You've Already Changed Your Life: A Recipe for a Revelation

by Jade Chang

From the author of the award-winning novel The Wangs vs. the World and the Amazon Original The List comes a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the small moments that change us in big ways. In You've Already Changed Your Life , Jade Chang posits that humans are infinitely adaptable, that the seeds of personal transformation are sown when we least expect it, and that identifying your own small (but profound!) shifts will help you retell the story of your life. As Jade shares the unlikely moments that changed her forever, we join her on a quest to understand what makes people who they are. She takes us from a surprising history of personality tests to a debunking of the popular science theory of the reptile brain, with several unexpected stops along the way, all with her characteristic charm and wit. Part memoir, part investigation into the science of the mind, this Audible Original questions the old stories we've told ourselves about our capacity for change and gives you a blueprint to discover all the ways that you have, indeed, already changed your life. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Psychology, Personal Development

Audio CD

First published October 7, 2021

About the author

Jade Chang's debut novel, The Wangs vs. the World, is being published on October 4, 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She is a journalist who has covered arts, culture, and cities and a recipient of the Sundance Fellowship for Arts Journalism, the AIGA/Winterhouse Award for Design Criticism, and the James D. Houston Memorial scholarship from the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.

She was recently a member of the Goodreads editorial team, where she worked on newsletters, author interviews, blog posts, infographics, and the quote of the day!

Reviews

[Ashley Monastra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be a lot of rambling and personal musings by the author, but no actual substance or useful material. The scientific facts and studies were mildly interesting, but I didn’t really get anything out of this book. I thought there might be more information I could use to examine my own life and my own changes, but it’s not really about that and even her moments don’t reveal huge changes that others can relate to. Just not for me :shrugs:

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“Actually, what I’m really obsessed with is our shared obsession with change… though I am pretty interested in the pathology of that, instead I’ve been thinking about change on a personal level… how we start every single new year cataloguing the ways in which we want to change…”

As posed in the book, are we doomed to be the same dumb people that we’ve always been? I get frustratedly angry with anyone that continually moans and struggles in life, but still don’t change the things that they can control to make themselves happier (often more than we want to admit to being in our control)… spend the money, take the trip, eat the biscuit, buy the bigger box of chocolates for yourself, do something random and alter the path - it’s how evolution of self happens! Self control is still important, but cutting loose and testing boundaries sometimes remind us of who can make the choice. Early on I learned the very simple mantra: ‘when life gets hard you have to change…’

This book was much more theoretical than I expected it to be but peppered with anecdotal moments to remind us of the simple reality and application of the topic - a great short read for anyone with an interest in multiple elements of psychology and what’s it like to be a human in control of self

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Often the personality trait that helped get us here is exactly the thing that’s holding us back from going further”

Loved this, I always enjoy when people summarize research and studies I would never read and relate it back to their life and try to help you relate it to yours. Definitely needed to flesh out some ideas more but if you are interested in personality types and making changes in yourself I would recommended this as a great starting point!

[Rachel (Into a Story) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good short read with lots of statistics and studies.

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

In You’ve Already Changed Your Life, Jade Chang posits that humans are infinitely adaptable, that the seeds of personal transformation are sown when we least expect it, and that identifying your own small (but profound!) shifts will help you retell the story of your life.

As Jade shares the unlikely moments that changed her forever, we join her on a quest to understand what makes people who they are. She takes us from a surprising history of personality tests to a debunking of the popular science theory of the reptile brain, with several unexpected stops along the way, all with her characteristic charm and wit. Part memoir, part investigation into the science of the mind, this Audible Original questions the old stories we’ve told ourselves about our capacity for change and gives you a blueprint to discover all the ways that you have, indeed, already changed your life.

[Shonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was free on Audible and recommended by someone I follow on Instagram. It's a short listen. Overall I found it a bit disorganized, but that added to the effect of friendliness -- like a friend was telling you about their own experiences. The stuff she covered was not new to me, but an inspiring reminder of how us humans are capable of changing our lives and having mind-blowing insights at any age or stage. If you're interested in personality psychology, this is worth a couple hours.

[Rome · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short listen. The concepts are not very new to me, but I still found it beneficial for me to be reminded of things I've pondered upon in the past. The message from this book is also quite reassuring. Since I've already changed myself in the past, I can keep changing myself and perhaps I can influence that change much better than how I did in the past.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this author on CYG (great interview) and enjoyed this. I love the idea that micro changes can transform our lives. Sometimes the narrative was sort of confusing as an audiobook because of tangents and asides, but overall it was a solid listen.

[Michele Hermansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has some interesting thoughts about change, the brain, and being willing to change as a catalyst. It was worth the time. I skipped the part about Freud, 5 mins, because I just don’t like his theories. If you have a couple hours, give it a whirl.

[Bethany Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times this short audiobook felt a little scattered, but it was entertaining with a lot of interesting trivia in addition to a very thought-provoking premise. I have been trying to identify my own little moments of change, as the author described.

[Rebee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The takeaway is also the title. You've Already Changed Your Life. You've done it often over the course of your life and recognizing those tiny and major changes over time can help to reinforce the power you have over yourself.

It is short and an easy read/listen.

[I am infinitely financially wealthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I havent finished the book. The writer seemed to wander a lot in her narration of the topic she was trying to convey.
But I learnt 1 thing from this book. And that was worth all the 5stars.
'I've stopped doing things I don't want to do.'

[CAROLYN G WYNN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short & cerebral with some interesting neuroscience take-aways.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible freebie and on topic with a lot of my 2021 reading. I liked the setup of the author reflecting on 6 seminal moments in her life that really affected her views downstream from those events. The popular science presented was interesting as well.

[Happy Skywalker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know exactly what I was getting into from the title, but I really liked this author's main idea and how she presented it. A fun read, very empowering.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 if I could - funny and informative, but seemed to wander a bit.

[Maha Ishtiaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sweet, uplifting and humorous. "A personal theology" has to be the best chapter.


Key person "Freud" 😆

[Brittany Neish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little read was delightful! Loved both it’s message and practical message of identifying the changes we’ve already made in our lives! A perfect listen for a short drive.

[Beth Swahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good perspective about how you have already done amazing things in your life, so you can probably do more. Usually self help books are really repetitive, but this one wasn’t!

[Shas · Rating 3 out of 5]

it had a few good messages and it was short enough to justify it

[Jenell Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It talked about changes you make. Personalities test and more. Her voice was pleasant.

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read

[Caiti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I thought it would be - lots of personal stories from the author…

[Punky Broomster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Some of it was interesting but not truly earth shattering. It was fun and Chang is a great narrator. Overall, not the greatest information in the world and likely forgettable.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little book, filled with positive ideas.

[Charmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. We need to trust the truths we know about ourselves.

[Val · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could barely finish this. It was boring, it never got to the point, and did it even have a point ?!

[Chad King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminder that you have already changed in lots of ways through out your life. Don't doubt that you can change going forward. You certainly will.

[Eliana Candia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and light