Listen free for 30 days
-
The Power of Habit
- Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Power of Habit
Buy Now for £10.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
There's never been a better time to set new habits. This book will change your life.
Why do we do develop habits? And how can we change them?
We can always change. In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg translates cutting-edge behavioural science into practical self-improvement action, distilling advanced neuroscience into fascinating narratives of transformation.
Why can some people and companies change overnight and some stay stuck in their old ruts? The answer lies deep in the human brain, and The Power of Habits reveals the secret pressure points that can change a life. From Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to Martin Luther King Jr., from the CEO of Starbucks to the locker rooms of the NFL, Duhigg explores the incredible results of keystone habits and how they can make all the difference between billions and millions, failure and success – or even life and death.
The Power of Habit makes an exhilarating case: the key to almost any door in life is instilling the right habit. From exercise to weight loss, child-rearing to productivity, market disruption to social revolution and above all success, the right habits can change everything.
Habits aren't destiny. They’re science, one which can transform our businesses, our communities and our lives.
Critic reviews
"It’s a fascinating insight into making and breaking habits and offers practical advice, funny stories and critical thinking." (Press Association)
"Plenty of business books that try to tap into the scientific world manage to distil complicated research into readable prose. But few take the next step and become essential manuals for business and living. The Power of Habit is an exception." (Andrew Hill, Financial Times)
"Full of great ideas" (Evening Standard)
More from the same
What listeners say about The Power of Habit
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jamie
- 17-04-12
Absolutely excellent book
I really, really loved this book. This is the first time I have been driven to write a review on audible. If you're interested in how we make, or change habits, either as individuals or organisations, this is essential listening.
Just one thing though. The narrator, Mike Chamberlain, does a high pitched voice when reporting speech made by a woman. Do you even realise you're doing this Mike? It sounds a bit like you're taking the piss.
Otherwise though a fabulous listen/read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
180 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Mark Pack
- 22-07-12
Appendix missing
Something to watch out for if you buy this audio version: when I got it, the book's Appendix ("A Reader's Guide to Using These Ideas') was missing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
179 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- J
- 05-09-12
Good book but not a useful one
I really enjoyed this book. It has a whole bunch of interesting anecdotes that are woven together in a very well-done way. I would recommend it as something interesting to listen to.
That being said however this book really doesn't teach the reader anything about habit and it certainly doesn't teach you how to change your habits.
If you're looking for an entertaining listen then you cannot go wrong with this. If you're looking for a self-help book then steer clear.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
106 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
- i
- 11-10-12
the power of habit...
This is so long winded and dull.. normally I am pleased with Audible but this title fails to engage , it is long winded and has no real value. It has no obvious benefits and was a waste of my money! More like a story book than a self help title. Very Disappointing.. but all credit to the one who wrote the description for this rubbish as they made me buy it! I have bought many titles from audible and most are excellent... this is not one I can recommend to anyone.. if I could get a refund.. this would be it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
54 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Kenny
- 02-09-12
An awful agony of an audiobook
This book might be tolerable in book form, where you could skim the endless anecdotes and irrelevant, meaningless detail (do you care what an amnesia-sufferer eats for breakfast?). In audio form, it was a trial of my patience and because it lacks any overall structure, I'm pretty sure that I tuned out for most of the "conclusions", though many that were there seemed to be wild extrapolations (Tony Dungee's Colts team did not develop new habits until... Tony Dungee's son died?) based on a single celebrity datapoint.
Worst of all, this "unabridged" book can be summarised into about 5 facts with absolutely loss of fidelity, assuming that you understand facts and don't need anecdotes of the founder of the AA and Tony Dungee in order to accept them.
If what you want are a bunch of stories that vaguely involve the word "habit" this book is for you. If what you want are insights how habits form, how you can influence habits, you are far better off reading a five sentence summary of this book.
One extra note: I don't believe that this is in the "Malcolm Gladwell" class of anti-scientific conclusions based on coincidentally similar anecdotes. There is a sufficient amount of scientific evidence and study that it is true. So rather than taking the Gladwellian approach of a surprising conclusion by stringing together stories, it instead takes scientific study as its base and tries to find exemplar case studies to pad out the factual base with narrative. But you'd be better off sticking to facts if you actually care about facts.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
52 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 08-10-12
I stopped biting my nails
It's now about a month since finishing the book, and I still haven't bitten my nails! That's pretty awesome if you ask me.
