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Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World
"I loved this profound, practical, and generous book."—Oliver Burkeman
A transformative guide to rethinking our approach to goals, creativity, and life itself from a neuroscientist and entrepreneur, and the creator of the popular Ness Labs newsletter
Life isn’t linear, and yet we constantly try to mold it around linear goals: four-year college degrees, ten-year career plans, thirty-year mortgages. What if instead we approached life as a giant playground for experimentation? Based on ancestral philosophy and the latest scientific research, Tiny Experiments provides a desperately needed reframing: Uncertainty can be a state of expanded possibility and a space for metamorphosis.
Neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals that all you need is an experimental mindset to turn challenges into self-discovery and doubt into opportunity. Readers will replace the old linear model of success with a circular model of growth in which goals are discovered, pursued, and adapted—not in a vacuum, but in conversation with the larger world.
Throughout the book, you will ask hard questions and design simple yet meaningful experiments to find the answers. You will learn how to break free from the invisible cognitive scripts that shape your life, how to harness the power of imperfection, and how to make smarter decisions when the path forward is unclear.
This is a guide to:
� Discover your true ambitions through conducting tiny personal experiments
� Dismantle harmful beliefs about success that have kept you stuck
� Dare to make decisions true to your own aspirations
� Stop trying to find your purpose and start living instead
Tiny Experiments offers not just practical tools to make sure our most vital work gets done, but a guide to reawakening our curiosity and drive in a noisy, busy, disaffected world, so that we can discover and pursue our most authentic ambitions while making a meaningful contribution.
A transformative guide to rethinking our approach to goals, creativity, and life itself from a neuroscientist and entrepreneur, and the creator of the popular Ness Labs newsletter
Life isn’t linear, and yet we constantly try to mold it around linear goals: four-year college degrees, ten-year career plans, thirty-year mortgages. What if instead we approached life as a giant playground for experimentation? Based on ancestral philosophy and the latest scientific research, Tiny Experiments provides a desperately needed reframing: Uncertainty can be a state of expanded possibility and a space for metamorphosis.
Neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals that all you need is an experimental mindset to turn challenges into self-discovery and doubt into opportunity. Readers will replace the old linear model of success with a circular model of growth in which goals are discovered, pursued, and adapted—not in a vacuum, but in conversation with the larger world.
Throughout the book, you will ask hard questions and design simple yet meaningful experiments to find the answers. You will learn how to break free from the invisible cognitive scripts that shape your life, how to harness the power of imperfection, and how to make smarter decisions when the path forward is unclear.
This is a guide to:
� Discover your true ambitions through conducting tiny personal experiments
� Dismantle harmful beliefs about success that have kept you stuck
� Dare to make decisions true to your own aspirations
� Stop trying to find your purpose and start living instead
Tiny Experiments offers not just practical tools to make sure our most vital work gets done, but a guide to reawakening our curiosity and drive in a noisy, busy, disaffected world, so that we can discover and pursue our most authentic ambitions while making a meaningful contribution.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
957 people are currently reading
8,221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
March 10, 2025
Exceptionally good.
I'm glad I got to know about this book and actually read it. I'll highly recommend this to anyone who feels demotivated or burnt out from chasing after the traditional goals set by the society. All age groups will benefit from reading this.
I'm glad I got to know about this book and actually read it. I'll highly recommend this to anyone who feels demotivated or burnt out from chasing after the traditional goals set by the society. All age groups will benefit from reading this.
March 6, 2025
Clear and practical. What a great idea and execution.
March 14, 2025
I am a first year PhD student and this book was recommended to me in a how-to-PhD newsletter. This book gave me everything I wanted to hear from a "productivity" or "career" textbook (if you read the book you know why these words are in quotation marks...): That happiness is more important than what most consider productivity and that Chaos, failure, uncertainty and disruption is a natural thing to consider in thinking about what you want to DO in your life instead of focusing on accomplishing. The author touches on many aspects of leading a meaningful and happy life that often get overlooked, e.g. the value of social connections and overcoming fears.
I loved the framing an the concepts, I loved the complexity, and I loved listening to the author in the audiobook. I actually implemented two small experiments already and already learned something about myself.
Still, it's a self help book, and being who I am I could not follow through the last two chapters (yet).
I loved the framing an the concepts, I loved the complexity, and I loved listening to the author in the audiobook. I actually implemented two small experiments already and already learned something about myself.
Still, it's a self help book, and being who I am I could not follow through the last two chapters (yet).
March 7, 2025
Tiny Experiments is a different kind of book, in that it defies what you typically see in "Self-Help" nowadays. It's not a "follow your passion" type of book. Or a "follow this routine / practice to find happiness" type of book.
