Good Habits, Bad Habits

Good Habits, Bad Habits

  • Downloads:8564
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-19 10:52:20
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Wendy Wood
  • ISBN:1509864741
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

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 around us; the way we conduct ourselves in a meeting; what we buy; when and how we exercise, eat, and drink—a truly remarkable number of things we do every day, regardless of their complexity, operate outside of our awareness。 We do them automatically。 We do them by habit。 And yet, whenever we want to change something about ourselves, we rely on willpower。 We keep turning to our conscious selves, hoping that our determination and intention will be enough to effect positive change。 And that is why almost all of us fail。 But what if you could harness the extraordinary power of your unconscious mind, which already determines so much of what you do, to truly reach your goals?

Wendy Wood draws on three decades of original research to explain the fascinating science of how we form habits, and offers the key to unlocking our habitual mind in order to make the changes we seek。 A potent mix of neuroscience, case studies, and experiments conducted in her lab, Good Habits, Bad Habits is a comprehensive, accessible, and above all deeply practical book that will change the way you think about almost every aspect of your life。 By explaining how our brains are wired to respond to rewards, receive cues from our surroundings, and shut down when faced with too much friction, Wood skillfully dissects habit formation, demonstrating how we can take advantage of this knowledge to form better habits。 Her clear and incisive work shows why willpower alone is woefully inadequate when we’re working toward building the life we truly want, and offers real hope for those who want to make positive change。

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Reviews

Wendy C

I’m really getting into audio books now and really finding they help me focus on something other than fiction but something that’s helpful in my everyday life。This was good but I found it didn’t hold my attention as much as I hoped。 It was loaded with facts which although I expected I think it over shadowed the reason I’d borrowed it。 I didn’t really feel I learn much about changing habits。 It talked about habits we get into subconsciously and ways to break those ‘bad habits’ into good ones。 It I’m really getting into audio books now and really finding they help me focus on something other than fiction but something that’s helpful in my everyday life。This was good but I found it didn’t hold my attention as much as I hoped。 It was loaded with facts which although I expected I think it over shadowed the reason I’d borrowed it。 I didn’t really feel I learn much about changing habits。 It talked about habits we get into subconsciously and ways to break those ‘bad habits’ into good ones。 It was okay but not excellent unfortunately。 。。。more

Ronda Canary

3。4

Petruta

Aceasta carte m-a invatat ca nu este suficient doar sa iti propui, sa ai ambitie, sa iti doresti sau sa stii。 Trebuie sa si faci ceva odata ce ti-ai propus。 De exemplu: ti-ai propus ca de maine sa iesi la alergat。 Foarte bine! Mergi si scoate un tricou, pantalonii de training si adidasii si punele in drum。 Astfel, a doua zi cand vii de la serviciu, "te impiedici" de ele。 Chiar daca in prima zi nu iti iese cum ti-ai dorit, nu renunta。 Iesind in fiecare zi, macar putin, iti formezi un obicei。 Odat Aceasta carte m-a invatat ca nu este suficient doar sa iti propui, sa ai ambitie, sa iti doresti sau sa stii。 Trebuie sa si faci ceva odata ce ti-ai propus。 De exemplu: ti-ai propus ca de maine sa iesi la alergat。 Foarte bine! Mergi si scoate un tricou, pantalonii de training si adidasii si punele in drum。 Astfel, a doua zi cand vii de la serviciu, "te impiedici" de ele。 Chiar daca in prima zi nu iti iese cum ti-ai dorit, nu renunta。 Iesind in fiecare zi, macar putin, iti formezi un obicei。 Odata obiceiul format, nu ti se mai pare ca depui un efort iesind la alergat。 Ti se va parea ciudat, daca nu iesi。Obiceiuri bune, obiceiuri rele este o carte despre lucrurile pe care le facem in fiecare zi si, fara sa ne dam seama, devin obiceiuri, despre intelegerea acestora si despre cum le putem schimba。 Ne arata cum ne pot influenta taxele, oamenii sau mediul in care traim。 Mi-a placut mult cartea si consider ca este un #mustread。 5⭐•Daca vreti sa va intelegeti propriile obiceiuri, cum se formeaza si cum le puteti reforma, Obiceiuri bune, obiceiuri rele este cartea potrivita pentru voi。 Adam Alter•Daca tinerii ar putea intelege cat de repede vor devenii simple pachete umblatoare de obiceiuri, ar fi mai atenti la purtarea lor in perioada modelabila。 Ne cream propriile destine, bune sau rele si nu le vom putea reface niciodata。 William James 。。。more

