The Case for Quitting: The Surprising Benefits of Opting Out

by Lindsay Crouse

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 strategy involved in quitting.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2026

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Seawitch]

In a culture that highly values grit and perseverance, quitting (a job, a race, a marriage) can often be seen as failure.

Lindsay Crouse - a journalist and competitive runner - provides a counter argument to blind determination and stick-to-it-tiveness. Through personal and other anecdotes and a summary of research she outlines a compelling case for when making a change is the best decision for both happiness and success. In fact, she argues that sometimes we can stay too long trying to push through obstacles when we’d be much better off abandoning the pursuit and taking a new path.

There are a lot of sports stories shared in this book which for me as a non-athlete were less interesting, but also plenty of illustrations of her points in relation to professional and personal decisions about changing course and finding happiness in a new direction.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tiffany]

I'm quitting this book. It's a facile pep talk, and I find the occasional usage of superficial cause and effect examples particularly irritating. Lots of better entries in this category of self help. If this had been my first read on the topic of quitting, perhaps it would have been a good introduction.

[Mirela]

Another book in the increasingly crowded “rethinking the grind” genre, but a more compelling one than many others thanks to its strong writing, persuasive argument, and good mix of examples and stories. The distinction between quitting and failure is worthwhile, and there are a couple of ideas here that genuinely felt new to me even as someone who is pretty deeply steeped in this life philosophy / practice (e.g., the analysis of differences in endurance and associated perseverance penalty between men and women; the discussion of visibility v. success).

That said, the main argument has been made before, and there’s nothing here that felt truly groundbreaking or particularly original. I also found the heavy reliance on celebrity examples a bit odd; for a book making a broader argument about how we approach work and life, I would have preferred more relatable examples with real-life tradeoffs.

Overall, thoughtful, well executed, and worth reading, but—particularly for readers who are well-read in this genre—not quite as revelatory as the premise suggests.

[Rachel Hutter]

The Case for Quitting will help you discover areas of your life where you are self-righteously persisting with things that are no longer serving you whether they be jobs, relationships or activities. Lindsay has a non-judgmental way of sharing stories and data that allowed me to examine my life objectively. We all have situations where we would be happy and healthier if we quit, but we are sticking with something out of either habit or pride. This book is a great catalyst to find those things that are draining our energy and quit them.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I honestly highly recommend this book.

[Anna Rollins]

I recently made a big quit. I shared the details that led to that decision with a professional I respect very much. After I spoke for some time, she looked at me and said, “it took more strength to quit than it did to push through.” Her words have continued to serve as such a gift to me. And this book felt like an extension of her insight. I particularly loved the chapter on quitting like a man. Highly recommend.

[Katrina]

Highly readable and well researched. A perfect read for anyone contemplating making a change but struggling with pulling the trigger on a new path.

Thank you to HarperOne and NetGalley for the advance reader's digital copy. #TheCaseforQuitting #NetGalley

[Tina]

3.5 Libby