Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick
Product ID: 147594656
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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 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. Review: How the deeper part of our mind controls our behavior, explained by top habit scientist - From the opening pages of "Good Habits, Bad Habits," I appreciated Wendy Wood's exploration of what she calls our "second self" - the subconscious mind that controls much of our behavior without us even realizing it. As someone deeply interested in personal development, this book offered valuable insights into why real change is so hard despite our best intentions. Wood, a professor at USC, is one of the foremost researchers in habit formation. Her central premise is powerful yet simple: what we often mistake for extraordinary willpower in successful people is actually the result of well-established habits. The book's biggest strength lies in its scientific approach to understanding how approximately 43% of our daily behaviors (and up to 88% of our hygiene routines) operate on autopilot. Wood breaks down the three pillars of habit formation - context, repetition, and reward - providing a framework that explains why New Year's resolutions often fail and why environmental factors beat willpower almost every time. I found her exploration of "friction" especially useful. By explaining how small environmental changes can dramatically impact behavior (like how reducing the distance to a gym increases attendance), Wood offers practical strategies anyone can apply. Her discussions on habit stacking, replacement habits, and the concept of habit discontinuity (how major life changes create opportunities for new habits) provide actionable insights rarely found in typical self-help books. The chapter on stress and habits explains why we fall back on established patterns during difficult times - whether healthy or unhealthy. Understanding this alone is worth the price of the book, especially for those struggling with stress-triggered behaviors. What sets this one apart from other habit books is that Wood isn't just reporting on research - she's one of the pioneering scientists who conducted many of the foundational studies she references. This gives strong credibility to her conclusions and recommendations. You're hearing directly from a primary source in the field, not a secondary interpreter. While Wood writes for a general audience, if there's any critique to offer, it's that the book occasionally reads somewhat academically. However, you could also consider this one of the book's strengths. Unlike many pop psychology books that oversimplify complex topics, Wood respects our intelligence enough to share the nuanced reality of how habits truly function in our brains and she doesn't promise any magical 21-day transformations. Some people might feel like it’s a downer hearing how much of their bad behavior is on autopilot. But overall, Good Habits, Bad Habits gives a message of hope. When you understand how habit formation works, then we understand how we cam make it work in our favor. You learn that making changes isn't about iron willpower but about creating a environment that supports our goals and repeating behaviors until they become automatic. If you don’t mind books that are a little on the sciencey side, citing lots of research, then you will enjoy this book. Review: Well Written and Very Useful - If you’re looking for a book offering quick fixes for dealing with the complex issues surrounding our daily habits and how to change them, don’t read this book. But if you’re interested in reading about thoughtful methods which are based on a ton of well- structured academic based research, providing the reader with a useful path for managing our habits, then you should read this excellent book. While Professor Wendy Wood has written a book that will most likely be used in college class rooms around the world, she has also outlined for the lay person, a wonderful set of practical and useful choices to improve our daily lives. We’re fast approaching the holiday season along with the setting of new year resolutions, so I can’t think of a better gift for everyone on your list than a copy of “Good Habits, Bad Habits.”
| Best Sellers Rank | #199,270 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #251 in Cognitive Psychology (Books) #258 in Popular Social Psychology & Interactions #1,358 in Personal Transformation Self-Help |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 828 Reviews |
T**E
How the deeper part of our mind controls our behavior, explained by top habit scientist
From the opening pages of "Good Habits, Bad Habits," I appreciated Wendy Wood's exploration of what she calls our "second self" - the subconscious mind that controls much of our behavior without us even realizing it. As someone deeply interested in personal development, this book offered valuable insights into why real change is so hard despite our best intentions. Wood, a professor at USC, is one of the foremost researchers in habit formation. Her central premise is powerful yet simple: what we often mistake for extraordinary willpower in successful people is actually the result of well-established habits. The book's biggest strength lies in its scientific approach to understanding how approximately 43% of our daily behaviors (and up to 88% of our hygiene routines) operate on autopilot. Wood breaks down the three pillars of habit formation - context, repetition, and reward - providing a framework that explains why New Year's resolutions often fail and why environmental factors beat willpower almost every time. I found her exploration of "friction" especially useful. By explaining how small environmental changes can dramatically impact behavior (like how reducing the distance to a gym increases attendance), Wood offers practical strategies anyone can apply. Her discussions on habit stacking, replacement habits, and the concept of habit discontinuity (how major life changes create opportunities for new habits) provide actionable insights rarely found in typical self-help books. The chapter on stress and habits explains why we fall back on established patterns during difficult times - whether healthy or unhealthy. Understanding this alone is worth the price of the book, especially for those struggling with stress-triggered behaviors. What sets this one apart from other habit books is that Wood isn't just reporting on research - she's one of the pioneering scientists who conducted many of the foundational studies she references. This gives strong credibility to her conclusions and recommendations. You're hearing directly from a primary source in the field, not a secondary interpreter. While Wood writes for a general audience, if there's any critique to offer, it's that the book occasionally reads somewhat academically. However, you could also consider this one of the book's strengths. Unlike many pop psychology books that oversimplify complex topics, Wood respects our intelligence enough to share the nuanced reality of how habits truly function in our brains and she doesn't promise any magical 21-day transformations. Some people might feel like it’s a downer hearing how much of their bad behavior is on autopilot. But overall, Good Habits, Bad Habits gives a message of hope. When you understand how habit formation works, then we understand how we cam make it work in our favor. You learn that making changes isn't about iron willpower but about creating a environment that supports our goals and repeating behaviors until they become automatic. If you don’t mind books that are a little on the sciencey side, citing lots of research, then you will enjoy this book.