Instead, it replaces these concepts with a toolkit to help you experiment with those ideas that you always wanted to try, but were too: hard; big; vague; uncomfortable; or long.
It does this by helping you take that idea and transform it into a Tiny Experiment that is small, possible and super short (most impactful for me!). Then once you've completed it, or not (no judgment as it's just data), you can reflect on how it went and to see whether you want to Persist (start another cycle), Pivot (make a tweak and continue) or Pause (take a break).
Three Tiny Experiments in, I've been able to try out what an idea might be like. Tweak this to better align the idea with my actual life. Finish up with a counter experiment, to keep my biases in check. Through this short three weeks, I've been able to discovered three unique practices that I'll take forward to the life ahead.
So, if you've always had ideas that somehow slips away, Tiny Experiments may be the key to try them out and see for yourself if they are worth pursuing.
Instead, it replaces these concepts with a toolkit to help you experiment with those ideas that you always wanted to try, but were too: hard; big; vague; uncomfortable; or long.
It does this by helping you take that idea and transform it into a Tiny Experiment that is small, possible and super short (most impactful for me!). Then once you've completed it, or not (no judgment as it's just data), you can reflect on how it went and to see whether you want to Persist (start another cycle), Pivot (make a tweak and continue) or Pause (take a break).
Three Tiny Experiments in, I've been able to try out what an idea might be like. Tweak this to better align the idea with my actual life. Finish up with a counter experiment, to keep my biases in check. Through this short three weeks, I've been able to discovered three unique practices that I'll take forward to the life ahead.
So, if you've always had ideas that somehow slips away, Tiny Experiments may be the key to try them out and see for yourself if they are worth pursuing.
March 7, 2025
I really loved this book. As an entrepreneur going through a transitional time, the themes are proving very timely to what I am thinking next. I like the authors approach of experiments!
I’ve designed a few experiments for the rest of March that I am excited to test in both my life and business.
I’ve designed a few experiments for the rest of March that I am excited to test in both my life and business.
March 7, 2025
What a wonderful way to reset my entire outlook life. Anne-Laure Le Cunff fosters and encourages readers to embrace uncertainty which is a welcome antidote to pressure of achieving perfection. As an ex-teacher and a life long lover of learning this is exactly the mindset we should be embedding at all ages. Having left the education system both as a student and professionally this comes as an important reminder to always be curious and always be learning. Would highly recommend if you too want to turn your life into a series of mini adventures!
March 15, 2025
Transformative!
March 10, 2025
As a member of the Ness Labs community, I had high expectations for this book, especially since the PACT framework was introduced in one of the author’s workshops. While the core idea is strong, I often felt lost due to the sheer number of examples provided, which distracted me from the central point she was trying to make. The examples felt underdeveloped, excessive, and sometimes out of place, making the book feel cluttered rather than insightful. I always appreciate simple and relevant anecdotes, but here it felt like she was constantly trying to show off rather than genuinely illustrating her ideas.
Concepts (mentioned originally when I was introduced to PACT) like the Wayfinder mindset, MoSCoW method, interstitial journaling, gardener/librarian/architect comparison, and the Eisenhower Matrix—which would have strengthened the approach—were missing.
The author does a fantastic job with short-form content, but in a longer format, it seemed like she struggled to choose a clear direction for structuring the book. A more thoughtful, well-organized approach would have done the framework justice. If you're new to these ideas, you might find value in it, but for me, it feels incomplete and disappointing.
Concepts (mentioned originally when I was introduced to PACT) like the Wayfinder mindset, MoSCoW method, interstitial journaling, gardener/librarian/architect comparison, and the Eisenhower Matrix—which would have strengthened the approach—were missing.
The author does a fantastic job with short-form content, but in a longer format, it seemed like she struggled to choose a clear direction for structuring the book. A more thoughtful, well-organized approach would have done the framework justice. If you're new to these ideas, you might find value in it, but for me, it feels incomplete and disappointing.
March 10, 2025
I appreciate Anne-Laure's fresh and creative take on success:
“Success is the lifelong experiment of discovering what makes you feel most alive.�
I hope you get a copy so it tickles your curiosity, opens your mind, awakens your adventurous spirit, warms your generous heart, inspires your tiny experiments, makes you laugh, and touches you as profoundly as it does me.
Thank you channeling Anne-Laure for your breadth of knowledge, somatic wisdom, relatable stories, useful mental models, and easy to use tools.
“Success is the lifelong experiment of discovering what makes you feel most alive.�
I hope you get a copy so it tickles your curiosity, opens your mind, awakens your adventurous spirit, warms your generous heart, inspires your tiny experiments, makes you laugh, and touches you as profoundly as it does me.
