Art of Living Other People's Lives: Stories, Confessions, and Memorable Mistakes

by Greg Dybec

"Greg Dybec is the quirky, neurotic, funny little brother I never had. The Art of Living Other People's Lives is a terrific collection of relatable, hilarious stories." -- Jen Mann, New York Times bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat When he isn't responsible for pleasing tens of millions of online readers a month as the managing editor of Elite Daily, Greg Dybec worries about rent, sex, love, family, and--the most millennial topic of them all--a desire to leave a legacy. In The Art of Living Other People's Lives, Greg delivers a funny, brash, insightful collection of stories on becoming a pick-up artist to get over an ex-girlfriend, late-night adventures with his Uber drivers, a writing gig about men's underwear, and so much more. Whether he's learning to hashtag from his tech-savvy mom, pestering Mark Cuban for life advice, or eavesdropping on strangers for story ideas, Greg takes readers on a hilariously neurotic and self-analytical journey that explores the struggle of balancing his plugged-in persona with his real-world self. Along the way, he -- and you -- might discover that life is a whole lot simpler online.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy, Memoir, Short Stories

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

Greg Dybec is a New York City based writer and digital media professional. He is currently the managing editor of Elite Daily, the popular millennial publisher. He is a New York native and graduated from St. John's University with a degree in English. The Art of Living Other People's Lives is his first book.

Reviews

[Clumsy Storyteller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first half of this book, i wasn't blown away by it. So.... 3 stars.

Full review on my other account

[MAILA · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANKS GREG FOR WRITING THIS BOOK!!!!

dan btw saya seneng banget di notice Greg di twitter pas saya mention lagi baca buku ini ke dia xD


Google play book merekomendasikan buku ini dan memberikan diskon 75% pada saya. waktu itu saya nggak tau ini buku apa, dan karena potongan harganya sangat menarik (dari harga asli 239.000) serta sampulnya yang superlucu, saya pun membeli dan sangat tidak menyesal.

kalau kamu bertanya buku macam apa yang ingin kamu tulis maka mungkin buku ini salah satu jawaban saya. alih2 novel atau kumpulan cerpen, saya paling suka membaca buku kumpulan esai seperti ini. selain karena based true story, membaca kumpulan esai seperti ini seperti mencoba memahami diri sendiri dengan baik.

dan yap dugaan saya tidak salah. tulisan2 di buku ini mengalir dengan lancar bikin kayak kita lagi nonton Greg lagi standup comedy karena beberapa tulisan banyak yang membahas tentang humor.

terdiri dari 19 esai yang membahas berbagai macam aspek yang pernah terjadi dalam hidup Greg: dunia pekerjaan, lingkungan sosial, internet fame, internet live, pekerjaan, hubungan asmara, hubungan dengan keluarga dan juga ada 1 esai menarik tentang salah satu tahun terpenting bagi Greg ketika ia mengambil suatu keputusan jangka panjang untuk hidupnya.

Mungkin karena pekerjaan sehari2 Greg menulis artikel macam Thought catalog kali ya, jadi pembaca bisa merasa ''iiih ini gue banget'' di setiap tulisan yang ada. tapi menurut saya Greg juga memiliki bakat alami sebagai storyteller. pas selesai baca buku ini entah mengapa saya menduga kalau Greg berzodiak Gemini atau Libra (lah, apa hubungannya) wqwq

buku ini masuk ke 100 buku favorit saya sepanjang masa. saya rasa ini wajib dibaca oleh semua orang khususnya, orang2 yang berkecimpung di dunia internet (yang sama saja itu berarti kita semua). berkecimpung yang saya maksud disini tidak hanya yang 100% mencari uang dari internet, tetapi juga untuk pengguna pasif entah itu hanya membuka internet untuk membaca berita saja atau hanya untuk chatting dengan keluarga.

setelah membaca buku ini mungkin kamu akan ingin sejenak break dari internet dan lebih banyak menghabiskan waktu dengan orang2 di sekitar kita.

saya pengen beli versi cetaknya banget sih. bagus buat koleksi hehe

beberapa kutipan kesukaan saya:

''you hear that people are their most honest selves when they think nobody is looking, and the internet proves it. simple, just look at your browser history. you will find yourself'' (lollllll, saya langsung buka tab history saya dan untungnya isinya kalau gak link download film jepang ya link cari subtitle di subscene wqwq)

''maybe all the breakups in our lives are just reminders there's still a lot we have to learn about ourselves before relying on other people happiness''

''sharing isn't someting we're born understanding. it's a lesson we all have to learn as children. and even as adults, it's something that has to be learned over and over again. sharing material things is the first step, but sharing the personal space we feel is ours requires a lot more selflessness.''

