The perfectionism trap

Why do we keep hearing that record numbers of people are suffering from burnout and depression today? According to Thomas Curran, it’s because of society’s pressure to want more—to be perfect. He identifies the causes of our current predicament as, for example, increasing competitiveness in the workplace, the ubiquitous comparison with others on social media, the desperate pursuit of an elite education and employment, or parents who want “only the best” for their children, regardless of their own preferences. In his book, Curran uses the latest scientific data to demonstrate that the growing desire for perfection, combined with the constant pressure to show growth, has created a large group of thoroughly dissatisfied people who lack self-confidence. However, he shows us that there is a way out and suggests what we can do to resist this modern societal pressure for perfection and thus achieve a fulfilling life.