Thank you channeling Anne-Laure for your breadth of knowledge, somatic wisdom, relatable stories, useful mental models, and easy to use tools.
March 20, 2025
What an incredible and unexpected find! The book delivers a refreshingly original concept with remarkable finesse. I didn’t want it to end, as it masterfully balances practicality and efficiency while offering a diverse set of creativity and life-planning tools.
I appreciate books that inspire self-improvement while maintaining an uplifting tone, especially when highlighting so many relevant areas for growth for me. The author’s warmth—likely propelled by her humility and generosity—enhances the impact of her thoughtful and elegantly simple life advice. This is undoubtedly a book I will return to time and again. Easy 5.
I appreciate books that inspire self-improvement while maintaining an uplifting tone, especially when highlighting so many relevant areas for growth for me. The author’s warmth—likely propelled by her humility and generosity—enhances the impact of her thoughtful and elegantly simple life advice. This is undoubtedly a book I will return to time and again. Easy 5.
March 9, 2025
This book was just what I needed to hear. Everything to help beat procrastination, plan for the future and just see where life goes. Would recommend to those who worry about little things with work and the future.
Thank you to the publishers for the advanced readers copy 😁😁
Thank you to the publishers for the advanced readers copy 😁😁
February 15, 2025
For all its faults, this book has much to be taken from it. Especially by people who are only at the beginning of their journey to take a step back from burn out. With that being said, the author frequently quick fires different stories, analogies and ideas, but doesn’t give most of them enough screen time to fully develop. Even though the ideas are more mindful than blindly goal chasing in life, the book suggests a lot of reskinned versions of goal-oriented life. I would like to reiterate that there is still a lot to takeaway from this book. It is not bad by any means.
March 6, 2025
Tiny Experiments is full of wisdom for this productivity obsessed world. Unlike many books in this genre (and I have read lots of them), Le Cunff offers practical tools for curious minds to expand and spread. I feel that I have come home. The tools are fantastic and practical - dare I say fun - to use. Plus-Minus-Next is my go to for weekly reviews and reflection. The book is honest and hopeful for living a generative life with others. Highly recommend.
March 5, 2025
A Life-Changing Approach to Success
Tiny Experiments is a must-have if you're questioning your path to success. Anne-Laure Le Cunff provides an actionable, refreshing perspective—encouraging small, manageable experiments rather than rigid, overwhelming plans. Her approach redefines success as any positive outcome from new experiences, no matter how small. This book is both inspiring and practical, making it easy to apply its lessons right away. Highly recommended!
Tiny Experiments is a must-have if you're questioning your path to success. Anne-Laure Le Cunff provides an actionable, refreshing perspective—encouraging small, manageable experiments rather than rigid, overwhelming plans. Her approach redefines success as any positive outcome from new experiences, no matter how small. This book is both inspiring and practical, making it easy to apply its lessons right away. Highly recommended!
March 24, 2025
Written with vast enthusiasm but lacking any new or revolutionary content, ‘Tiny Experiments� reads like an eleven year old has mistaken common understanding for profound insight and has written a book to proselytise on this life-changing discovery.
Worse still, said eleven year old has failed to recognise the part privilege, support systems, natural temperament and luck play in many people’s success, and believes that following certain steps—just like a magic spell—will undoubtedly lead to the same success the people she mentions and she herself has experienced and so everyone ought to do it. (Spoiler alert: it won’t. And while some people might find the tips useful, many people will find the advice didn’t suit them in the past and doesn’t suit them still, or that it’s applicable in some contexts but not in others.)
I wanted this book to be as novel and transformative as it promised to be, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case for me, and I doubt it will be for anyone who’s over the age of 25, who’s read any kind of self-improvement material or who’s ever engaged in meaningful self-refection. That said, the book is readable, and it certainly isn’t the worst self-help/productivity book out there. I found it an interesting case study in how unacknowledged privilege can lead to distorted perceptions. In the spirit of ‘tiny experiments�, try it for yourself and see what you take from it. Just don’t expect it to be life-changing. (And don’t blame me if you feel it’s a waste of time and money!)
Worse still, said eleven year old has failed to recognise the part privilege, support systems, natural temperament and luck play in many people’s success, and believes that following certain steps—just like a magic spell—will undoubtedly lead to the same success the people she mentions and she herself has experienced and so everyone ought to do it. (Spoiler alert: it won’t. And while some people might find the tips useful, many people will find the advice didn’t suit them in the past and doesn’t suit them still, or that it’s applicable in some contexts but not in others.)