Lubben

This book was written by my favorite professor in college。 So much interesting into digest。 Best to supplement with podcasts。

Susan

Lots and lots of studies。。。 I listened to and sometimes I zoned out。 Interesting science on how habits occur but the book didn't really have specific steps I was looking for。 Do something over and over, add something to a habit you already have, add friction to get rid of one。。。 Lots and lots of studies。。。 I listened to and sometimes I zoned out。 Interesting science on how habits occur but the book didn't really have specific steps I was looking for。 Do something over and over, add something to a habit you already have, add friction to get rid of one。。。 。。。more

Lukas Linde

A very good book about how habits work and the science behind from the most likely leading scholar in the field。 However, there could be more on applications in our daily lives。 But very well written。

Geo

An interesting read that I think many should undertake to understand some of the unconscious processes which influence our behaviour。 This is not a 'cure' for laziness or procrastination, rather an opportunity to understand how we can start to influence changes for ourselves。 I feel I now have some useful tools under my belt to help navigate the world。During lockdown life has been a blur of nothing-interesting-or-productive-much, but I am ready to use my new awareness to build small but benefici An interesting read that I think many should undertake to understand some of the unconscious processes which influence our behaviour。 This is not a 'cure' for laziness or procrastination, rather an opportunity to understand how we can start to influence changes for ourselves。 I feel I now have some useful tools under my belt to help navigate the world。During lockdown life has been a blur of nothing-interesting-or-productive-much, but I am ready to use my new awareness to build small but beneficial habits。 One of the first ones was to read more again, and this was a useful starting point! A great point in this book is how 'lack of willpower' is in fact a more complex subject and we shouldn't give up because something feels difficult at first。 Anyway, I could go on forever about the little anecdotes and well sourced points made in this book。 But give it a read yourself! 。。。more

David

Wendy Wood's Good Habits, Bad Habits does a great job first explaining the importance and ubiquity of habits, and then analyzing how and why we develop habits。 Consistent throughout her analysis is the lack of distinction between good and bad habits - we develop them in the same ways, and for the same reasons。 Of course, our conscious dealing with them is quite different。 Wood then explores practical ways to develop better habits and, conversely, to weaken bad ones。This book fits with the style Wendy Wood's Good Habits, Bad Habits does a great job first explaining the importance and ubiquity of habits, and then analyzing how and why we develop habits。 Consistent throughout her analysis is the lack of distinction between good and bad habits - we develop them in the same ways, and for the same reasons。 Of course, our conscious dealing with them is quite different。 Wood then explores practical ways to develop better habits and, conversely, to weaken bad ones。This book fits with the style of many pop psychology books that you could pick up in an airport bookstore, but distinguishes itself by its professional humility and rigorous research。 Her anecdotes are not overfit to the data, and she doesn't get over her skis in drawing conclusions。 I highly recommend it! 。。。more

Meg Rice

This book changed my thinking about how habits are formed, maintained or changed。 Very helpful and practical examples and suggestions。

Meredith Martelli

It’s just not that interesting to read about science laboratory experiments chapter after chapter。 On A topic like forming good habits, I would prefer to read a short essay written by someone intelligent。 The format is consistent but boring。 She makes a point and then goes into the scientific research behind that point over and over。 I still give it four stars because it’s definitely well-written and researched。

