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Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick
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A landmark book about how we form habits, and what we can do with this knowledge to make positive change
We spend a shocking 43 percent of our day doing things without thinking about them. That means that almost half of our actions aren't conscious choices but the result of our non-conscious mind nudging our body to act along learned behaviors. How we respond to the people ...more
We spend a shocking 43 percent of our day doing things without thinking about them. That means that almost half of our actions aren't conscious choices but the result of our non-conscious mind nudging our body to act along learned behaviors. How we respond to the people ...more
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Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
October 1st 2019
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
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Start your review of Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick
I have been on a kick for these kind of books lately but sometimes it can get difficult to read anything non-fiction. Sometimes it is why I hesitate to spend the money and worry that I am going to get bogged down with a lot of jargon I don't understand and techniques that are not practical. NOT THE CASE WITH THIS BOOK. This book explores the Science behind positive habits that stick and what it does for you to eliminate bad habits. Author Wendy Wood has done her research and has shared all that
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I appreciated the science behind this book, it was explained and laid out clearly. The one concept that I'd never heard of before and will try to incorporate in my life is friction. It was best illustrated by the cooking example. If you want to learn a new recipe the best way to do that is to have everything needed prepared before starting the recipe, ingredients, tools, pans ect after that then you can just concentrate on the recipe. This would be easy to use in many aspects of life.
A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
Rating: 3.5/5, rounded up to 4 - Thoroughly enjoyed it, although I do wish that it had been more concise.
This is the book to read if you want to learn everything there is to know about habits.
And I mean everything.
Wood goes into great detail on what distinguishes a habit from conscious cognition, how the neurology of habit formation differs from that of active choice, why our ...more
Rating: 3.5/5, rounded up to 4 - Thoroughly enjoyed it, although I do wish that it had been more concise.
This is the book to read if you want to learn everything there is to know about habits.
And I mean everything.
Wood goes into great detail on what distinguishes a habit from conscious cognition, how the neurology of habit formation differs from that of active choice, why our ...more
Dec 01, 2019
Deedi (DeediReads) Brown
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
next-big-idea-club,
i-own-it
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
I read this book as part of my subscription to The Next Big Idea Club, which is a quarterly book subscription of new big idea nonfiction titles curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. So, while I was nervous that would be yet another book about building habits (that should probably have just been a TED Talk), I decided to give it a shot.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book did NOT feel like so many others ...more
I read this book as part of my subscription to The Next Big Idea Club, which is a quarterly book subscription of new big idea nonfiction titles curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink. So, while I was nervous that would be yet another book about building habits (that should probably have just been a TED Talk), I decided to give it a shot.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book did NOT feel like so many others ...more
This was a really interesting way to think about habits and their formation. I enjoyed all the various studies that were sited as support for the authors theories. I also liked the way the book was laid out - easy to read, digest and understand. Now I'll see if I can make these "positive changes" stick! The approach is solid and my willpower is terrible, so I'm optimistic and excited to try making changes to context and friction for the positive habits I'm trying to adopt.
I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is jam-packed with facts from a multitude of studies. Ms. Wood has researched habits and left no stone un-turned. It makes sense that we keep good habits when they are easier and no longer require thought. The first step in acquiring new habits seems to be the most difficult because we really need to think it over and anticipate any hurdles we may need to overcome in order to continue the new habit. Working out,
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I'm nearly done reading this amazing book. I plan on reading it again. I've learned so much throughout each chapter. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to change their life. I'm on a mission now...
This is Non Fiction and it is exactly what the title says it is. I liked the science behind the author's research. A person's habits can overrule reason and logic and go directly against sensible goals that one may have. Wow...the power of habits. She also presented it in understandable chunks. I listened to the audio and it made for an interesting listen for my afternoon. I gave this 3 stars because I did like it, but it wasn't anything I haven't heard before. It was a good a reminder on how if
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Jan 13, 2020
B.P.
added it
Such a new year book. Ha ha. I got what I needed - a couple of techniques for making or breaking behaviour. Very useful. I didn't really need the lite scientific studies weakly propping up the techniques, they were unnecessary. As far as self-help books go, the author had a good tone, not too annoying.
