Power of Habit, The (L): Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change

Sharp, provocative, and useful. — Jim Collins

Few [books] become essential manuals for business and living. The Power of Habit is an exception. Charles Duhigg not only explains how habits are formed but how to kick bad ones and hang on to the good. ― Financial Times

Once you read this book, you’ll never look at yourself, your organisation, or your world quite the same way.

Absolutely fascinating. ― Wired

Entertaining . . . enjoyable . . . fascinating . . . a serious look at the science of habit formation and change. ― The New York Times Book Review

This is a first-rate book – based on an impressive mass of research, written in a lively style and providing just the right balance of intellectual seriousness with practical advice on how to break our bad habits. ― The Economist

I have been spinning like a top since reading The Power of Habit, New York Times journalist Charles Duhigg’s fascinating best-seller about how people, businesses and organizations develop the positive routines that make them productive-and happy. ― The Washington Post

In this fascinating book, Charles Duhigg reveals the myriad ways in which our habits shape our lives. Do you want to know why Febreze became a bestselling product? Or how the science of habits can be used to improve willpower? Read this book.

A fresh examination of how routine behaviours take hold and whether they are susceptible to change . . . The stories that Duhigg has knitted together are all fascinating in their own right, but take on an added dimension when wedded to his examination of habits. ― Associated Press

Duhigg gives a compelling insight in to the world of subconscious behaviour. This is no homespun remedy, Duhigg’s observations have real, scientific gravitas. ― Woman & Home

Inspiring stuff! ― Counsel

The Power of Habit steps sideways into science and brain chemistry to back up its key message: that identifying and implementing keystone habits is the difference between success and failure, whatever your goals. So if you’re a procrastinator, or a sleeper-inner, pick it up – and see how quickly you can morph those habits into habitual success. When you get around to it, obviously. ― Stylist

This fascinating book by a New York Times journalist explores how people get stuck in a rut and delves into psychological and neuroscientific research to find out what it takes to change our most deeply ingrained habits. ― Guardian

Cue: see cover. Routine: read book. Reward: fully comprehend the art of manipulation. ― Bloomberg Businessweek

There’s been a lot of research over the past several years about how our habits shape us, and this work is beautifully described in the new book The Power of Habit. — David Brooks ― The New York Times

If Duhigg is right about the nature of habits, which I think he is, then trying to get rid of these bad habits won’t work. Instead, what is needed is to teach the managers to identify the cues that lead to these bad habits and rewards, and then learn alternative routines that lead to similar rewards, i.e. business and personal success. ― Forbes

The Power of Habit is chock-full of fascinating anecdotes . . . how an early twentieth century adman turned Pepsodent into the first bestselling toothpaste by creating the habit of brushing daily, how a team of marketing mavens at Procter & Gamble rescued Febreze from the scrapheap of failed products by recognizing that a fresh smell was a fine reward for a cleaning task, how Michael Phelps’ coach instilled habits that made him an Olympic champion many times over, and how Tony Dungy turned the Indianapolis Colts into a Super Bowl-winning team. ― Los Angeles Times

In his book The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg approaches the subject of what habits are and how we can ultimately change them. Written in an engaging style, with just the right balance of scientific fact and actual examples… ― The Book Garden Blog

There is a reason this book has been an international bestseller . . . I was hooked from the first page. ― VIP Magazine

About The AuthorCharles Duhigg is an American Pulitzer prize winning staff writer at the New York Times. He studied at Yale and holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. Charles is also a frequent contributor to This American Life, NPR, PBS News Hour and the Frontline. He had a keen interest in observing Habits years ago when he worked as a reporter in Iraq.