Power Habit What Life Business Reviews Summary

Writing Style and Structure

Pros:

• "The book is well written and communicates well."
• "It made for a fast read. The stories flowed one into another and made the book read more like narrative nonfiction than a business book."
• "Duhigg writes in a very plain, accessible style, just like the Pulitzer Prize winning business reporter he is."
• "By quoting science and listing examples of real people (famous and unknown) in an easy to follow prose this book can capture any audience."
• "Duhigg breaks down the studies he references with an ease that makes them read as easy as reading a novel making The Power of Habit a very approachable read."
• "The flow from story to application back to story really makes this an easy read, too."
• "This book is an excellent read."

Cons:

• "I listened to this book on audio. Or rather listened to the first 75% of it before losing interest."
• "I did have difficulty in how the different chapters connected where some references seemed a bit of a stretch."
• "In part two the book starts to decline rapidly, and by the time you get into part three it has gone completely off the rails."
• "However how to apply what was learned is only an afterword at the end; something that probably should have gotten its own chapter."
• "The rest of it reads like the author was working on the book and the publisher just suddenly gave him an ultimatum to finish the book by the end of the week."
• "This is really dry."
• "It gets bogged down a bit by the technical details."

Content and Insights

Pros:

• "Some insightful information backed with excellent research and case examples."
• "Understanding the power of habits are as old as Aristotle so there's nothing groundbreaking in the central argument of this book— even so, I very much enjoyed it because it is well-written with ample real-life examples."
• "It breaks down the structure of habits in ways I have never considered."
• "Studies have documented that families who habitually eat dinner together seem to raise children with better homework skills, higher grades, greater emotional control and more confidence."
• "Through engaging, real-life examples drawn from personal lives and history alike, Duhigg shines a light on the psychology and neuroscience behind the things we do automatically."
• "This book provides the reader with an understanding of why habits are the center of human behavior."
• "This book further explained how to implement change in our behaviors and organizational behaviors."

Cons:

• "The author fits things into his definition of habit. He provides relatively little information on habits."
• "After part one virtually everything is a 'habit'."
• "The new Alcoa CEO said safety will be the indicator that we are making progress in changing our habits."
• "Let's start with the author's footnote on page 249 which states, 'As regular gamblers know it is possible to consistently win...A gambler can consistently win over time... if he or she has memorized the complicated formulas and odds that guide how each hand should be played.'"
• "One downside to most non-fiction books is that they aren’t very easy to read."
• "The ideas about 'kicking habits' are wayyyyyy to simplified and Duhigg doesn't really address more difficult habits such as addictions."
• "The author also tells a story of a man who rapes a teen as a result of habit...a habit of raping people?"

Practical Application and Self-Help

Pros:

• "I really liked the way this book broke down how habits are formed and how to change them."
• "I believe this book can help you take accountability for your actions by helping to understand why you do what you do."
• "If you need to quit or form a habit, this book is for you."
• "This book will help you understand why you are successful."
• "Really great insight into what makes people tick."
• "This book was really eye opening and is going to help me learn why I do what I do and learn how to break this habit once and for all."
• "I have been utilizing it to try and help me quit habits that I have been wanting to change."

Cons:

• "Most of the book is made up of stories (real ones that is) based on accounts of different people, businesses and other organizations, which frankly feel a bit superfluous and won't be relevant to most people."
• "However, if you want a glimpse into habits and a brief synopsis of how they are formed and can be 'kicked' you can start here."
• "However, on the hand are the negative habits that bring people down."
• "Another Alcoa chief took away VIP parking spots."
• "Starbucks provided him college credits, has taught him how to live, focus, get to work on time and master his emotions."
• "The golden rule of habit change that emerges from a plethora of research is that if you use the same cue, and provide the same reward, you need only insert a new routine."
• "Habit replacement or eradication is virtually impossible without an understanding of the three-step loop of habit formation."