Escape the race to happiness, build a life of value, and resist the pull of self-help You’ve heard this story: outwardly, woman was living the dream. Inwardly, woman was drowning in despair. It's what happened next that sets this tale apart. Many of us go through life believing that something about us is not normal enough. So, we devote ourselves to the endless pursuit of self-improvement. That’s what Talia Pollock decided to do. In her quest to feel better, Talia Pollock got seduced by self-help trends that offered fleeting solace but failed to soothe the depths of her inner turmoil. Conventional remedies, like medication and therapy, provided a semblance of relief but didn’t ease the angst she felt inside. It wasn’t until she discovered Existentialist philosophy that she discovered that what we’re told is abnormal is actually entirely human, and it’s our attempts to cure ourselves of our humanity which will eventually drive us mad. Echoing the timeless wisdom of philosophers and the timely research of social scientists, Pollock offers a modern take on finding the courage to create your own version of satisfaction. Pollock’s sincere retelling of her own experiences urges readers to question conventional notions of happiness - embrace contentment as a lasting source of well-being - navigate the challenges of a comfortably uncomfortable life Whether you’re grappling with existential questions, seeking to break free from societal expectations, or yearning for a deeper sense of fulfillment, The Problem with Being a Person offers a powerful message for prioritizing self-acceptance over self-improvement. “A hilarious look at what it means to radically accept yourself and your place in the world.” —Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning "An illuminating and genuinely helpful look at how we can embrace uncertainty and inner chaos to move towards meaning in our lives. In a society filled with confusing prescriptions and contradictions about happiness, Talia Pollock's existential-ish philosophy offers a framework to find the courage and curiosity for self-reflection and direction. For anyone who has ever wondered if they're getting life right, this refreshing book will both comfort and inspire." —Madeleine Dore, author of I Didn't Do the Thing Today “Fun, funny, and touching. It’s like your new best friend telling you stories about how vibing in “existentialish” ways has made her life better, and can make yours better too. Fabulous read!” —Skye Cleary, author of How to Live a Good Life Talia Pollock is a writer, speaker, and armchair philosopher. She infuses humor into wellness discussions to navigate life's complexities. Her debut book and podcast, Party in Your Plants, promote light-hearted, healthy living. She's modernizing existentialism to liberate her generation from the self-help industry. Her work has been celebrated on platforms like Good Morning America , The Dr Oz Show , Bustle , and PEOPLE Magazine . Talia lives in Brooklyn with her daughter, husband, and doodle. 1 Normal° We were going on hour three of our Zoom hypnobirthing class when Cynthia explained that a relaxed throat equals a relaxed vagina. "Once you've reached ten centimeters of dilation," she said, "you should start deep breathing through your nose all the way to the lower back of your throat and down through your body behind baby." I closed my eyes to practice visualizing my baby gliding out of me like a kid on the blue tarp of a slip-and-slide positioned perfectly on a bright green grassy backyard hill. It must have been the image of our daughter's ejection out of me that had ejected Jesse off the couch, down the hall, and into my office, which we had begun converting into our nursery, with a tape measure in tow. When the virtual birthing class ended, I headed for bed to listen to my peaceful-delivery mantras and visualize my relaxed vagina as I fell into a deep slumber. As I passed by him, I caught a glimpse of Jesse maniacally taking measurements. The next morning, we rendezvoused at the kitchen table, where he, straight-faced like he was presenting possible solutions to the very distressing beaver overpopulation problem continually brought up at our small town's meetings, walked me through his assessment of Our Floor Situation. "I didn't know we had a Floor Situation," I said as I shoveled cereal into my mouth. "Option A," he replied sternly after sipping his coffee and placing the light gray mug with black, ironic "This meeting sucks" lettering on it, on the table. "Pay a ridiculous amount of money to install carpet wall to wall." "Uh-huh," I replied. "Option B," he offered with a furrowed brow. "Get a still very expensive custom-sized rug to fill the entire floor since it's not a standard size." "OK," I said, wondering if the difference between a custom rug and a custom carpet is like the difference between a padded bra and breast implants, where one just lays on top while the o