“Atomic Habits” is the kind of book everyone has heard of, offering a well-structured approach to changing your life and achieving long-lasting success. James Clear is just as famous as his book, being known for his extensive research on habit formation.
My thoughts:
The concept of the book is great, I am not going to lie. Even from the first page, you are giving insight on how to build good habits and break bad ones. There is no secret recipe to success – all you have to do is apply the recommended strategies and you are bound to notice the difference.
Each chapter is filled with self-improvement strategies, meant to help you understand what habits will work for you and the ones that you need to say goodbye to. You are given so much information on habit formation, that you will begin to feel like a researcher yourself.
Want to lead a happier, more successful life? James Clear says it. All you have to do is fight to be 1% better every day. That’s it. In time, you will no longer see it difficult to improve. Thus, you will reach the point where you will understand that the problem wasn’t you, but the system of change you’ve tried to follow.
Change is something most people desire. Yet, according to the author, the way we approach it matters more than we might think. Atomic habits are the ones that can help us achieve the things we want; in the word of the author, “tiny changes bring remarkable results”. My favorite bit was the one about a well-known comedian and how much he struggled to stay motivated, going from a boy who sold guidebooks at Disneyland to a successful artist.
I did not like, however, how certain the author was of his recipe of success. Indeed, he is backed by years of research and success stories, but it seems difficult to envision anyone can change his/her life through this approach. At times, the book seemed like a complicated workout, and I had trouble staying motivated. Books like this should offer more practical advice, not just theory, as we are not researchers but mere humans.
Verdict:
The idea of the book is appealing. According to the author, all you have to do is make good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. As the reader, you will be inspired by the true stories, and maybe find a way to reshape the way you think. Through the power of atomic habits, you will discover how even the tiniest changes can alter your life forever. However, I found the book to be lacking in enough practical advice to follow through.
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