Atomic Habits
“Make it obvious. Make it attractive. Make it easy. Make it satisfying.”
Who’s this for: One with humility paired with the desire to improve. This book is a compilation of incredible life changing habits, but you really need to be open to change and experimentation. If you’re someone that thinks your way is the best, then don’t read this. Keep doing whatever it is you’re doing… you must be amazing.
I spend a lot of time reading books discussing the evolution and progression of life, whether it be from the perspective of physics, philosophy, anthropology, or whatever! I’m a curious primate, and I like answers. There is no answer to what our purpose is, but there’s one thing for damn sure that I will do… try and be the absolute best version of whoever I can be. Atomic Habits can help me do that.
You can judge this book by its book jacket, because it says it all. Atomic Habits are those tiny changes that can equate to incredible improvements in your life. This is the second time I’m reading this book, with the first time being a few years ago. I completely forgot that much of what I suggest to people since reading it the first time came from it! Sorry, James Clear. I’m sure I may have taken credit for advice I’ve given. I’ll owe you a beer or ten.
For example, when I decided that I’d read more this year, I chose to put my reading stack in a place that I’d see every day. This is the 3rd Law… make it easy. I also always tell people to first seek what they’re interested in to become excellent at it. If you naturally gravitate towards something, then you’ll be more inclined to continue doing it, which is discussed in the Advanced Tactics section.
James Clear does a great job taking what seems like common sense, and putting it in a process that flows, from the idea to create a habit, to establishing it, and finally making it a life changing part of your life. He backs all the rationale of his flow with studies or real life cautionary tales. For me, this helps understand that it’s not just his words, it’s just how things are. Kind of like how Newton discovered calculus. He didn’t invent it. He’s just the one who was able to observe that these are just the laws of the universe. Newton had calculus; Clear has human habits.
Side note: Speaking of Newton, I’ll never forgot my Calc III professor telling the class that Newton discovered calculus at the rate a college freshman learns it. Kept thinking if he was that much of a genius, or am I that slow… don’t answer that.
The second time through, I picked up a lot more that I need to adapt to my daily routines. I’m addicted to continuously improving, and this book provides the perfect blueprint for it. It’s not enough to merely decide you want to be better at something, but you need to hold yourself accountable in doing it, and do it right!
Make it obvious. Make it attractive. Make it easy. Make it satisfying.
These are the the 4 Laws of Atomic Habits. Learn them. Make them a part of your ever improving life.
This book as 3 million+ sold for a reason. It’s f’n great.
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