I wanted this book to be as novel and transformative as it promised to be, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case for me, and I doubt it will be for anyone who’s over the age of 25, who’s read any kind of self-improvement material or who’s ever engaged in meaningful self-refection. That said, the book is readable, and it certainly isn’t the worst self-help/productivity book out there. I found it an interesting case study in how unacknowledged privilege can lead to distorted perceptions. In the spirit of ‘tiny experiments�, try it for yourself and see what you take from it. Just don’t expect it to be life-changing. (And don’t blame me if you feel it’s a waste of time and money!)
January 28, 2025
I wanted to like this because the title was endearing, but it was too textbook and overwhelming. There was the usual ‘take the plunge, quit your job and follow your dreams� theories, but life isn’t always so forgiving. I gave this book a clear chance, read it through, tried to find some takeaways, but it fell flat for me. 😕
- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a ŷ giveaway.
- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a ŷ giveaway.
March 10, 2025
I liked the title and the concept of tiny experiments. However, the title felt misleading. I expected a book full of creative experiments, but instead, it was more of a pep talk for corporate professionals on a hamster wheel. If you’re looking for permission to step off the career ladder and try something different, this book might be for you—but it wasn’t what I was hoping for.
April 8, 2025
I sometimes read the author's Substack so picked up this book when it came out. It pretty much reads as a mash-up of Atomic Habits and Design Thinking. Instead of linear goals, the author advocates for growth loops, consisting of experiments with taking action over a set time period or number of repetitions, then reassessing.
Read
March 10, 2025I felt a deeper connection with myself after reading this book. It offered a perspective on personal and professional growth that resonated on a fundamental level. It felt as if someone had entered my mind, extracted my tension points, and rearranged them to bind intuition, emotion, and logic to my feelings.
While the writing style itself didn’t feel like a cohesive story that immediately captivates the reader, the key points presented a unique lens through which to view the world.
Will add more soon.
While the writing style itself didn’t feel like a cohesive story that immediately captivates the reader, the key points presented a unique lens through which to view the world.
Will add more soon.
Read
March 4, 2025Thank you @avery_books for this gifted copy of Tiny Experiments by @neuranne Anne-Laure Le Cunff.
Who is the ideal audience for this book? Maybe a new college graduate who is debating between a linear career path and following their own curiosity —or someone feeling stuck on the conveyor belt of their career.
Nothing about my career has been linear. I was the first in my family to earn a bachelor degree. I’ve been a high school English teacher, a website builder, a copywriter, a restaurant critic, a small business owner, a communications manager for an engineering college, and a director of communications for a county library system. Curiosity fueled each path.
I love experiments and what Le Cunff calls “pacts.� I enjoyed @beckyhigginsllc’s Project 365 � taking a photo every day in 2010, and then creating a 1second-a-day (daily-ish) video in 2016. Writing 100 stories in 100 days in celebration of the CU Archives 100th birthday in 2018. Reading a different short story every day for a month in 2015 with @onelitchick, embracing @angierockowfitness 2025 challenge to watch every Nora Ephron movie. One year Bri and I tried to come up with regular date nights that weren’t dinner and a movie (oh the days when there were always great movies we wanted to see!). I’ve always loved tiny experiments.
Her ideas about toxic productivity resonated but she lost me with this line: “Let’s be honest: Nobody really wants to live a productive life. We want to express ourselves, connect with others and explore the world.�
Will I sound like a boomer when I agree with those three but also want to be of use? I’ve always loved Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s response when @gretchn
asked her the secret to a happy life: “Worth worth doing.�
That’s resonates to my core, whether it be digging weeds in our garden, changing a child’s diaper, cooking a meal or yes, writing a news story for a university.
I want to push back on some ideas. There is a lot to be said for considering your legacy, the impact you leave behind—I see it as encouragement to plant oak trees instead of populars and contribute to causes that may not “succeed� in your life time. Le Cuff says “generativity� is a better focus—your immediate actions here and now. I don’t think they’re as different as she does—legacy just lets go of immediate results, in my opinion. The book suffers from a lot of dualistic thinking in order to make her ideas stand out in contrast to others.
The more linear career path can be great for some. Brian graduated with a business degree but once he fell in love with forestry, wildland firefighting and fuels management, that became the focus of his graduate studies and his work for the past 30 years.
I appreciated her reference notes and index, though I’m surprised to read about the space between stimulus and response and not find any attribution to Viktor Frankl or even Stephen Covey.
Le Cunff has built an online community called Ness Labs—so maybe she is offering something younger adults are craving. There were good ideas here but also a lot of selective examples and some self-help fluff.
I was excited to see Oliver Burkeman provided a blurb but I should have noted that Tara Schuster did too. My favorite nonfiction writer and my least: that about sums up my reaction to the book as well.
Who is the ideal audience for this book? Maybe a new college graduate who is debating between a linear career path and following their own curiosity —or someone feeling stuck on the conveyor belt of their career.
