Build Habits and Define Destiny

The book Atomic Habits by James Clear is one of the best-selling Self Help books.

This book focuses on building small habits in the most practical ways which result in outstanding results.

I feel the book is a continuation of 'Power of Habits' by Charles Duhigg. But this one is more of a manual which practical scenarios and How to Do stuff and that's what makes it unique.

The book combines good examples with the model and philosophy behind it and provides a great insight combined with good storytelling.

The book starts with a British cycling story when sir Dave Brailsford became head of British cycling in 2002 and changed the fortune of the cycling team which use to be an average or below-average team.

As per James, Habit creation is most powerful when it's creating an identity hence he stresses creating Identity-based habits rather than outcome or process-based.

He further describes the science behind the habit and divides the process of building habit into four simple steps

a) Cue: A trigger for certain behavior

b) Craving: Motivational forces behind every habit

c) Response: An actual habit that one performs

d) Reward: An end goal of every habit

James defines four laws to form habits which have been explained in in detail in a separate section

1. Make it Obvious: In this section concept of Habit Scorecard, Habit Stacking and developing surrounding environment to make things obvious and visible for good habits and converse for bad habits

2. Make it Attractive: In this section, an interesting join is introduced to pair an action you want to do with an action you need to do

3. Make it Easy: This is a great section with good examples. Here he talks about many good things including Reducing Friction between you and good habits. He also introduced a two-minute rule to develop good habits and talks about the usage of technology for habits

4. Make it Satisfying: This section talks about rewarding yourself when the habit is developed so it can be repeated. He describes a journaling mechanism of Habit Tracker. There is an interesting chapter on Habit Contract as well

Overall a nice read. Writing is lucid and simple and the book elevates your mood and forces you to think.