Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives

Best-selling author Rubin (Life in Five Senses; Outer Order, Inner Calm) returns with this collection of insights into navigating the complexities of adult life—a collection she has honed for over a decade. The title reflects Rubin’s years as a student of happiness, habits, and human nature. Her writing reflects her personal journey, and as her children are now adults, it feels natural that she has created a “how to adult” guide. The book is written in aphorisms that Rubin collects because they are “short and well-expressed…easy to remember and have more vigor in the mind.” The aphorisms are organized by topics such as self-improvement (“what we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while”), friendship, and creativity (“putting materials into our hands often puts ideas into our heads”). Her philosophy is straightforward and accessible, though readers may find these maxims overly simplistic given the plethora of self-help books available.