Nothing about my career has been linear. I was the first in my family to earn a bachelor degree. I’ve been a high school English teacher, a website builder, a copywriter, a restaurant critic, a small business owner, a communications manager for an engineering college, and a director of communications for a county library system. Curiosity fueled each path.
I love experiments and what Le Cunff calls “pacts.� I enjoyed @beckyhigginsllc’s Project 365 � taking a photo every day in 2010, and then creating a 1second-a-day (daily-ish) video in 2016. Writing 100 stories in 100 days in celebration of the CU Archives 100th birthday in 2018. Reading a different short story every day for a month in 2015 with @onelitchick, embracing @angierockowfitness 2025 challenge to watch every Nora Ephron movie. One year Bri and I tried to come up with regular date nights that weren’t dinner and a movie (oh the days when there were always great movies we wanted to see!). I’ve always loved tiny experiments.
Her ideas about toxic productivity resonated but she lost me with this line: “Let’s be honest: Nobody really wants to live a productive life. We want to express ourselves, connect with others and explore the world.�
Will I sound like a boomer when I agree with those three but also want to be of use? I’ve always loved Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s response when @gretchn
asked her the secret to a happy life: “Worth worth doing.�
That’s resonates to my core, whether it be digging weeds in our garden, changing a child’s diaper, cooking a meal or yes, writing a news story for a university.
I want to push back on some ideas. There is a lot to be said for considering your legacy, the impact you leave behind—I see it as encouragement to plant oak trees instead of populars and contribute to causes that may not “succeed� in your life time. Le Cuff says “generativity� is a better focus—your immediate actions here and now. I don’t think they’re as different as she does—legacy just lets go of immediate results, in my opinion. The book suffers from a lot of dualistic thinking in order to make her ideas stand out in contrast to others.
The more linear career path can be great for some. Brian graduated with a business degree but once he fell in love with forestry, wildland firefighting and fuels management, that became the focus of his graduate studies and his work for the past 30 years.
I appreciated her reference notes and index, though I’m surprised to read about the space between stimulus and response and not find any attribution to Viktor Frankl or even Stephen Covey.
Le Cunff has built an online community called Ness Labs—so maybe she is offering something younger adults are craving. There were good ideas here but also a lot of selective examples and some self-help fluff.
I was excited to see Oliver Burkeman provided a blurb but I should have noted that Tara Schuster did too. My favorite nonfiction writer and my least: that about sums up my reaction to the book as well.
April 10, 2025
Really recommend to anyone feeling confused or behind in le 20s!! I wouldn’t say there are particularly new ideas in this book but Le Cunff’s ideas are very simply and beautifully presented. A lovely reminder to follow that flow and everything that comes with it �
March 10, 2025
The BEST reading experience is finding a sentence so good you have to close the book and stare at the wall for a minute.
This book is filled with such sentences, redefining success and replanting seeds to flower a fulfilling life.
It explores how to unlearn what adulting is supposed to look like and how frightening and confusing it can be, with all the stressful control mechanisms to push us to success. Anne Laure Le Cunff managed to capture perfectly what it truly means to have “success� for our generation while giving the reader the confidence to reframe limiting beliefs of failure.
We are exhausted by the ubiquitous self-help books that purport to have the winning formula but actually lead down another self conscious dead end street.
Action based solutions are brilliantly presented in a non-one-size-fits-all formula where it’s truly adaptable across disciplines and personality types.
Laziness & procrastination has advantages? I’m sorry what?? Backed by scientific research? You had me at “Tiny Experiments� with a sprinkling of colorful dots on the cover.
I not only feel okay about traits that were assigned to failures - but actually redubbed them as my superpowers. I’ve reached a new and healthier level of understanding myself.
Through her pragmatic & logical research, Dr. Le Cunff helps you realize you can accomplish the seemingly impossible - rather rephrase to realize that there is no such thing as the impossible.
The theories and concepts will literally change the way you think, question age old taboos and stereotypes of the neurodiverse - viewing ADD as advantageous to success. The wisdom shared is palpable. It provided me with the insight I needed to begin to more deeply understand myself and patterns and find new pathways to breaking said patterns in a holistic, pragmatic and sustainable way.
Other books have not spoken to me to this depth or degree - I would make this mandatory reading for every human being who wants to simply be at the top of their game while still embodying that joie de vivre - oh to be French!
Curiosity clearly didn’t kill the cat.
If you’re ready for it, this book will be the catalyst to radically change your approach to life - so attainable it’s scandalous!
This book is filled with such sentences, redefining success and replanting seeds to flower a fulfilling life.
