DESCRIPTION
On a mission to improve every aspect of my life – from love to work to
happiness – I became a human guinea pig. I immersed myself in a series
of radical lifestyle experiments. I changed the way I thought, talked
and looked. I followed old wisdom and new science. I saw the world from
the eyes of a woman. I followed the wisdom of George Washington. I
outsourced my life. I engaged, I’m afraid to say, in public nudity.
(Not all at the same time).
These projects wreaked havoc on my life, and drove both my wife and me
to the brink of insanity, but also gave me fascinating insights.
Among the experiments in 'My Life as an Experiment' (Which was published
in hardcover with the title 'The Guinea Pig Diaries'):
What Would George Washington Do:
Living in an increasingly uncivil world, I decide to take radical
measures: I follow in the footsteps of George Washington. I adhere to
the Founding Father’s “110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in
Company and Conversation.” I learn about dignity, compassion, and the
timeless social benefits of a properly executed bow. I also refrain
from adjusting my private parts in public. That is Rule Number 11 in
George Washington’s list. Really.
The Unitasker:
I was so distracted – by the internet, by my cell phone, by snacks
beckoning from the kitchen – that I was four months behind deadline in
writing this book. So I became the Unitasker. I pledged to quit
multitasking. I decided to rewire my brain to I will be the most focused
person alive. I unplugged my laptop, I meditated, I talked on the
phone – just talked, no surfing the internet at the same time – crazy,
no? (it helps that I blindfolded myself). I literally tied myself to my
desk chair. It did end up changing my life. I’ve come to believe
multitasking isn’t just a minor problem, it’s the Eleventh plague.
I Think You’re Fat:
I became a temporary convert to the Radical Honesty movement, which
teaches that you should never, ever lie. But more than that, you should
say whatever’s on your mind. You should remove the filter between your
brain and your mouth. This was the worst month of my life. I had to
spend the following weeks apologizing to everyone I offended. But it
was also one of the most illuminating.
240 Minutes of Fame:
Venturing into the world of celebrity worship, I assumed the identity
of actor Noah Taylor (to whom I bear an eerie resemblance) and crashed
the Academy Awards. I gave autographs, took interviews and rubbed
elbows with other celebrities. I watched my ego be warped by fame.
My Outsourced Life:
Why should Fortune 500 companies have all the fun? I hired a team in
Bangalore, India, to take care of everything in my life. And I mean
everything. My e-mails, phone calls, shopping, arguments with my wife
and reading bedtime stories to my son.
The Rationality Project:
I tried to retrain my brain to be something more than an ad hoc
collection of half-assed solutions that have built up over millions of
years of evolution. I attempted to eliminate every irrational bias
using the insights of behavioral economics. And in doing so, I
permanently changed the way I make every decision, from the simplest
(what toothpaste to buy) to the biggest (how to raise the kids).
My Life as a Beautiful Woman:
To understand the world of dating from a woman’s point of view, I
appropriated the identity of Michelle, my children’s gorgeous nanny,
and venture into the land of online dating. Interacting with men as a
beautiful woman gave me a unique look at the male species from the
other side. I saw the expected sleaziness, but also the unexpected
vulnerability.
The Truth about Nakedness:
Esquire asked Mary-Louise Parker to pose nude, and she said she
would do it only if the editor of the piece also posed nude. I was the
editor. My boss told me to take off my pants and get in front of the
camera. I learn priceless lessons in objectification and the value of
good lighting.
Whipped (a.k.a. the perfect spouse):
At the suggestion of readers who point out that my wife is a saint, I
vowed to spend a month agreeing to her every command. Sure, it was a
month of Kate Hudson movies and foot massages —but also of
stereotype-shattering insights into the politics of the modern American
marriage. Plus, at one point, I had wear a male chastity belt. (It
comes in three varieties—clear plastic, wood-paneled and camouflage!)
And Julie gets to write the final section.
Some of these guinea-pig-diariess got their start in Esquire magazine,
others are all new. And each of them comes with a conclusion about the
lessons I’ve learned. Plus, my wife writes a rebuttal you don’t want to
miss.
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