If you are looking for someone to give you a numbered list of exactly what to do to become a true person of *good* habit, you will not find such a list in this book. Good Habits, Bad Habits provided an organized and highly readable listing of the science around habits. I loved reading these studies and almost immediately started inserting them into small talk conversation. In addition to providing me with cocktail chatter for months to come, this book also helped me recognize moments when I'm
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I really liked this book but at the same time it was a bit frustrating. The author illustrates hundreds of interesting studies that prove her point. It's unbelievable how much the power of habit controls our lives. And she proved to me that diets don't work, and worse that we always blame ourselves when a diet fails, pointing to our own lack of self control and weak willpower. Yet it's not our own willpower that failed us---it's the diet that failed us. There is a lot of money and resources that
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I always enjoy reading books that offer developmental tips and advice on a more personal level. Many times, it seems like some of it could be common sense, but seeing it on paper really brings it to the forefront of your mind. Additionally, we can all start positive habits, but making sure we consistently put this into practice and making it stick usually becomes a challenge. Wood really dives into the science of how to make lasting positive changes and provides a wealth of personal and
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Although I appreciate the author's expertise and experience, the book is too research oriented to capture my continuing interest and most likely that of the general public. There are several excellent points raised in the book that would stand out better if many of the statistics and studies were instead placed in the back reference section. Then, the true messages and findings would shine! I realize, however, it would make for quite a large reference which is already a bit hefty. I enjoyed the
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Received an ARC as a GoodReads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book, and I'll probably reread sections of it. It's easy to read and engaging, and includes lots of anecdotes that make it relatable. It discussed many experiments and scientific reports but didn't get bogged down in statistics. I learned a lot about the conditions that go into forming and maintaining habits, and understanding them can also help in finding ways to break bad habits. I kind of wish there was a summary/checklist of the
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Some or most of the ways to change your habits are kinda common knowledge, but just the act of reading it backed with evidence, research, etc. coerces you more to put those things in action (or inaction). Best giveaway I've gotten yet and quite possibly best self-help book I've read. Also, one needs to pair reading this book with possibly using apps that will help you along with adding or deleting habits.
This book is filled with so much information I thought my head would explode. Kidding. It was beneficial information and there were lots of real time examples, which I thought was really helpful. I'm not sure if it's helped me just yet, but I'm working on implementing changes to get rid of some not so great habits. The images in the book aren't very accurate and I don't think they add anything to the book.
I liked this almost as much as James Clear's Atomic Habits. Here are a few of my random notes:
Mark Twain said, “Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.”
“Our own behavior springs from some of the most mysterious, deeply hidden, and unrecognized sources of irrationality.”
“Excuse making is a talent at which our conscious minds excel.”
The food industry has been investing in hyperstimulating foods with the power to keep us eating. Scientists have devised ways to get you to eat more than ...more
Mark Twain said, “Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.”
“Our own behavior springs from some of the most mysterious, deeply hidden, and unrecognized sources of irrationality.”
“Excuse making is a talent at which our conscious minds excel.”
The food industry has been investing in hyperstimulating foods with the power to keep us eating. Scientists have devised ways to get you to eat more than ...more
If you want to change your habits then don’t bother asking a scientist. Much better to read the book of a practitioner like James Clear.
All of these habit change gurus are following in the footsteps of BF Skinner who knew lots about training pigeons but fucking nothing about human beings.
All of these habit change gurus are following in the footsteps of BF Skinner who knew lots about training pigeons but fucking nothing about human beings.
Loved learning what makes a habit a habit. I won't spoil it - read the book!
Only 236 actual pages.
I read the first third diligently and then started skimming. Things that matter for habit formation are context, repetition, and reward (except not really, think irregular rewards like a slot machine).
Also, friction. Making things that you don't want to do more difficult (put candy in an opaque jar across the room, for example, to reduce mindless snacking) and things that you want to do more easy/obvious (sleep in your workout clothes to facilitate morning exercise).
Moving ...more
I read the first third diligently and then started skimming. Things that matter for habit formation are context, repetition, and reward (except not really, think irregular rewards like a slot machine).
Also, friction. Making things that you don't want to do more difficult (put candy in an opaque jar across the room, for example, to reduce mindless snacking) and things that you want to do more easy/obvious (sleep in your workout clothes to facilitate morning exercise).
Moving ...more
Having read The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, and more recently, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, I was skeptical that there was much more I could discover about habit and motivation by reading another book. I was wrong. Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick by Wendy Wood is an insightful exploration of science behind how and why habits form,
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If we spent time together while I was reading this, I was probably simultaneously complaining and telling you all about what I had read. I did not hate this book. Its just that books like this aren’t exactly my cup of tea. But I was interested in what Wendy Wood potentially had to say on habits so I read it. There were definitely times I had to power through because it felt like she was talking in circles. But other moments were really interesting and insightful. Plus, I think all of us could
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“Why is it easy to make that initial decision to change, and even to start to do some of the right things—but difficult to persist in the longer term?” Wendy Wood poses this question and, really, she got my attention.
