If you could change anything about your personality, anything at all, what would it be?
And why would you want to change it?Writer Olga Khazan spent a year trying to answer those questions, and documented the experience in her new book Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change.
In this episode Sean speaks with Olga about the science of personality change, the work it takes to change yourself, and what makes up a personality, anyway.
Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling)
Guest: Olga Khazan, author of Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change.
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