''anxiety is great, it's like getting high without taking drugs''

and

''sometimes you just gotta be your own hero and save your own little heart. Because sometimes the people you can't imagine living without can live without you''

REKUMEEENNNN!!!!!

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confession time: I had no idea who Greg Dybec was until I started reading this, and I had never visited (or even heard of) the Elite Daily website. In case, if like me, you are a not a millennial, Greg Dybec is the managing editor of Elite Daily, which apparently is a popular site and The Voice of Generation Y. In this collection of anecdotes and memories, Greg covers a wide range of topics in an easy-to-read, humorous manner.
Greg is half my age and the same age as one of my daughters. In spite of that, I found stuff I could relate to. His musings on his relationship with religion or the state of his bond with his family were easy to relate to at whatever stage of life you happen to be. Other stories, such as his obsession with Uber or Twitter, I enjoyed precisely because I couldn't relate to them at all, but they were really interesting to read about because it was so different to my own life. Some of them were pretty funny, such as his experience of becoming a pick-up artist; all were candid and contained solid self-reflection.
In all the short stories, he comes across as very ambitious (no real surprise considering his success at the age of 25), passionate and as a generally very nice guy who has a great sense of humor and a definite talent for writing concise and thoughtful pieces. There is nothing profoundly deep in here, but as light entertainment, which you can read in brief intervals, this was enjoyable. I would hazard a guess that males of a similar age to Greg would appreciate this even more than I did.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and easy read. It's kinda strange to read a biography of someone a decade younger. Guess what I did after I finished reading; a visit to the Elite Daily, of course!

[Khadidja Megaache · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first half of this book, i wasn't blown away by it. So.... 3 stars.

I was ambivalent about his first chapter about "snooping on people's private thoughts"(questions asked in searching engine) although the identity and location of the person remained unknown to him I felt like it was a violation at some extent of their privacy.

There are pros and cons to everything in this book. Especially his first confession. Although I was amazed by it, I didn't quiet like it. The confession being "the capacity to read questions asked by random strangers on the internet..."

Side note: if someone would read my most searched questions they'll find
- why teachers are a**holes?
- how long you survive on eating pizza and drinking soda before you die from malnutrition?
- do I have cancer?
- I have new freckles on my hands, do I have skin cancer? (Couldn't find an answer to this day).

The book was recommended by one of my favorite youtubers; Joe Santagato. it was a fun, quick read if anyone wants to check it out.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who is a fan of Greg's from his podcast "Other People's Lives," (unrelated to the book) reading this in his voice is not difficult. It's easy to tell that these stories aren't fabricated because his personality shows through the words. As a fan of his, this collection of short stories that don't really go together are still an entertaining read.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really nice and funny book, I did't knew who Greg was before reading this nor his company but it was a pleasant surprise.

[Auderoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

FAV QUOTES:

For me, this book is a kind of confessional.

When we neglect those imperfect moments, we miss a chance for real growth.

If life is indeed all about balance, then it’s important to embrace the imperfect and the strange. If we lose that personal honesty, then whom exactly are we living for—ourselves or everyone else? Who knows, maybe it’ll always be a little bit of both. I’m still trying to figure that out, one step, click, swipe, and text at a time.
Or maybe someone out there is close to discovering a way for us to just live inside our computers for the rest of time. In the event that happens, forget everything I just said.

Attracting people to a website shares a lot of similarities with the techniques used by pick up artists.

Can you get stuck together during sex

Can you fall in love with someone through texts

We’re all asking the same questions at some point in our lives, and there is something genuinely comforting in that.

We’re all trying to cope with what life throws at us, whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between. We’re all asking ourselves questions we’d never ask out loud.

In South Africa, people were prepared to perform the Heimlich maneuver on me when I attempted to pronounce “goeie môre,” which is Afrikaans for good morning.

We moved quickly through each city, taking in the sights, filling up on carbohydrates, and staring at gelato behind glass as if each flavor was a relic from Jesus’s childhood laid out neatly on display.

We were poorly translated versions of ourselves, but we were ourselves nonetheless.

