The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

This book is the best book I've read all year. A clever book that addresses a highly relevant topic for individuals, organizations, and societies with just the right mix of science, case study, and how-to practical application.

The book is effective at taking on a journey of understanding habits. The first part of the book breaks down habits. What are they? How do they form? How can they change? This first part has a focus on the individual and forces you to start looking for and identifying the various habit loops in your life. As I was listening to the first chapter on audio, I was driving home from work. When I left the office I knew very well that I wasn't going straight home. I needed instead to go in an entirely different direction to teach a private class that night. Ironically, as I turned on the audio version of this book I clicked right into my habit and found myself outside my house before I realized that I had just lost an hour of time.

It seemed to me that as I continued reading, the author added some of the other critical elements of habit formation by using organizations and then communities and societies as examples. This allows the reader to understand habits in a full perspective while at the same time learning their various applications in all arenas of life.

Do you remember the last book you read that made you want to tell everyone you talked to about what you had just learned? This is one of those… be warned… or warn those around you because you won't be able to stop thinking and talking about habits and how they can change your life!

NOTE: I read this book as part of the 12 Books Group; the largest online business and only author-led book group in the world.