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Title

The Power of Habit: why we do what we do in life and business

by Charles Duhigg

Review

Habit is an incredibly powerful force.  We joke about our bad habits and do our best to create good ones.  We wonder why it’s so difficult to change a pattern – things like quitting smoking, losing weight or beginning an exercise program.

The author starts with a scientific look at how the human brain forms and continues a habit and then examines the process needed to change it.  He uses real life examples, some that may be very familiar to readers, and some that will surprise many by disproving commonly held beliefs about habits.  For example, how does a person with amnesia still know their way around the kitchen?  Or how did Febreze get to be such a popular product in American households after it almost flopped?  How did a losing NFL team manage to turn things completely around and make the playoffs?

The answers are simple, and yet incredibly complicated.  But by reading and understanding this book, it’s possible to take a long-standing habit and change it for the better, even if you’ve already tried and failed.  And if you don’t plan to make any changes in your own life, understanding how habits work goes a long way toward understanding what motivates the people around you and makes for better working relationships and less stress.  I highly recommend this book for everyone. ~ Jana Atkins

Review Date

Reviewed March 2013