Book Review - The Power of Habit

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and BusinessThe Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I already had this on my library reserve list when our CEO talked about it at a company meeting. He made me want to read it even more.

Duhigg explains how habits create actual changes to our brains, why it's so hard to change them and how some people are seemingly able to change while most people struggle.

He also talks about keystone habits which have more influence than other habits. If you change a keystone habit, it has a ripple effect on other habits. For example, if you develop an exercising habit, you'll eat, drink and smoke less, sleep more and spend less money. If you develop a financial budgeting habit, you'll exercise more, eat, drink and smoke less and sleep more.

Duhigg gives lots of examples from science, business, sports and personal stories of people who experienced very destructive habits. As I was reading, I was reminded of what they've been trying to drill into us at Weight Watchers. The most successful people on the plan are the ones that track their food. Duhigg actually cites a situation where people who consistently wrote down what they ate lost more weight than those who didn't but also had the added benefit of exercising more, spending less money, etc.

Of course, you have to want to change your habit before you can succeed. Therein lies the rub.

Really good book if you're into behavior studies or business.

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