“A level-headed, laugh-out-loud tour of the loopy world of self-help. If you're somehow not perfect, sit down and read Jennifer Niesslein—she will make you feel better already.”

—Ann Crittenden, author of THE PRICE OF MOTHERHOOD and IF YOU’VE RAISED KIDS, YOU CAN MANAGE ANYTHING

"In this delightfully witty and sometimes startlingly poignant memoir, Jennifer Niesslein takes the reader on a tour of her multiple exertions in the land of self-help. There are laughs in this book—lots of them—balanced by thoughtful observations about the possibilities and the limitations of the ordinary human."

—Kristin Ohlson, author of STALKING THE DIVINE

Hello. I'm Jennifer Niesslein.

A few years ago, plagued with a vague sense of dissatisfaction, I began a quest to become a better, happier person. It was a do-it-yourself project, and I turned to the self-help experts. Over the course of two years, I worked on every aspect of my life, from decluttering my house to working on my parenting skills to looking for some measure of spiritual peace.

It was not an easy quest.

But reading the book about it, Practically Perfect in Every Way: My Misadventures Through the World of Self-Help—and Back, is much more pleasant. I was interested in all the self-help advice, but also what lies beneath the experts’ promises: the role of luck, the issue of happiness, the perfectability of man.

Now the book is out in paperback with a snazzy new cover and a readers’ guide. Go ahead and poke around the website. I update the blog pretty often, and you can also read an excerpt. But the very best page is the one on which you can buy the book.

Thanks for visiting.