Wood’s book, Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes that Stick (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2019), is more than just popular self-help with a side of convenient science. Wood is a behavioral scientist and has been researching and seeking the answer to this ...more
Wood’s book, Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes that Stick (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2019), is more than just popular self-help with a side of convenient science. Wood is a behavioral scientist and has been researching and seeking the answer to this ...more
What are habits? How do we form good habits and change bad habits? Why is it so difficult to just behave in the way you believe is best for you on a daily basis?
This is an accessible, helpful and at times a bit repetitive (for good reason) book on behaviour change. I'm no scientist, but Wendy Wood's research into this topic seems like the most reasonably achieved and interpreted data I've come across in my reading of behaviour change over the past 14 years. This book revealed more about "how" to ...more
This is an accessible, helpful and at times a bit repetitive (for good reason) book on behaviour change. I'm no scientist, but Wendy Wood's research into this topic seems like the most reasonably achieved and interpreted data I've come across in my reading of behaviour change over the past 14 years. This book revealed more about "how" to ...more
This was a book choice for LeaderBooks by Michael Hyatt for January. For a habit book, this one is my favorite yet.
We seem to be in a moment of habit books, and I actually completely get that it is beneficial to most people when they are trying to accomplish goals and work on self-development to build better habits. It’s a perfect choice for January when most of us are reflecting on what we have accomplished and how we can improve and where we want to go in life. THIS book was better than most ...more
We seem to be in a moment of habit books, and I actually completely get that it is beneficial to most people when they are trying to accomplish goals and work on self-development to build better habits. It’s a perfect choice for January when most of us are reflecting on what we have accomplished and how we can improve and where we want to go in life. THIS book was better than most ...more
I really enjoyed this book. It’s nice to read a self-help style book (though that’s not all it is and don’t let that keep anyone away from reading it) written by an actual expert. She quoted so many studies, and I enjoyed hearing some of the background to the studies she had worked on as well as her professional opinions on portrayals if the studies in popular media. I think the book may be too long, but I enjoyed reading it all. I say it may be too long because at times the tangents take over
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This is an excellent book about what scientific research into habitual behaviours, telling us about how to build new habits successfully, why habits exist, and how to stop bad habits. As I have worked in this area for the last 9 years though, I didn’t find any radically new thinking in the book. However, it was an enjoyable read and there were some important new details and good illustrations and examples which I found interesting e.g. on the impacts of stress, on age, on rewards, on mere
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I hesitated to give this book 5-stars, because I had unrealistic expectations for it. In fact, I was so excited about its release that I pre-ordered a copy and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. So why did I give it 5-stars, after some hesitation? Because it is the very best book I could imagine on this hugely important topic and, like so many who approach their own challenges with the expectation of a magic potion or a silver bullet, no book can deliver on that delusional aspiration. Wendy
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Our minds are always looking for ways to automate our decisions and cut down on the processing time of a habit. Wood shares her experiments and the neuroscience behind them to show how to make it easier to start and keep good habits and how to quit the bad ones.
Why I started this book: I want to make some changes, and would be great to have mindless good habits.
Why I finished it: Fascinating and readable. I liked the reminder that tying habits to prompts like times, locations or other good ...more
Why I started this book: I want to make some changes, and would be great to have mindless good habits.
Why I finished it: Fascinating and readable. I liked the reminder that tying habits to prompts like times, locations or other good ...more
Very persuasive book about the ability of habit to streamline our lives and even make them more meaningful. Stresses the importance of context (and friction), repetition (behavior begets behavior: just keep doing it!), reward (Immediate, uncertain, intrinsic, in the moment), and consistency. Behavior change through self-control is not as effective as behavior change through altering contexts. Occasional lapses do not erase an emerging habit. Habit persists through stress. The theory of mere
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“They have a set pattern, and they follow it. They are not making decisions. Here’s the very happy implication: the worst, most effortful run will be that first one. Or the second, perhaps. But effort doesn’t last (in fact, if it does, you’re doing it wrong). Habits will form and take the effort off your hands.”
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“It was something they did without thinking. They had formed meditation habits. High “self-controllers” achieved desired outcomes by streamlining, not struggling.”
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