When the wine was finished, Francesco poured us all grappa he had made in his backyard. It tasted like gasoline and a hint of death, but that didn’t stop us from toasting to family and new friends.

We’re all strangers someplace.

He led me into the apartment and my jaw hit the floor. The ceiling was at least the height of a professional basketball hoop, which is the only way I am able to effectively judge the height of anything.

The notion that I’d somehow lose a piece of my childhood if my grandparents homes didn’t stay forever intact and stable next to one another was an impractical one, brought on by my mind’s irrational tendency to place the burden of existential fears onto something tangible. When I was younger I was convinced that if I didn’t say good night to my family they’d cease to exist while I slept. I also believed that if I didn’t pray before bed my house would set on fire. I’m not sure where that particular dread came from, but I think the Catholic church would be proud.

The night gives you too much time to think.

I figured every aspiring writer thrived from pain, isolation, and the validation that people don’t get you.

If anything, breakups should be renamed breakdowns.

Maybe the real definition of love is finding someone who doesn’t cause you to break down in order to build yourself up.

By embracing rejection as a normal part of life, we, in turn, exuded an undeniable aura of confidence.

It’s easy to talk about how difficult times made you a stronger person long after those difficult times are over.

There are plenty of moments in life in which you realize you’ve been seeing only what you want to see, looking clear past the reality of a situation.

What starts as a fervent, Al Pacino-style pump-up speech always ends up losing steam and heading in the direction of, “well, if I die, I’ve done a lot of things and seen a lot of places.”

The purpose is to preserve one positive moment in time with them. To create one memory of laughter and joy that may come back to them during a less fun time.

People don’t trust anyone who doesn’t go ape shit and hit Mariah Carey-style notes when a puppy prances into the room.

That’s the terrible stigma surrounding illness; that it has to be something profound and visual for it to be real.

It’s refreshing when your unfounded assumptions are proven wrong, but at the same you wish you had the sense to never have assumed in the first place.

I was giddy with excitement. I hadn’t done much, but it was more than I thought I was capable of.

I have a theory now that a person isn’t a true New Yorker unless they’ve encountered a mouse that has made them question the proposed hierarchy of species.

Phil and Ethan could barely stand and were in the grips of the kind of howling, full-body laughter that can only be caused by a scheme devised with your friends. And weed.

The job of a successful website is to start conversations. And also to be all over social media like a case of herpes people can’t get rid of.

The odd beauty of the modern day, millennial-focused website is that it often feels like an honest, intelligent, outgoing friend, who sometimes gets too drunk on weekdays but who can explain to you what’s going on in Syria and rant about the building effects of global warming.

Life online can’t exist without life offline.

The Internet is a funny place when you take a peek behind the curtain. People forget it’s crafted and sustained by actual living, breathing, flesh-and-blood people, who are working actual hours for actual currency to live their actual lives. You probably see us everyday and don’t even know it, the same way I wonder how many people I walk by everyday on the streets are serial killers who have yet to be caught.

How often do you walk by friends engaged in conversation and hold doors for people on the phone and suddenly, without asking for it, you’ve become intermingled with their words? For that brief moment, their world becomes yours.

All you need to do is tell a girl you’re taking her on an adventure and she’ll do anything.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something I love so much about people just writing about what it is like to live

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Art of Living Other People's Lives: Stories, Confessions & Memorable Mistakes is a book that I didn't really know anything about when I was granted an ARC via Netgalley.

Greg Dybec is the editor for Elite Daily- a website that I've referred to only as clickbait for the past year or so with many of the articles popping up rudely in my Facebook stream.

This book was a really easy and light-hearted read. One thing that struck me and that was Dybec appears to be incredibly passionate and determined which he can probably attribute to such success at a young age. Honestly, it makes me look at my life with disgust and wonder what I've been doing for the better half of a decade.

This is a book of anecdotes and memoirs and sometimes a bit of a how-to. Some stories were actually a lot better than others, but given that I am the type of person who can't concentrate unless she is engaged, so that says something for this book.
Greg comes across as an all-round good guy who loves his family who is driven and who has a great sense of humour. He tells funny stories of trying to save a prostitute in Brazil, being a successful bar fly who had a 100% success rate at picking up girls any night of the week and his obsession with eavesdropping on the people of New York City.

If you are looking for an easy-light hearted book, give this one a go.

