A skeptical dive into the weird, sketchy, cringey, occasionally inspirational and life-changing world of self-improvement.

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A horrible picture of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, looking exactly like he actually does at all times.

I painted the Prime Minister

This is where self-improvement gets you

A photograph of the sun about to rise over the ocean.

The UNBELIEVABLE results of dopamine detox

Number 7 will surprise you

Rope-a-dopamine

Rope-a-dopamine

Dopamine fasting makes no sense, but I'm doing it anyway

I don't like the drugs, but

I don't like the drugs, but

With ADHD, the adventure chooses you!

Illustration by Rhiannon Josland, originally for Ours.

The Cynic's Guide to Sobriety

Because we live in a sodden society

It's a picture of my black kitten Pango with his eyes shut, looking every inch the voidcat he is.

Introducing the Cynic's Guide to Self-Improvement Podcast

(Sort of)

An image of someone sticking pins in a map, which may or may not be problematic

Map of the Problematic

What to do when your heroes are horrible?

A picture of an hourglass on a rocky beach or something

Making The Link

All the self-improvement news that's fit to link

A picture of the aurora australis, against a starscape, by me. Pines and a rolling landscape are in the foreground.

Going To Pot

Nature is healing

The Bitter-Pill Truth About Making Your Bed

The Bitter-Pill Truth About Making Your Bed

Bed Making (feat. Jaw-Dropping Results)

A screenshot of the musical spoof from the 1997 Simpsons episode The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson

He's checking in

A weekly(?) check-in email

A picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger from the cover of Arnold Schwarzenegger's book "Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life"

Hey Arnold: a review of Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger

It's one of the better self-help books. But will it actually help?

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