Don't be put off by the whining of Mike Chamberlain's narration. Yes, it's very American and nasal, but you soon get used to it. It's worth it for the content, I promise. It would seem out-of-context to deliver self-improvement material in any other accent.
I love the notions and ideas within this book. Personally, a single driver to explain all human behaviour is an appealing concept to me. Of course it can't account for the bursts of creative flair, or capricious emotion that humans sometime display. But by the end of the book, it's hammered home that EVERYTHING is down to habit. And I believe a very large part of human nature is.
The sections about keystone habits are useful and intriguing. There are many case studies, how a football team was turned from underdog to Super Bowl winner, how Starbucks train their staff, why the Kings Cross tube station fire happened, and how you can change your life and more.
All of these rather disparate and sensational events were ALL DOWN to habits! A beautiful, singular theory, but left me wanting to corroborate these events. The book is called The Power Of Habit, so its no wonder all the chapters build on each other to prove the gravity of such power.
I'm not saying that's a bad thing. A book should encourage you to go out and study the the subject further, or research the authour and his findings.
If you love self-help books, or want to change some habits of your own, then this book is a must.
I look at Starbucks in a completely different light now. (Will just go and check if Charles Duhigg is on the board ;-) )
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
48 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Robert
- 23-12-12
Very good but lack precise program to change
I highly recommend this book, it describes a lot of interesting situations including habits in personal life as well as in company organization. It is absolutely worth a read only for those stories.
There are some drawbacks. Its missing good conclusion how reader can change his daily habits. All chapters and described stories are not so coherent as to create single book. You read/listen to book as compilation of interesting cases not single work with some good purpose and conclusion.
Audiobook is pleasure to listen and well prepared. If you are interested in topic, it is absolutely worth to buy.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
32 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Thomas
- 12-08-12
Brilliant
If you want to make changes, or have tried in the past and failed, then this is a great book to get you on the right track. It won't do the work for you, but it will tell you what work you need to do, and how you can do it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Marcela
- 09-12-12
explains the science behind self help books
I liked this book because it has a clear structure. Firstly you learn how a human brain functions in terms of memory and patterns, where the memory is stored, where the habits are stored and how this was scientifically proven. Then you learn how we have to think first to manage a situation and then how we create a habit out of a situation and this whole process is not done intentionally by us. It is the process, which is driven by the efficiency of our brains with a habit to be defined as-cue-pattern-reward. It was fascinating to learn how the science behind this was used endlessly in advertising, how habits cannot be really changed, just overwritten. You learn about core habits and how doing one positive thing can affect the whole array of your behaviour. The importance of belief was another issue and how it happens that we are able to make changes in our lives and how it relates to the importance of community and support groups. Then how these simple principles apply to companies and societies. I enjoyed all stories and scientific experiments, which were mentioned in the book, I think it gave the book credibility and 'dry scientific' facts came to life in those. I really enjoyed learning something new as I hardly ever think of the fact how our brains work, this is not a self help book at all, but it gives you a sufficient glimpse into how you can do things, inspires you, explains the science behind self help books, rather than tells you what to do. I feel I learnt something important in a very pleasant way. Thank you. Charles and Mike :)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Karl Moody
- 03-12-18
Absolute drivvle
This whole story book is absolute waffle. I only lasted about 3 hours then skipped through the rest to see if there was any actual advice in here . . . and there isn't! It's all just storied about people who have run experiments etc. Yes we realise habits are powerful and important in life but nothing about how to change them as we are all expecting to hear and the reason why we all buy this book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Udo
- 05-04-13
Only stories, no evidence
This book is from beginning to the end an example for all kind of cognitive fallacies and biases.
Don't get me wrong:
I believe that most of the author's hypotheses are true. But, the author does a very poor job of showing convincing evidence for his hypotheses.
You encounter instead hindsight bias, availability bias, non-sequiturs and anecdotal evidence.
For example, the author gives several examples of success stories, like "CEO "x" was very successful. CEO "x" used to do "y". Therefore, doing "y" is the reason why CEO "x" was successful. "
What about all the other CEOs who did "y" but weren't successful?
