Tiny Experiments

Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a neuroscientist and entrepreneur who writes the Ness Labs newsletter, makes a case against rigid, linear goals. Her argument is that people do better when they treat life as a space to experiment in, with goals found, pursued and revised along the way.

The book draws on ancient philosophy and current research to build a circular model of growth. Instead of fixing a destination and marching toward it, the reader tests small ideas and adjusts according to what turns up.

The core of the book is practical guidance on designing small, low-stakes experiments that answer hard questions about work and life. Along the way it deals with escaping unhelpful thinking patterns, accepting imperfection, and questioning harmful beliefs about what success means.

It also addresses how to decide when the path ahead is unclear. The emphasis falls on acting on one's aspirations and getting on with living, without waiting to uncover a single purpose.

Readers who feel worn down by goal-setting culture are the ones it suits. It offers a curiosity-led approach for careers, creative projects and personal change, with the question of what to try next at its center.