It explores how to unlearn what adulting is supposed to look like and how frightening and confusing it can be, with all the stressful control mechanisms to push us to success. Anne Laure Le Cunff managed to capture perfectly what it truly means to have “success� for our generation while giving the reader the confidence to reframe limiting beliefs of failure.
We are exhausted by the ubiquitous self-help books that purport to have the winning formula but actually lead down another self conscious dead end street.
Action based solutions are brilliantly presented in a non-one-size-fits-all formula where it’s truly adaptable across disciplines and personality types.
Laziness & procrastination has advantages? I’m sorry what?? Backed by scientific research? You had me at “Tiny Experiments� with a sprinkling of colorful dots on the cover.
I not only feel okay about traits that were assigned to failures - but actually redubbed them as my superpowers. I’ve reached a new and healthier level of understanding myself.
Through her pragmatic & logical research, Dr. Le Cunff helps you realize you can accomplish the seemingly impossible - rather rephrase to realize that there is no such thing as the impossible.
The theories and concepts will literally change the way you think, question age old taboos and stereotypes of the neurodiverse - viewing ADD as advantageous to success. The wisdom shared is palpable. It provided me with the insight I needed to begin to more deeply understand myself and patterns and find new pathways to breaking said patterns in a holistic, pragmatic and sustainable way.
Other books have not spoken to me to this depth or degree - I would make this mandatory reading for every human being who wants to simply be at the top of their game while still embodying that joie de vivre - oh to be French!
Curiosity clearly didn’t kill the cat.
If you’re ready for it, this book will be the catalyst to radically change your approach to life - so attainable it’s scandalous!
April 29, 2025
Oliver Burkeman
"A more wide-reaching form of toxic precondition is what Anne-Laure Le Cunff, in her brilliant just-published book Tiny Experiments, calls "the tyranny of purpose" � the oppressive idea that the activities with which we fill our days must be leading up to something, to some final and finished state of having arrived at our destination in life, if they're to be worth doing in the first place. Her book is a practical guide to living experimentally and with curiosity in the deepest sense of those terms..."
"A more wide-reaching form of toxic precondition is what Anne-Laure Le Cunff, in her brilliant just-published book Tiny Experiments, calls "the tyranny of purpose" � the oppressive idea that the activities with which we fill our days must be leading up to something, to some final and finished state of having arrived at our destination in life, if they're to be worth doing in the first place. Her book is a practical guide to living experimentally and with curiosity in the deepest sense of those terms..."
April 23, 2025
Brief Summary of Book:
In this book, you will learn how to:
1. Get started by committing to curiosity.
2. Keep going by practicing mindful productivity.
3. Stay flexible by collaborating with uncertainty.
4. Dream bigger by growing with the world.
What I like about this book?
The Author made this book simple and easy to understand which opens up space for readers to take action by removing all the unnecessary stress of what a typical goal setting does. On top of that, Anne added easy to understand diagrams that I could grasp at a look to understand if time is short to re-read everything when I needed the information.
What I least enjoy about this book?
Like many self-help books in the marketplace, the first six chapters were useful and something I am intrigued to try out but from chapter seven till the end it was not fantastic but alright. Especially towards the end of the book, it felt like the Author was filling up word count for the book.
In Conclusion:
It was still worthwhile to read it especially how easy it was to start taking small actions for your pact. If you find yourself overwhelmed with the linear way of goal setting, give this book a read. It may helped.
Overall Rating: 3.8 to 4.0 Stars
In this book, you will learn how to:
1. Get started by committing to curiosity.
2. Keep going by practicing mindful productivity.
3. Stay flexible by collaborating with uncertainty.
4. Dream bigger by growing with the world.
What I like about this book?
The Author made this book simple and easy to understand which opens up space for readers to take action by removing all the unnecessary stress of what a typical goal setting does. On top of that, Anne added easy to understand diagrams that I could grasp at a look to understand if time is short to re-read everything when I needed the information.
What I least enjoy about this book?
Like many self-help books in the marketplace, the first six chapters were useful and something I am intrigued to try out but from chapter seven till the end it was not fantastic but alright. Especially towards the end of the book, it felt like the Author was filling up word count for the book.
In Conclusion:
It was still worthwhile to read it especially how easy it was to start taking small actions for your pact. If you find yourself overwhelmed with the linear way of goal setting, give this book a read. It may helped.
Overall Rating: 3.8 to 4.0 Stars
April 20, 2025
I think I've officially read too many books in this genre because they all blend together and are basically the same. I keep hoping one will jump out as being truly unique, and this one does have a slightly different approach in the idea of "tiny experiments", but it's pretty much just like every other book. (Probably because this is the third, or maybe fourth, book in this genre that I've read that was written by a former Googler). I was hoping for a bit of a heavier research/experimental approach and/or more neuroscience, but overall its' still a very helpful book, particularly if you haven't ready like 50+ on this topic as part of your own line of academic research.
