I recently finished reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and I have to say that it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read on habit formation. I picked up a hard copy, at Barnes & Noble but it is supposed to be “Great on Kindle” too.
The book provides a practical framework for improving oneself every day by making small, incremental changes to one’s habits. The author has a knack for distilling complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. I appreciated the simplicity, and I was able to read through it pretty quickly.
One of the things that stood out to me the most was the idea that the problem with bad habits isn’t a lack of willpower or motivation, but rather the wrong system for change.
The book draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible – or near impossible. Clear provides readers with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.
For me, it harkened back to another long-time favorite of mine “Stress for Success” by James Loehr which my father used to make us read (and re-read) when we were struggling in college.
What I loved most about Atomic Habits though was the practical strategies it offers for making lasting change. Clear shows readers how to make time for new habits, even when life gets crazy, and how to design their environment to make success easier. The book also teaches readers how to get back on track when they fall off course, which is especially valuable for those of us who struggle with consistency.
Overall, “Atomic Habits” is an excellent book that offers a fresh perspective on how to make lasting changes to your habits. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve themselves, whether you’re an individual looking to quit smoking or lose weight, or a team or organization hoping to redefine an industry. This book will reshape the way you think about progress and success and give you the tools and strategies you need to achieve your goals.
