Atomic Habits: A Book Review

2019. A new year, a new you.  This year for sure, you’re going to hit the gym, go to bed on time, stop eating so much junk food, start that business, follow your passion.

Or, maybe not.

A University of Scranton study found that only EIGHT percent of people continue with their New Year’s Resolution beyond the first six weeks and research by Strava (a social network for athletes) states that January 12th is the date when most health-related resolutions begin to collapse. (Read further down on my views about studies)

I’ve written before on New Year’s Resolutions and why they have such high failure rates.   What if this year was different? What if you could be happier, healthier, more productive than you were last year by controlling your habits? 

Luckily, there is a book that actually shows how to do just that.

Atomic Habits 

Atomic Habits by James Clear is the book that will give you the instructions to create the habits you need and get rid of those you don’t. This book surpasses The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg in its examination of behaviour.   Duhigg’s book covers the oft-repeated Cue, Routine, Reward. While the book is a good read, it is not as detailed as Atomic Habits, nor does it break down how to achieve change in four basic laws.

The four laws for building good habits according to Atomic Habits:

1. Make the habit obvious.  
2. Make it attractive
3. Make it easy
4. Make it satisfying  

To break bad habits the inverse applies:

1. Make the habit invisible
2. Make it unattractive
3. Make it difficult
4. Make it unsatisfying

The book shows how to create a Habit Scorecard so that you can accurately track all of your habits, both good and bad.  In fact, there are a number of resources in Atomic Habits, making this as much a workbook as a delightfully good piece of nonfiction.  Other books in this same genre are; Small Move, Big Change by Caroline Arnold, and Tiny Habits by Dr. BJ Fogg (Tiny Habits is a favourite) which have a  different take on habit change but the ideas are equally useful.

Hamster Wheel by Lukas Hauser

Criticism

Like many nonfiction books, there is a large reliance on studies in psychology and the social sciences. While these help to make the author’s point and thickens the book, their use can be perilous.  More than one study has been proven to be faulty, easily misinterpreted or false. The rebuttals to the famous/infamous Marshmallow Test done in the 1970s are still being written and the miraculous advances of the British National Cycling Team have been tarnished by claims of doping. In some cases, the entire premise of the book is undermined.  As far as I know, this has not happened to Atomic Habits.

What I like Best

Mr. Clear’s storytelling abilities are what really bring Atomic Habits and his online training course, Habits Academy, to life. The book is not some quickly read, easily forgotten, motivational/pop psychology mishmash.  There are step – by – step instructions and each chapter has a summary of its points and the actions that the reader will need to accomplish behaviour change.

If this is the year for you to be less stressed,  more productive, and turn resolutions into consistent action, this will be the book to keep by your side. I highly recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Resources

Atomic Habits Resources

if you are interested in different methods of behavioural change, then read these:

Small Move, Big Change: Book Review

Tiny Habits: Book Review