What else did CEO "x" do? Maybe one of THOSE things also contributed to the success as well?
I found myself repeatedly saying: "You cannot conclude that from what you just told me!"
Only few examples are given, where a scientific approach and unbiased logic were used.
I also think, that some anecdotes lighten up the flow of a non-fiction-book.
But an entire book full of anecdotes?
Furthermore, most of the stories are soooo tedious. E.g. I had to fast forward the story about this coach guy....
Also, I found the narrator a little bit annoying: in my opinion there was too much over-emphasizing and dramatization.
Over all, I regret the time for listening to this book.
I give two stars instead of just one star, because the hypotheses shown in this book are very interesting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
35 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hamada
- 28-08-13
I want more
Where does The Power of Habit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
it is probably in the top 10%
Any additional comments?
The book is such a tease!! hold on, it is probably not fair to say that. the book is really valuable it offers great insight into the mind and how it works, into how habits form. but I need more.
1) there is so much around us that take advantage of how habits form, in a way that is sometimes (in my view) unethical. it makes me question a lot of the marketing that takes place. also made me wonder who has access to my habits and how do they use it. SCARY
2) the book offers no recipe for change. it tells you change is possible, it tells you the ingredients of the habit which can be potentially used for affecting change but it still leaves you wondering how to portion out the ingredients. not intentionally but just because of the nature of habit and the nature of individuals and how divers they are. it makes me want more.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carl
- 15-05-12
Truly Life Changing
Any additional comments?
If you're reading this then chances are, you want to change something in your life. I've read self help books for years, some good, many terrible. This book stands head and shoulders above them all because the core concept of the book is a prerequisite for any other self help book to work.
In my opinion, anyone can write a self help book full of useful tips. You know the ones - "start with your outcome in mind, set goals, seek the advice of mentors, exercise in the morning, blah blah blah". Nothing wrong with any of that advice ..... other than the fact that so few people have the ability to follow it.
This book is the missing foundation. It's the platform that once in place will provide you the means to make successes of all the other self-help books out there (if you still need them that is).
And one more thing. Duhigg's methodology isn't really 'his' methodology. It relies on current research surrounding the triggers and rewards that make us do the things we do. It's refreshing to read a self-help book like this; one where the author forms his conclusions from empirical research instead of the all too frequent self help author who wakes us one day and writes a book about how much better our lives would be if we were self-disciplined.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sebastian
- 11-03-19
anecdotal
Lots of anecdotes, little science.
I exoected more studies and actionable advice backe by science. instead its a collection of stories about alcoholics anonymous et cetera and the studies are sort of buried among all of those. but maybe that is your thing!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- George Polyviou
- 04-11-18
Not what I expected.
While the book teaches the fundamentals of habits and in the end accomplishes what it promised to do, in my opinion the countless stories are not needed at all. It goes in great unnecessary detail and in the end the points made are the same. This book could have been half the pages it is and that might be an understatement! Do not purchase this if you're looking for a compact book that goes straight to the point. This could be great for people that want to learn more about habits while not being bombarded with complex terminology but rather digest the book through entertaining stories.
Overall it's not a bad book but definitely not for me since I feel it wasted more time than it taught me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- harshvardhan
- 26-02-19
Good book with interesting facts.
A must read to understand the nature of habits and habit forming and how to use it to our advantage.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 12-02-19
Good storyline and performance
I love the way the author, Charles Duhigg, uses the power of parallel storylines to bring out key learning points. Well written with good examples.
Good performance by the narrator, Mike Chamberlain, to bring the right expression for each character.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ben Vella
- 12-09-23
Fascinating insight to ourselves
Really enjoyed the unmasking of the automatic things we do every day and why. The mix of personal, company and societal habits added an interesting dynamic that sometimes felt a stretch but the author worked hard to connect.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-01-23
Powerful explanation of human behaviour
Succinctly explores the building blocks of humanity and the forces that tie us together. Recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kim
- 18-10-22
Valuable! Thank you.
Fantastic content. I can't recommend it enough. This content, put into practice, have such great potential to improve one's life and that of their family and friends. Thank you Mr Duhigg, the fantastic narrator and the publisher's.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!