This review is for the audio version of this book. As a public service announcement, I recommend that you check in with your local library to see if they support OneClickdigital or other apps that let you download audiobooks to your smartphone via library membership. I have listened to a lot of hot bestsellers this way for free! Free!
For years, I have been gaining weight and getting more boring. Finally, I looked in the mirror and was like, “Who is that guy?” Then I kept gaining weight and kind of gave up. Fortunately for me, one of my good friends has gotten into the exercise coach/life coach game, and she has been helping me turn my life around.We’re focusing less on “dieting” and “meal plans” and more on holistic change. I was pretty shocked to find that the more I meal plan, shop in advance, and chew gum while in the kitchen, the more I work out, read, take walks with my dog and baby, and pray. How did this all happen? I don’t know! That’s why I checked out the audiobook of Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.
Duhigg looks at habits in three main settings – personal, organizational, and cultural. He looks at the science of how habits form and stay in our brains (and also rat brains), how we can modify habits, how organizational cultures develop habits, and how national habits can change for good and bad. The most relevant section for me were the portions on personal habits. Objectively, the stories related to organizational and national habits were the most entertaining. I should mention that the book interweaves science, anecdotes, and big ideas. It’s kind of like an NPR show, especially the audiobook. This book gets four stars because it does a good job of meeting its mission – edutainment for adults. It’s not one that I would buy for my permanent collection, but for folks who enjoy Freakonomics and NPR podcasts, this may be up your alley.
