Rating is 5/5.
We start our day by brushing our teeth after waking up in the morning, we tend to spend long weekends lazying around after a hectic week,people suffering from depression suddenly become unhealthy, people have problems giving up on addictions. Have you ever wondered why?
If asked you would say that its habit, yes that's right.
In this book Charles Duhigg has explained this exact thing, HABITS.
The book is based on numerous interviews,reports from various researches by scientists from MIT, experiences of members of de-addiction centers and others alike explaining the intricacies of habits formation, the neurosciences associated with it and explains the readers its malleability.
The book is divided into 3 segments each focusing on the habits of individuals, the habits of organizations and the habits of society respectively.
In the first segment the author gives us the answers to the "whys" of smoking, over-eating, alcoholism and likewise, in short personal habits. In order to implement the malleability of habits we need to understand that there exists a habit loop. he explains that a certain thing triggers the habit known as the cue, which causes a routine to develop which ultimately leads the mind to get a sense of reward.The first few times it takes conscious effort to make certain things happen and after sometime it becomes automatic, all of you have experienced this while learning to drive or play any instrument.
This so called loop is not whole in itself, to make habits permanent there needs to be another factor- craving.
For example smokers undergo stress (cue), they smoke a cigarette (routine) and they experience a nicotine rush (reward), but to make it into a habit it necessary that they crave for that nicotine rush.
Ever wondered why some children outperform others in school ? Its because of this same craving for rewards (might be better grades, appreciation, or their understanding that better performance would enable them to lead a more successful life) for which they finish their homework (routine) on time, here a certain time being the cue.
The author explores such other individual aspects of habit and how a person can identify the habit loop to change their habits.
Lots of people think that when they browse for products online, later upon visiting any site they see the ads of the same product. Why does this happen?Or they get flyers/mails stating discounts on exactly the things that they think they want. why so?
It is amazing to know that even organizations utilize the concept of habits to function not only from within but also to maximize their profits under the disguise of delivering the services that people seem to want.In the second part of the book the author throws light on this aspect where habits play a role in their workings.
In the final segment of the book we come to know about the impact habits can have on the society. Giving examples from the movement against racism to the spread of a certain religion among people the importance of habits and the habit loop is highlighted. Also we see how society views different habits in different lights.
In all the book is as enlightening as it is intriguing. Hundreds of habits influence our daily habits, we may know it but we never realize that we can bend the habits according to our needs, yes that's not an easy way, but its not impossible either. So give it a read, make a conviction and build up habits that make your lives better.
We start our day by brushing our teeth after waking up in the morning, we tend to spend long weekends lazying around after a hectic week,people suffering from depression suddenly become unhealthy, people have problems giving up on addictions. Have you ever wondered why?
If asked you would say that its habit, yes that's right.
In this book Charles Duhigg has explained this exact thing, HABITS.
The book is based on numerous interviews,reports from various researches by scientists from MIT, experiences of members of de-addiction centers and others alike explaining the intricacies of habits formation, the neurosciences associated with it and explains the readers its malleability.
The book is divided into 3 segments each focusing on the habits of individuals, the habits of organizations and the habits of society respectively.
In the first segment the author gives us the answers to the "whys" of smoking, over-eating, alcoholism and likewise, in short personal habits. In order to implement the malleability of habits we need to understand that there exists a habit loop. he explains that a certain thing triggers the habit known as the cue, which causes a routine to develop which ultimately leads the mind to get a sense of reward.The first few times it takes conscious effort to make certain things happen and after sometime it becomes automatic, all of you have experienced this while learning to drive or play any instrument.
This so called loop is not whole in itself, to make habits permanent there needs to be another factor- craving.
For example smokers undergo stress (cue), they smoke a cigarette (routine) and they experience a nicotine rush (reward), but to make it into a habit it necessary that they crave for that nicotine rush.
Ever wondered why some children outperform others in school ? Its because of this same craving for rewards (might be better grades, appreciation, or their understanding that better performance would enable them to lead a more successful life) for which they finish their homework (routine) on time, here a certain time being the cue.
The author explores such other individual aspects of habit and how a person can identify the habit loop to change their habits.
Lots of people think that when they browse for products online, later upon visiting any site they see the ads of the same product. Why does this happen?Or they get flyers/mails stating discounts on exactly the things that they think they want. why so?
It is amazing to know that even organizations utilize the concept of habits to function not only from within but also to maximize their profits under the disguise of delivering the services that people seem to want.In the second part of the book the author throws light on this aspect where habits play a role in their workings.
In the final segment of the book we come to know about the impact habits can have on the society. Giving examples from the movement against racism to the spread of a certain religion among people the importance of habits and the habit loop is highlighted. Also we see how society views different habits in different lights.
In all the book is as enlightening as it is intriguing. Hundreds of habits influence our daily habits, we may know it but we never realize that we can bend the habits according to our needs, yes that's not an easy way, but its not impossible either. So give it a read, make a conviction and build up habits that make your lives better.
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