March 29, 2025
Tiny Experiments is simultaneously a great starting point AND an expert resource for engaging with meaningful change in your life. It gives you the permission to be an imperfect human, and celebrates the fact that change and personal growth is messy and often doesn’t go the way we hope it will. Anne-Laure presents actionable steps and ideas to live your life like a scientist. This isn’t a guide to personal growth at all cost, it’s a love letter to curiosity and following that little voice in your head that asks, “what if?� I would recommend this book and will certainly be revisiting it in the future.
April 22, 2025
Nice premise but soooo boring
March 9, 2025
How often do you make life or career choices to feel consistent with your past (treating chapters of your life like sequels), feel socially validated (chasing a crowdpleasing vision of success) or feel committed to something grand (taking big risks in the name of passion)? How often do you feel stuck because of those exact choices?
Anne-Laure asks you to consider a different approach to making progress. One that frees you from the tyranny of perfectionism and purpose, and offers curiosity as a guiding compass instead. Tiny Experiments offers a protocol for personal growth to those chaffing as they climb their conventional career ladder, those who have eschewed the ladder for their "true purpose" but are still trapped by the endemic productivity mindset, and especially all those ready to make a change but overwhelmed by the idea of needing to nail it in the first go.
Think of the book as a reframe on everything you have been conditioned to think about goal-setting. You'll learn how to recognise the cognitive scripts that influence your decisions, you'll design tiny experiments that value pact loops and outputs over the traditional 'SMART' ladders and outcomes, and best of all - you'll practice becoming the scientist of your own life!
I was fortunate enough to be part of the Curiosity Collective - an ephemeral community created as part of the book launch where we collectively worked through one Pact > Act > React > Impact cycle. As a result I can tell you that one of the most liberating shifts you will make when you adopt the 'tiny experiment' mindset is going from feeling guilty about your actions - or inactions as the case often is, to feeling curious about how you are going and using it as data for your next decisions. Through metacognition tools like a Plus Minus Next journal, you will start tuning into internal and external signals to decide if you need to persist, pivot or pause. When everything is a tiny experiment, there is no failure - there is merely additional information that helps you make better choices.
If you find yourself in a liminal space - a time of transition and in-between moments where you are deciding what you want to do next, then grab this book as a companion guide and explore this space of possibilities with an experimentalist mindset.
Anne-Laure asks you to consider a different approach to making progress. One that frees you from the tyranny of perfectionism and purpose, and offers curiosity as a guiding compass instead. Tiny Experiments offers a protocol for personal growth to those chaffing as they climb their conventional career ladder, those who have eschewed the ladder for their "true purpose" but are still trapped by the endemic productivity mindset, and especially all those ready to make a change but overwhelmed by the idea of needing to nail it in the first go.
Think of the book as a reframe on everything you have been conditioned to think about goal-setting. You'll learn how to recognise the cognitive scripts that influence your decisions, you'll design tiny experiments that value pact loops and outputs over the traditional 'SMART' ladders and outcomes, and best of all - you'll practice becoming the scientist of your own life!
I was fortunate enough to be part of the Curiosity Collective - an ephemeral community created as part of the book launch where we collectively worked through one Pact > Act > React > Impact cycle. As a result I can tell you that one of the most liberating shifts you will make when you adopt the 'tiny experiment' mindset is going from feeling guilty about your actions - or inactions as the case often is, to feeling curious about how you are going and using it as data for your next decisions. Through metacognition tools like a Plus Minus Next journal, you will start tuning into internal and external signals to decide if you need to persist, pivot or pause. When everything is a tiny experiment, there is no failure - there is merely additional information that helps you make better choices.
If you find yourself in a liminal space - a time of transition and in-between moments where you are deciding what you want to do next, then grab this book as a companion guide and explore this space of possibilities with an experimentalist mindset.
March 4, 2025
Anne-Laure Le Cunff has an experimental mindset. When I heard about her book I pre-ordered the Audiobook and the Kindle and I will buy the hardcover later on because this is in my top 5 book list of all time. I have joined Ness Labs, Anne-Laure Le Cunff's community on Circle after 4 weeks in the book launch community "Curiosity Collective" where I learned a lot about the book. It is at least a 5 star book. This is what I think about the book.
The book Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff presents an alternative approach to personal and professional growth, where linear goals are replaced by an experimental mindset. It encourages readers to embrace systematic curiosity, welcome uncertainty, and see internal resistance as valuable feedback. Through small, repeatable experiments, readers can explore their potential, align their actions with their authentic ambitions, and follow a non-linear path where every crossroads invites adventure. The book emphasizes the importance of mindful productivity, harnessing natural rhythms, embracing imperfection, and learning in public to lead a balanced and fulfilling life.