TheBookWorm

This book was good。 It wasn't one that blew me away, but it was good。 I loved the tips that were given in the book, and as someone who loves psychology, this was also a great read。 I would really recommend it anybody who wants to make changes in their lives and needs guidance。 This is a really good book to try out。The main con that I have with the book is that it dragged a LOT。 It felt like I was reading a page or two and it took so long。 But I guess that's the difference between a novel (what I This book was good。 It wasn't one that blew me away, but it was good。 I loved the tips that were given in the book, and as someone who loves psychology, this was also a great read。 I would really recommend it anybody who wants to make changes in their lives and needs guidance。 This is a really good book to try out。The main con that I have with the book is that it dragged a LOT。 It felt like I was reading a page or two and it took so long。 But I guess that's the difference between a novel (what I'm used to) and a nonfiction work。But overall, I thought it was good。 Solid 3/5 stars。 。。。more

Elizabeth

Took me forever to get through。 Lots of good info on how to form habits (and why relying on willpower isn’t going to work)。 My main complaint is that everything was illustrated with a study。 I get that evidence is needed but it was tedious by the end。

M。San

Very informative and not overly technical but quite dry and lengthy。

Arch Lamb

Scholarly work and readable as well。

Roger Woods

An interesting book by one of the world's experts on habits。 This is a popular science book so it is not too heavy despite many references to research on habits, good and bad。 I would have liked to have seen the advice on creating good habits spelt out more explicitly although the final chapter on "How to stop looking at your phone so often" is a gem。 An interesting book by one of the world's experts on habits。 This is a popular science book so it is not too heavy despite many references to research on habits, good and bad。 I would have liked to have seen the advice on creating good habits spelt out more explicitly although the final chapter on "How to stop looking at your phone so often" is a gem。 。。。more

Helen

Lots of science and research not so much a how to book。

Amanda

Awareness, persistence, repetition。 this book provides the awareness, backed by science and presented in an accessible way。 The persistence and repetition are up to you, gentle reader。 This gentle reader restarted daily exercise as a sanity bolstering measure back in the hazy mists of Lockdown#1。 I've continued and extended time spent on this habit because it helped me so much。 Every day I don't want to do it, I just do it that day ,and the next, and the next。What Dr。 Wood says tallies with my T Awareness, persistence, repetition。 this book provides the awareness, backed by science and presented in an accessible way。 The persistence and repetition are up to you, gentle reader。 This gentle reader restarted daily exercise as a sanity bolstering measure back in the hazy mists of Lockdown#1。 I've continued and extended time spent on this habit because it helped me so much。 Every day I don't want to do it, I just do it that day ,and the next, and the next。What Dr。 Wood says tallies with my Treat Yourself Like a Beloved Pet philosophy: daily food, water, exercise, fun and love。 The science mirrors that behind the neuroscience of addiction。 In a nutshell: plough helpful and life-enhancing synaptic grooves so discipline is functional and frees up time for other pursuits, rather than eating a packet of biscuits in ten minutes and bemoaning how shit you are and apparently unable to change。 。。。more

Colleen

Completely fascinating。 Crammed full of interesting studies and research with deep analysis of how habits work and how to make that work to your advantage。

Babar Khan

Author really did a hard work but she overloaded it with research。 I think this book should not be more than 100 pages。Not recommend for beginners。

Geoff

An excellent read。 Dr。 Wood shows how we can change our behavior。 I spend a lot of time beating myself for a lack of production。 It's the old song and dance about will and discipline。 Dr。 Wood goes through the science carefully, thoughtfully and explains it quite well。 I am already putting her ideas in to practice。 Change the cues, the context, and add to them。 An excellent read。 Dr。 Wood shows how we can change our behavior。 I spend a lot of time beating myself for a lack of production。 It's the old song and dance about will and discipline。 Dr。 Wood goes through the science carefully, thoughtfully and explains it quite well。 I am already putting her ideas in to practice。 Change the cues, the context, and add to them。 。。。more

Iain McCormick

This book has a really simple model of habit forming and reforming that is very useful for any coach。