[Shawna Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know Greg Dybec personally, but after reading his collection of essays, I feel like I do -- his neuroses, the things that keep him awake at night, the interactions he has with friends and family -- they seem so familiar.

I felt connected to him in ways impossible for someone who lives forever away and who could never have -- and would never have -- the same experiences.

When Greg writes, it's like he dips his nib in elegance and scrawls thoughts, hopes and dreams that even pigeons could relate to. He captures the messy, glorious and confused Millennial generation and enraptures his audience with a keen wit and an unflagging determination to succeed.

If there's one flaw in this book, it's his own. Dybec's tragic flaw has him consumed with beating back the crushing tides of time and scuffing his legacy, refusing to go gentle into that good night.

And if that's a flaw, I don't want to be perfect.

Cheers Greg Dybec for a perfectly imperfect book.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real insights into the minds of the millenials.

[Herbert Lui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often read essay collections, but I'm happy I read this one. Greg's honesty and insight makes this an exciting and fulfilling read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several short stories based on experiences by the author. Some were harder to relate to due to the generational gap, but most of them were very funny.

[Jesse Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

"[My girlfriend] gets why I work such long hours and take on more than I can seemingly handle; a list that currently includes, but is not limited to, pleasing millions of Elite Daily readers, writing a book, traveling internationally to speak at media conferences, training for a marathon, reading books by only female authors for three consecutive months, and teaching myself the basics of American Sign Language."

UGH. I feel as if I just read over 200 pages written by the pretentious, privileged guys at my private university, all of which come from either Long Island, New York or the suburbs of Chicago. While the book had its funny and relatable moments, I couldn't get over the ego this guy has, and honestly, his life just isn't interesting enough to warrant a memoir. Seems like a lot of other reviews are coming from people who "don't understand millennials or the internet age", but growing up with internet and social media myself made this book that much harder to read. Dybec overexaggerates just how important he is; that, or he's delusional and needs to stop believing his mother when she tells him that he's perfect.

[Johan D'Haenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik ontdekte toevallig dit werk toen ik in Google de zoekopdracht "The lives of others" intikte. In deze tijden van internet en sociale media stelde ik me de vraag of en hoe en waarom we zo geïnteresseerd zijn in het leven van de anderen... dan wel of we niet eerder bezig zijn met informeren van de anderen over ons leven, of moet ik zeggen: het "opdringen" van ons leven aan anderen? En hoe zit dat dan met die privacy waar iedereen zo graag de mond vol van heeft?
En ja, dit leek me wel leuk... ik, een babyboomer die wil weten wat een millenial die werkt voor een internetsite denkt en schrijft over de kunst om het leven van anderen te leiden.
Ik werd niet teleurgesteld. Het boek leest zeer vlot en er zitten echt heel interessante stukjes in. De schrijver is duidelijk iemand die zich heel veel vragen stelt, die heel erg begaan is niet alleen met zichzelf, maar ook met zijn relatie met de anderen.
Ik heb natuurlijk ook de website waar hij redacteur van is opgezocht, Edit Daily... maar dat is toch niet mijn ding. Daarvoor zal ik wel te veel een babyboomer zijn zeker?

[Elliot Chalom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for some fun stories to gobble up in little nuggets here and there throughout the day -this book did the trick. Of course, I didn't know the world would change so dramatically midway through my reading! Stories about a crowded subway ring a little different after you've adopted social distancing and haven't been outside except for walks around the block for days!

In any event, some of these stories aren't going to be relatable and some will even offend certain readers. The fact is, it's exactly what you'd expect from a quarter-life memoir by the editor of a "modern-day, millennial-focused website" who lives in NYC. These are the stories of a 20-something privileged New Yorker with a reasonable amount of disposable income and friends who are in exactly the same boat. And you know what? Those stories are (mostly) fun! A little creepy, as Dybec admits, but still good harmless fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the yearbook of a generation: Greg Dybec's account of how to do it all and what happens to our brains when we can't. Because let's face it, our generation is expected to handle it all in stride: great schools, good-looking friends, a career worth bragging about and to back it all up, we need the social media followers to prove we're cool on top of all that. This self-portrait of a successful and adventurous guy-basically the kind of bloke you'd want to get stuck in line next to at the bar- is exactly what we need to be reading right now just so we know that we are not alone in our journey to be well-liked and semi-cool. It's humble, it's honest and it's well written in a way that's not pretentious or know-it-all. It's just...funny. In our world of extra glossy Facebook posts, this is apologetically honest and I give it all the "likes" it deserves.