Three action points to enhance your life based on the book:
- Make pacts: Create small, repeatable activities with specific actions and durations to stimulate curiosity and learn from your experiences.
- Keep field notes: Observe and record your activities, thoughts, and emotions to identify recurring themes and gain insights.
- Apply the "Plus Minus Next" tool: Reflect weekly on both positive and negative observations, using these insights to shape your actions for the upcoming period.
The main key takeaway of the book is to embrace an experimental approach to life. Instead of pursuing rigid, linear goals, it encourages using curiosity as your compass, designing small experiments, and learning from the results—regardless of whether they are successful. This approach enables you to remain flexible, adapt to changing circumstances, and follow an authentic path that aligns with your personal values and interests.
The book Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff presents an alternative approach to personal and professional growth, where linear goals are replaced by an experimental mindset. It encourages readers to embrace systematic curiosity, welcome uncertainty, and see internal resistance as valuable feedback. Through small, repeatable experiments, readers can explore their potential, align their actions with their authentic ambitions, and follow a non-linear path where every crossroads invites adventure. The book emphasizes the importance of mindful productivity, harnessing natural rhythms, embracing imperfection, and learning in public to lead a balanced and fulfilling life.
Three action points to enhance your life based on the book:
- Make pacts: Create small, repeatable activities with specific actions and durations to stimulate curiosity and learn from your experiences.
- Keep field notes: Observe and record your activities, thoughts, and emotions to identify recurring themes and gain insights.
- Apply the "Plus Minus Next" tool: Reflect weekly on both positive and negative observations, using these insights to shape your actions for the upcoming period.
The main key takeaway of the book is to embrace an experimental approach to life. Instead of pursuing rigid, linear goals, it encourages using curiosity as your compass, designing small experiments, and learning from the results—regardless of whether they are successful. This approach enables you to remain flexible, adapt to changing circumstances, and follow an authentic path that aligns with your personal values and interests.
March 31, 2025
📖My New Favourite Book of 2025 (So Far): Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, PhD
Feeling lost? Feeling stuck? Some people say, “Just make a plan, set a goal, and do it!� Well, that never quite works for me—at least, not for long.
I’ve also swung to the opposite extreme, influenced by Daoism, Zen philosophy, and books like The Surrender Experiment. Yet I found it difficult to fully relinquish my ambitions and desire to actively shape my path.
As a big science fan who takes pride in the scientific method, I had the intuition to run “experiments� with my life—even setting up a journal called Lab Rat Log, with myself as the 🐁. But it didn’t quite work.
Then I read this book and realized my experiments were NOT tiny—they were way too big! I was trying to run rigorous experiments, but the maintenance cost was simply unsustainable. Key takeaway: in life experiments, bigger is NOT always better.
From a futurist perspective, I particularly enjoyed the chapters Deeper Sense of Time and Dance with Disruption. Experiments, rather than executing pre-planned goals, align better with navigating uncertain and multiple futures.
About the book itself: it’s an extremely practical guide to running your own life with tiny experiments—from questioning and reexamining taken-for-granted mindsets about goals, purpose, and procrastination to practical methods like setup packs, growth loops, and Social Flow. Backed by solid cognitive science research, this isn’t just another self-help book rehashing the same old advice. Highly recommended!
Feeling lost? Feeling stuck? Some people say, “Just make a plan, set a goal, and do it!� Well, that never quite works for me—at least, not for long.
I’ve also swung to the opposite extreme, influenced by Daoism, Zen philosophy, and books like The Surrender Experiment. Yet I found it difficult to fully relinquish my ambitions and desire to actively shape my path.
As a big science fan who takes pride in the scientific method, I had the intuition to run “experiments� with my life—even setting up a journal called Lab Rat Log, with myself as the 🐁. But it didn’t quite work.
Then I read this book and realized my experiments were NOT tiny—they were way too big! I was trying to run rigorous experiments, but the maintenance cost was simply unsustainable. Key takeaway: in life experiments, bigger is NOT always better.
From a futurist perspective, I particularly enjoyed the chapters Deeper Sense of Time and Dance with Disruption. Experiments, rather than executing pre-planned goals, align better with navigating uncertain and multiple futures.
About the book itself: it’s an extremely practical guide to running your own life with tiny experiments—from questioning and reexamining taken-for-granted mindsets about goals, purpose, and procrastination to practical methods like setup packs, growth loops, and Social Flow. Backed by solid cognitive science research, this isn’t just another self-help book rehashing the same old advice. Highly recommended!
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