A**R
Well Written and Very Useful
If you’re looking for a book offering quick fixes for dealing with the complex issues surrounding our daily habits and how to change them, don’t read this book. But if you’re interested in reading about thoughtful methods which are based on a ton of well- structured academic based research, providing the reader with a useful path for managing our habits, then you should read this excellent book. While Professor Wendy Wood has written a book that will most likely be used in college class rooms around the world, she has also outlined for the lay person, a wonderful set of practical and useful choices to improve our daily lives. We’re fast approaching the holiday season along with the setting of new year resolutions, so I can’t think of a better gift for everyone on your list than a copy of “Good Habits, Bad Habits.”
I**I
Great but don't Compare it to Atomic Habits
Wendy’s book is very informative. She’s clearly an expert as she has spent her life studying habits. This book seems to be a good summary of where the field is currently. The obvious comparison to this book is naturally going to be “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Though they are about the same topic (habits) they are NOT in the same genre. Atomic Habits is a self-help book. Good Habits, Bad Habits is a psychology book. If you are nerdy like me and have a psych background, then this the book for you. Most of the literature is what James Clear read to write his book. If you just want to change your behaviors, Clear’s book is the one you want. His writing is fantastic. Wendy’s writing style is kind of standard of what you would expect from a book that is coming from a researcher. Not that is it a bad thing, it just won’t be a best seller. Most of the chapters are rich with detail. My favorite story is how America went from a smoking country to a nonsmoking country. As someone who started writing about habits on the blog “yournexthabit.com”, it gives me more to chew on in implementing the research into my own habits. TLDR; Read Atomic Habits first then read this one if you want even more.
L**A
Applying the science of habit
Good Habits, Bad Habits offers an excellent synthesis of the science of habit, straight from the leader in the field. Habits are a central part of our daily lives, yet we tend to overestimate the role of conscious goals/intentions (“willpower”) in guiding our behavior, while underestimating the power of our habits, or our “second self”. Good Habits, Bad Habits presents a wide range of interesting research studies (several conducted by Dr. Wood and her colleagues) and real-world examples to illustrate the core tenets of the science of habit—context, repetition, reward—and its implications for supporting habit change—redesigning your context, reducing/creating friction, making habits rewarding. I’ve read and enjoyed the other popular books on habits. Good Habits, Bad Habits is more tightly linked to the science, and in a highly engaging and accessible style, presents a set of established principles that will guide you toward making lasting, positive changes in your life.
R**R
Good book, terrible print!
Good information. By the type size is so small, it is hard to read. I don’t remember a book with this small of letter size.
L**N
Fresh Science and Real Solutions for Changing Bad Habits
If you're looking to break bad habits and make lasting changes, this book is an excellent resource. It offers fresh insights supported by recent scientific findings. While some parts can be a bit challenging to follow and may require a second read, the book provides practical and effective solutions. It's definitely worth the effort!
A**A
Entertaining and informative book on Habits!
Good habits, Bad habits offers a comprehensive look at how habits are formed and how we can change them. Wood provides a fascinating survey of past and current research in a user-friendly style. Her book is very readable and packed with personal anecdotes, quotes and quirky tidbits about human behavior. It's a huge advantage to have the benefit of Wood's expertise and experience in her field. This insightful book raised my awareness of my own personal habits, and gave me an understanding that change is absolutely possible.
J**Y
Amazing insight into our habitual behavior
Based on numerous research studies, Wendy Wood takes the reader on a quest into our brain and explains how we think, how we develop habitual behavior and how we can make our brain work for us in long term. She also stresses the importance of spatial queues that trigger unconscious frictionless behavior working either for our good or against it. My key takeaway “You contain depths. You can put those depths to work for you.” I enjoyed the reading.
C**S
How to control one’s habits
Very good book, full of insight and useful advice
J**D
Interessant und hilfreich
Wer schnelle und einfache Lösungen für seine Probleme sucht, wird hier nicht fündig, aber wenn man sich darauf einlässt und etwas Zeit investiert, kann man mit den hier gewonnenen Erkenntnissen echte und vor allem langfristige Veränderungen in Gang setzen.
B**D
Worth it reading
Nice book tells how to build a good habit and leave bad one
A**E
Completely new perspective
Great read factual and fascinating
I**A
Amazing insight
Must read if you're looking to change some bad habits. Easy read as far as technical language. Would recommend. Gshd
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