Update

If you want personalized, signed, free bookplates to put inside a book that you’re planning to give as gifts, be sure to request them ASAP so I can get them mailed to you before the holidays. Request here. (U.S. and Canada only, I’m afraid—mailing costs.)

 Listener Questions

Ask Us Anything! With every 100th episode, we celebrate by doing an “Ask Us Anything” episode. We discuss listeners’ questions about:

• whether we ever feel guilty about reading — and we mention trying the Strategy of Scheduling
• how our parents raised us to have such a close sisterly relationship as adults
• why Elizabeth loves the last scene of Mad Men so much — if you want to watch Coca-Cola’s iconic “Hilltop” ad from 1971, it’s here
• how I organize my research and writing
• how we prepare for each episode. We mention two podcast resources: Nick Quah has an excellent newsletter Hot Pod, which covers industry news, and Kristen Meinzer, one of our former producers, has a terrific book So You Want to Start a Podcast, Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Story, and Building a Community that Will Listen. Elizabeth mentions “Beware of banter” from our Podcast Manifesto.
• how Obligers can quit an activity when it feels like others expect them to stay; Elizabeth mentions executive coach Michael Melcher’s excellent podcast Career Stewardship
• how an Upholder can be a “loser”
• how Obligers can find more ways to hold themselves accountable — the listener mentions The Happiness Project Experience online course
• don’t know if you’re an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel? Take the free, quick quiz here (more than 3.2 million people have taken it).
• why Elizabeth loves the Real Housewives so much
• yes, if you see me in the Metropolitan Museum or Central Park, please say hello!
• how I organize my photos — I mention Shutterfly and Framebridge
• why Elizabeth also goes by “Liz” — she mentions her other podcast, Happier in Hollywood
• whether I’ve ever considered laser eye surgery
• whether Elizabeth gets worried about living in Los Angeles
• whether we’re ever made unhappy by our constant quest for ways to boost our happiness