The Four Tendencies

The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too)

By: Gretchen Rubin

Narrated by: Gretchen Rubin

In this groundbreaking analysis of personality type, best-selling author of Better Than Before and The Happiness Project Gretchen Rubin reveals the one simple question that will transform what you do at home, at work, and in life.

During her multi-book investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question “How do I respond to expectations?” we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively.

More than 600,000 people have taken her online quiz, and managers, doctors, teachers, spouses, and parents already use the framework to help people make significant, lasting change.

The Four Tendencies hold practical answers if you’ve ever thought:

• People can rely on me, but I can’t rely on myself.
• How can I help someone to follow good advice?
• People say I ask too many questions.
• How do I work with someone who refuses to do what I ask - or who keeps telling me what to do?

With sharp insight, compelling research, and hilarious examples, The Four Tendencies will help you get happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. It’s far easier to succeed when you know what works for you.

©2017 Gretchen Rubin (P)2017 Random House Audio

What I Didn't Know

I was always pretty sure of who I was. I've lived a pretty good life. Though I've certainly made mistakes with my career, friendships, family, and life, I'm generally satisfied with most--make that some of my current life. So I took the tendancies quiz, thinking it would be like all the rest. Full of generalities and not much substance. But I was BLOWN AWAY by what I learned. So many times in my life I haven't understood the why of my choices. Thinking I was just different from everybody else. One concept in Gretchen's book changed me. She asked about not being certain if I could do something in the future for someone else. Well, I thought, not for certain. Because how would I know what I'd want to do that day? That was me. Beyond that, I couldn't even depend on doing something for myself! I'd stopped making important appointments because I might not feel like going to them that day. It might sound like just a lazy excuse, but that wasn't the case. I was a Rebel. I wish I'd known how to deal with others, and myself, years ago. This book is teaching me how, now. Highly recommend.

Helped my understand how to motivate myself

I'm a therapist and found this book very helpful for both me and my clients. It's important to understand what motivates us. I've always understood that it's important to find what motivates us internally. I do not have internal motivation. I need external motivators. This book does a great job explaining what that looks like

Personality Indicator

I'm not sure how scientific this book is and whether the methodology used is credible, however I believe it is a very interesting book and can shed a light on the different types of personalities.

It led me to think about my behavior repeatedly to check whether my personality fits the description because sometimes I would skew towards another one. I guess it has to do with a certain mindset

I think this is something that requires further research and investigation. Also, it can be integrated with other personality type indicators such as MBTI to provide a wider view in the subject

Fascinating Framework!

I am completely fascinated by the 4 Tendencies framework. Have everyone you know, love, and work with take this quiz. Even if you already know your tendency, the insight and guidance that Gretchen gives on how to harness your strengths and interact with other tendencies is invaluable both professionally and personally. It can help your relationships on a number of levels, including your relationship with yourself!

Great way to get along.

Loved how she broke everyone down to 4 groups. Makes it easier to figure people out.

wonderful insight

Gretchen Rubin does not disappoint. Absolutely love her insight and research. Thank you for sharing.

you must read this book

I fall in love more and more with Gretchen and her ideas with every book I read from her. Such great content, and so engaging to listen to.

interesting and useful information!

quick and easy read. Easily applicable to many situations. another great book from Gretchen Rubin!

Interesting perspective on our personalitytraits

Interesting material and very well read. I'm surprised how much I agree and enjoyed the information. I feel like I understand my friends and family much better, including myself. I'm a questioner, I think.

mind blown

absolutely loved this book and will refer back,to it many timesin the future I'm sure of it.