Perfectionism – that desire to been seen or thought of as beyond reproach – and which drives a great deal of anxiety – is a often-reported outcome of low-morale experiences, and it often presents with people-pleasing behaviors as people attempt to avoid the anger of their abusers. Read participant data that surfaces perfectionism.
Books about perfectionism have expanded in recent years, and I recently went to find some titles that I hope are helpful – see my list below, and share any titles you’ve found in the comments!
Clayton, I. (2025). Fawning: Why the need to please makes us lose ourselves – and how to find our way back. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Jiang, J. (2015). Rejection proof: How I beat fear and became invincible, one rejection at a time. New York: Random House USA Inc.
Josephson, M. (2025). Are you mad at me? How to stop focusing on what others think and start living for you. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Kabir, H. (2023). Goodbye, perfect: How to stop pleasing, proving, and pushing for others…and live for yourself. Naperville: Simple Truths.
Melendez, A. (2019). The likeability trap: How to break free and succeed as you are. New York: Harper Business.
Smith, J. (2025). Open when: A companion for life’s twists and turns. New York: HarperOne.
