Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

I've read a lot of books on changing behavior and building habits and James Clear's Atomic Habits is my new favorite. This book is different from others in the way it covers an enormous amount of ground in the larger area of self-improvement while seamlessly tying all these ideas back into the central theme of habits.One of the core concepts in Atomic Habits is to focus on the small improvement. The impact a 1% improvement per day can make may appear negligible at first, but Clear makes a compelling argument that in the case of habits, thinking small produces the biggest results over time. "Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement," explains Clear.Over the months and years, the accumulated effect of small habitual daily behaviors is staggering. Early in the book we are also warned that this compounding works both ways, so we'd better make sure we're making it work in the positive direction, not for the negative.This is a concept I was introduced to years ago under a different name - Kaizen - the Japanese term for continuous incremental improvement. What's different and new in this book is how the concept is applied specifically to building habits.I found the information introduced in chapter two about behavior change at the identity level to be spot-on. You're also given a simple two-step process for changing your identity and this one idea alone is incredibly powerful.In chapter three, we are introduced to the habit loop - cue, craving, response, reward - and we learn how to build good habits in 4 simple steps and break bad habits in 4 simple steps.One of those steps to habit formation, which goes hand in hand with the 1% concept, is how to make it not only small, but easy. In the chapters that follow, this is exactly what you find out.Other ideas of great value that stood out included, habit stacking (the best way to form a new habit), habit tracking, habit shaping and how to design your environment - physical and social - for habit building success. You learn the truth about self-control, how to stop procrastinating and how to use implementation intentions, temptation bundling and motivational rituals. The book is simply packed with actionable ideas, tactics and strategies.Virtually every idea in the book is useful and resonated with me. While I may not agree that we should "forget about goals," I agree with one of Clear's core principles in the book - that we must develop systems for change. If we only focus on goals and don't develop systems and a focus on the process, we risk falling into a number of goal-related traps which ultimately lead to stagnation. With the right systems, we're rewarded with continuous improvement on a lifelong journey of success.Another difference between Atomic Habits and other books in this genre is that while it's based on science it doesn't bog you down with unnecessary details of the research. Clear's book is intensely practical, giving you a huge toolkit of organized and named strategies you can apply immediately to create and strengthen positive habits and stop the negative ones.The book is conversational, and includes many interesting stories, making it easy to read - and hard to put down (I read it cover to cover in one day).It's possible this might become your most highlighted personal improvement book because every page is so chocked full of memorable and quotable gems of advice.

Disclaimer: I scored the jackpot and got my grubby paws on this early.I didn't see myself getting especially excited about this book. I was like, "OK James. I like you. You seem like a nice guy. Your work is very link-able and that's made my life simpler on many an occasion. I TOTALLY FEEL SPECIAL because you have involved me (*marginally) in your ~process~. But habits? *yawn* What-evvvvver. Btw, I already know LIKE EV-UH-RYTHING because I read Charles Duhigg's book and was early on the Fogg method game. Ergo: I am The Expert. Bow down b*tches." <--Ok just kidding on that last line. But BA-sicallyy.My inner world is................. a special place.I didn't think I was going to get hype about a book about habits, yet here we are. I am hype about a book.... about habits. Why??? Why has this drama-loving, big picture adoring, enthusiastic creature shifted keys to start singing song of habits? Because it's unflattering. And that's EXACTLY why we need to self-examine.Here's the thing:Every person reading this review (also, hi!) has bad habits.Every person reading this review has good ones.And - I would wager - every person reading this review has unfinished business.There's some dream, change, or new echelon of self-actualization you have yet to inhabit. The problem isn't your ambitions -- it's your habits. James wrote something powerful I will directly quote when writing with book in hand. The message is this: success isn't determined by the scale of your dreams. Winners and losers have the same dreams. But the winners have better habits.There are a number of ~juicy nuggets~ that will come out of the woodwork to slap your b*tch-ass into line. I doubled back on more than one occasion. Check out his Instagram -- he's been sharing a number of nice one liners. But if you're like......... 80% of the way there, you might as well.This book is:- Actionable- Pragmatic- Grounded <-- woah!- Science-y- Sweet- Readable <-- nice.My advice:1. If you're this deep in the reviews section, buy the book.2. Seriously, buy the book.3. While you wait for it to arrive, mentally accept that James Clear will not personally pry the donut from your grip and supervise your situps.4. Open your Amazon package.5. Read the book.6. Learn things.7. Implement said things.8. Rinse repeat.9. *Flourish*Thanks for reading along. It's been an honor! *hat tip, bows*