfies that curiosity! It feels like a commonplace book for our times—though concise, it’s packed with wisdom and insights. It’s the rare book that makes a perfect gift for graduates, retirees, and anyone in between!

A collection of interesting and helpful aphorisms on various topics. A book you could turn to under many different circumstances, rather than reading straight through.
3.5

This book was fun, light-hearted and short. I like the concept of an easy collection of aphorisms. This would make a good gift for a young adult friend.

I love Gretchen Rubin and this book is a perfect example of why. Her little book of aphorisms packs so much great advice that all of those entering adulthood need to learn. This book would be great for adults in college or entering the workforce, who are moving out on their own, or who are trying to find their way. I would encourage all those who are in their early 20s to read this!