The Case for Quitting

"Sometimes the most powerful way forward is knowing when to let go. In The Case for Quitting, Lindsay shows us how." — Allyson Felix, most-decorated Olympic track & field athlete in history "Required reading for anyone feeling trapped by the pressure to push through." — Annie Duke, bestselling author of Quit and Thinking In Bets 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:

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.

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.