[Mallory Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an Instagram contest, and was the lucky recipient of a copy of Greg's book, The Art of Living Other People's Lives. I had no idea what was in store for me, but was looking forward to this read.

From the very beginning my attention was kept by Greg's witty observations, some witty and wise, others self-aware and aloof. Millennials operate on such a spectrum of needing to be the smartest in the room, while maintaining a cool and well-liked persona. Greg laughs at himself and the world around him, integrating humility and drive in the most interesting ways.

As an "old Millennial" myself, I relate to what Greg shares in his vignettes, and as a college professor, I see so much that I can share in future semesters.

Thanks for the opportunity to read your book. readers::: do yourself a favor and pick this up!

[andreea · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading the introduction I found myself thinking "Wow, this is going to be so interesting" and I really wanted to like it more than I actually did. I can't say that I didn't like it either but it was not quite what I had expected.
In the book, Greg tells different stories about himself in general: life, job, family, relationships. The first part of the book is really funny and it made me laugh a lot and this is the reason why I gave it 3 stars, but the second part got a little bit more "serious" and I found myself wanting to finish is as soon as possible in order to start reading something new.

[Micheal Peggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greg does a beautiful job of storytelling. He makes you feel as if you are right there with him. the book is light hearted and extremely easy to read. I read this book as a recommendation from a friend and I was disappointed. the title makes it seem so fascinating, though the mini blurb leaves all to the imagination. The book is really just a quick collection of stories with no overarching theme. The author is good and I would give any future work a shot but I would hope it has something more valuable to offer than a quick smile. but then again, maybe that was the goal...

[Michael Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many a life lesson to take away from this book. Witty and snarky as it may be in spots, it offers something of a blueprint for how to be better around others when not knowing their whole story beneath the surface. Give each some grace when you're in public. Social media is an abhorrent masquerade cloaking society to make us all same far more satisfied than we actually are. Maybe put down TikTok or Facebook and go talk to someone about what could be a deeper routed issue. It's okay to get help. It's okay to not be okay.

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book partly because it was on the "Staff Recommended" shelf at the library and partly because it has an intriguing cover and title. I loved the first two stories. And the last story, The Art of Living Other People's Lives makes me now suspect anyone with headphones and I'm wearing a pair and bringing a notebook. The author has a great sense of humor and the stories were entertaining.

[Amy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun read! This book has been in my queue for some time, and I really wish I had read it sooner. Greg Dybec muses over how others have contributed to the person, and the writer that he is. Each vignette is well written and humorous, and those in their 20s and 30s will relate to his life well. The book is short and can be easily read in about 2 good sessions.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really funny book. It is a series of short stories that reflect the lives of other people whose lives often interact with the author. I hate mice, but the story about trying to catch a super fast "New York mouse"in their Astoria NY apartment is super funny. It is a good read. I'd have given the 5, but I save that for books that are incredible.

[Sinead E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so a friend recommended this to me and he really hyped it up, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't the most amazing book ever. It was fun at times but other times I didn't understand why the title of the book corresponded with what he was writing and I got bored. Luckily, there were more good times then bad and it was a fun book. Underhyped by book lovers but overhyped by some.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for the everyday millennial, Dybec's book is filled with anecdotes with topics ranging from love, career, and just being lost. It resonates with you, even though I live halfway across the world from the author's residence, since this book just proves that no matter where you live, we all experience the same feeling of being lost and being unsure in life.

As he so eloquently put it,

“Siamo tutti estranei da qualche parte.

We're all strangers someplace.”

[Stefani Delonge · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not, for the life of me, get into this book. I found it to be very redundant and longer than it needed to be. Often times it felt like this was written by a frat boy who had been partying too late the night before needed to write an essay and only had a couple of hours to do it. The stories were pretentious and unrelatable (unless you’re a rich white male in your mid twenties).

[vatana is trying to read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I... don’t know how I got to the end, but I did. I picked this book up solely because I liked the title. I did have fun reading but I find the overall content quite underwhelming.

Greg Dybec sure knows how to write though.

[heeds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read of a collection of short stories by someone I'll probably forget tomorrow. Good to pass time but all I wanted to do was to quickly get it over and done with so that I can start my next book.