*THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* 'A stunning big and bold encyclopedia of how to live'
LISA TADDEO 'A guide to liberation and a return to the authentic feminine self' GABOR MATÉ
'Astute radical and utterly compelling' KATHERINE MAY _______________ Why do women equate
self-denial with being 'good'? We congratulate ourselves when we resist the donut in the
office breakroom. We celebrate our restraint when we hold back from sending an email in anger.
We put others' needs ahead of our own and believe this makes us exemplary. Journalist and
podcast host Elise Loehnen explains that these impulses - often lauded as distinctly feminine
instincts - are actually ingrained in us by a culture that reaps the benefits via an
extraordinarily effective collection of social mores: Lust. Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Wrath.
Envy. Pride. These so-called 'deadly sins' have been used by the patriarchy to control women
throughout our history. For instance a fear of gluttony drives us to ignore our appetites and
an aversion to greed prevents us from negotiating a better salary at work. So what would
happen if we stopped trying to be 'good'? Provocative and bold On Our Best Behaviour is a
probing analysis of history and contemporary culture that explains how women have internalised
the patriarchy and how they unwittingly reinforce it. By sharing her own story and the
spiritual wisdom of other traditions Elise Loehnen shows how we can break free and discover a
path toward a more balanced fulfilled way to live. _______________ 'This is a really
important book' CHELSEA HANDLER 'Half historical docent half big sister with a hot cup of tea
read this and change your life' TERRENCE REAL 'Brilliantly reframes our toxic cultural
programming' LORI GOTTLIEB
