Karen Barrow - Smarter Living: Work--Nest--Invest--Relate--Thrive

LETS GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY nice and early: You will not find the definitive answers to all of lifes problems and mysteries in this book.

Phew. Glad we covered that.

The easiest way to tell you what you are going to find in the following five chapters is to tell what you wont find: prescriptive, end-of-conversation, this is the only solution youll ever need type of advice and guidance. If you ever see a book selling you the one answer to all of your problems, put it down immediately and walk away. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to any of our problems, much less the complicated, messy, personal, impactful and important ones we cover in this book.

Now that the pressures off, let us explain what you will find in this book.

Smarter living.

Smarter Living, the guidance and advice section of The New York Times from which this book was created, tries to tackle lifes problems from a better point of view. The five chapters in this bookwhich cover your home; your work life; your health; your finances; and your relationships (with others and with yourself)are written not by so-called self-help experts, productivity hackers, gurus, ninjas or rock stars of any sort. Theyre written by hardworking, rigorous journalists who are regular people first and deal with the same everyday issues that you do, and who are also looking for solutions.

Lets look at one of our favorite stories in this book: How to Be an Ace Salary Negotiator (Even if You Hate Conflict) from the Work chapter:

Written by A. C. Shilton, this story coaches you on everything you may need to advocate for yourself during a salary negotiationwith the understanding that theres likely nothing in the world youd less like to do than negotiate your salary for a new job. (Yes, it is a nightmare, we agree.)

This story is a perfect example of the Smarter Living ethos: a fully reported, wonderfully written piece of journalism born out of the authors own fear of negotiating her salary. A. C. was the perfect journalist to write that story because it was an issue that personally impacted her life and gave her the insight and clarity to approach the problem from the common perspective. She picked up on the issues and ideas that a career coach wouldnt even know to address. Its this fundamental curiosity and desire for answers that drives Smarter Living, and thats what drives this book.

But this book isnt all how tos and step-by-step guides. Alongside thoughtful, well-reasoned stories advising you on everything from your 401(k) allocation to stain removal are emotional, relatable stories on dealing with anxiety, overcoming the unconscious biases that affect us every day, and small things you can do now to live a happier life. (Hint: Treat yourself like a friend.)

Our goal was to cover the spectrum of modern life, and regardless of where you are in your journey on this planet, there is something for you in these pages. In building this book, we pored over thousands of New York Times stories to find the absolute best of the best advice, and we couldnt be prouder of this collection.

All that said: Smarter Living is nothing without its readers! And we want to hear from you. Tweet your best tips for living smarterwhatever that looks like for youusing the hashtag #smarterliving.

Were all in this together, figuring it out as we go and trying to live smarter every day.

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF BOOKS, podcasts and motivational speakers claiming to reveal the secret truth behind successful careers. The bottom line of most of these advice-givers? A successful career requires managing the person in the mirror: overcoming your tendencies and habits that can undermine efforts to find happiness at work.