The Case for Quitting
How Letting Go Can Help You Build the Life You Want
Will be published approx. on 27. August 2026
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-0-00-856802-3 (ISBN)
Description
In a world that prizes persistence, acclaimed journalist Lindsay Crouse offers a radical strategy for getting what we want: Quit.
We live in a society that champions perseverance, sweat, and tenacity no matter the cost. But what if our relentlessness results in failure, sunken costs, and poor health, rather than success, happiness, and vitality?
An endurance athlete and 15-year veteran of the New York Times, Crouse explores stories from across our lives - work, relationships, and broader goals - to argue that when perseverance turns against us, quitting isn't just a way out. Often, it's the first step to something better. A pivot. A break. A chance to go further - or be free.
She delves into the science of perseverance versus walking away from aspects of our lives, and relays a diverse blend of compelling personal stories, historical examples, and psychological insights - from the origins of the self-help genre to Bear Bryant's "hell camp" to the Finnish concept of sisu, resilience - to answer such questions as:
When is it time to let go of unproductive efforts?
How does quitting make new opportunities?
When are relationships growing and when are they just a dangerous rut?
For anyone at a crossroads in their personal or professional lives, The Case for Quitting is a groundbreaking guide that ruptures our core beliefs. Career seekers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone exploring new opportunities or feeling stuck in unproductive routines will appreciate its insights on the courage and - importantly - strategy involved in quitting.
We live in a society that champions perseverance, sweat, and tenacity no matter the cost. But what if our relentlessness results in failure, sunken costs, and poor health, rather than success, happiness, and vitality?
An endurance athlete and 15-year veteran of the New York Times, Crouse explores stories from across our lives - work, relationships, and broader goals - to argue that when perseverance turns against us, quitting isn't just a way out. Often, it's the first step to something better. A pivot. A break. A chance to go further - or be free.
She delves into the science of perseverance versus walking away from aspects of our lives, and relays a diverse blend of compelling personal stories, historical examples, and psychological insights - from the origins of the self-help genre to Bear Bryant's "hell camp" to the Finnish concept of sisu, resilience - to answer such questions as:
When is it time to let go of unproductive efforts?
How does quitting make new opportunities?
When are relationships growing and when are they just a dangerous rut?
For anyone at a crossroads in their personal or professional lives, The Case for Quitting is a groundbreaking guide that ruptures our core beliefs. Career seekers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone exploring new opportunities or feeling stuck in unproductive routines will appreciate its insights on the courage and - importantly - strategy involved in quitting.
Reviews / Votes
'Lindsay Crouse has done a wonderful job combining vivid descriptions of the lives of extraordinary people with thoughtful discussion of social science evidence to make a convincing case that, at least sometimes, 'I give up' is the right thing to say. It's not easy to know when to quit, but 'Never Quit' is terrible, destructive advice' Barry Schwartz, bestselling author of The Paradox of Choice and Choose Wisely 'The Case for Quitting should be required reading for anyone feeling trapped by the pressure to push through. Lindsay Crouse exposes the dangerous myth that perseverance is always a virtue and offers actionable insights to transform your approach to success and happiness' Annie Duke, bestselling author of Quit and Thinking In Bets 'Finally! Lindsay Crouse says it loud and clear: There's a big difference between quitting and changing. So go ahead and change your mind or your path. You get to change them more than once' Meg Jay PhD, bestselling author of The Defining Decade and The Twentysomething Treatment 'Lindsay Crouse has written an important corrective to our culture's obsession with relentless achievement. The Case for Quitting reminds us that flourishing depends not only on commitment, but on discernment-the ability to recognize when a path is no longer helping us become who we want to be' Bob Waldinger, MD, Harvard Medical School professor and New York Times bestselling author of The Good LifeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-856802-3 (9780008568023)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
William Collins
€22.24
Not yet available
Person
Lindsay Crouse is an author, producer, and journalist. For more than 14 years, she was an editor, writer and producer at The New York Times, where her Emmy-nominated work on women's sports brought widespread change to the industry, including maternity protections for pregnant athletes. In the Times's Opinion section, she wrote and commissioned widely read essays and produced hundreds of short documentaries, including the Times's first Academy Award-winning film. A life-long competitive distance runner, she graduated from Harvard College, and lives in New York City with her family.