Isla

I listened to this as an audiobook and I really think it would have been better if I had read it physically, it felt like there was a lot of facts just being thrown at me and there wasnt much description for any of them。 Therefore, it is an extremely factual book, and the facts are interesting, but it lacks an interesting writing form that is engaging。 However, I do believe if I had physically read it I may have thought differently。

Bethany

Some pretty interesting studies to illustrate her points。 I learned some thought-provoking things。 But sometimes I felt like the book was a little slow moving and ended up being longer than it needed to be。

Zak

Wendy knows her stuff, and now I know 30% of it also (the rest I have already forgotten)Clearly evidence/study based stuff directly from the horse's mouth as Wendy was involved in this research。 As much as Charles Duhigg (author of the power of habit) can talk eloquently enough about Michael Phelps and toothpaste, he is at the end of the day a journalist and doesn't have 37266 citations to his name。 That being said Wendy could learn a thing or two about how to weave a narrative from Charlie but Wendy knows her stuff, and now I know 30% of it also (the rest I have already forgotten)Clearly evidence/study based stuff directly from the horse's mouth as Wendy was involved in this research。 As much as Charles Duhigg (author of the power of habit) can talk eloquently enough about Michael Phelps and toothpaste, he is at the end of the day a journalist and doesn't have 37266 citations to his name。 That being said Wendy could learn a thing or two about how to weave a narrative from Charlie but again I suppose that's not her area。 Listened on audio so didn't mind that it went on a bit but could maybe have been condensed, and also the book cover makes it look less legit than it is。 Realise I haven't actually mentioned anything about the book but yeah was good, might make a habit of listening to it semi-regularly。 But as is oft repeated in the book, my intention to do so will likely make no difference as to whether I actually get round to it or not。 So I probably won't。 。。。more

Arianna Suduc

Am vrut să iubesc treaba asta。 Chiar am vrut。 Speram să găsesc ceva la fel de bun ca Atomic Habits, dar n-a fost așa。 Am lăsat-o din mână pe la paginile 155, deși începutul a fost promițător。 E o carte pentru cineva care „tatonează” terenul în ce privește obiceiurile & arta de a deprinde obiceiuri: multe studii și rapoarte și statistici, dar nimic concret (pentru mine) care să mă facă să vreau să mă pun pe treabă。 Nu suficient de consistentă, aș zice eu。

Susan

Beautifully written and easy to understand。 Thoughly enjoyed reading this book and discovering more about how we move through the world

Bibliosmia

My review shall be brief - this book has been a life changer for me。 I'm not a person who picks up habits easily。 However, one of the author's recommendations of tacking a new habit onto an existing habit has worked its magic and I have been scheduling exercise time each weekday for almost a year now。 I have since tacked another habit onto that i。e。 making my bed 😁 so, whilst my habits won't change the world, my world has changed for the better, thanks to this book。 My review shall be brief - this book has been a life changer for me。 I'm not a person who picks up habits easily。 However, one of the author's recommendations of tacking a new habit onto an existing habit has worked its magic and I have been scheduling exercise time each weekday for almost a year now。 I have since tacked another habit onto that i。e。 making my bed 😁 so, whilst my habits won't change the world, my world has changed for the better, thanks to this book。 。。。more

Alli Tripp

Very good series of steps to learn to succeed。 Set out logically and easy to follow。 Great inspiring quotes

Teresa

Good on how the brain works to create habits and how environments help build them。 Would have liked more real-life examples。

Dorothy Greco

Super insightful book with lots of research on how habits are formed。 I do wish the author had been willing to talk about just how hard it is to change and how long it takes。 It's more of a scientific and academic book so I should not have brought that expectation to reading but personally, that would have helped me。 Super insightful book with lots of research on how habits are formed。 I do wish the author had been willing to talk about just how hard it is to change and how long it takes。 It's more of a scientific and academic book so I should not have brought that expectation to reading but personally, that would have helped me。 。。。more