by Adam Alter
First published 2024
Almost everyone feels trapped somewhere in life. You might struggle with writer's block, feel stuck in a dead-end job, or watch a friendship fall apart. Adam Alter spent twenty years studying how people escape these traps. He developed the friction audit, a method that identifies three barriers keeping you stuck. Heart friction involves unhelpful emotions like anxiety and fear. Head friction means destructive thought patterns. Habit friction covers behaviors that hold you back. Alter shares stories of people who broke through their limitations. A swimmer won two Olympic gold medals after getting unstuck twice. An actor endured countless rejections before achieving fame. A painter learned to work with a brush strapped to his wrist after becoming paralyzed. Alter himself escaped a college major that made him miserable. The book combines research, interviews, and real stories to show that getting stuck happens to everyone. With the right adjustments, you can overcome any obstacle and reach your biggest goals.
Genres: psychology, self-help, non-fiction, biography-memoir, personal-development, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, self-discovery
320 pages · Paperback · Heligo Books