Questions About The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It

by Kelly McGonigal (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

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Answered Questions (2)

Is this book going to change your will or is it just meant to encourage? A friend once told me I seemed to read a lot of self-help books, though that hasn't changed my choices of what I read.

Gry Ranfelt This is a very technical book about the science behind how the human willpower works. The idea is that the more you know the better you can help yours…moreThis is a very technical book about the science behind how the human willpower works. The idea is that the more you know the better you can help yourself. It has been very helpful. It gives a lot of hands-on advice, like giving yourself a 10-minute gap before you can have the object of desire, taking five minutes to focus only on inhaling and exhaling, putting a candybowl out to strengthen your willpower etc. etc. I highly recommend. This may be the best self-help book I've read, period.(less)

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How does this book mesh with the questioning of the ego depletion model and studies that has recently arisen? Is it dependent upon ego depletion as a central idea? Or was it one of the earlier works questioning those studies? I guess I'm asking if the information in this book is still relevant or is it questionable in light of more recent findings?

Reinhardt This book does talk about the idea that self-control depletes your energy. But it qualifies that with the idea that it is a self imposed limit. If you…moreThis book does talk about the idea that self-control depletes your energy. But it qualifies that with the idea that it is a self imposed limit. If you believe you have no restraint when you're tired, you won't. It likens it to the idea of physical endurance. Physical fatigue is primarily the brain saying stop, not muscles getting to the end of their limits.

In no way is this the central theme of the book. Many other ideas and techniques are examined.(less)

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