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257 reviews for:
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
Kelly McGonigal
4.1 AVERAGE
257 reviews for:
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
Kelly McGonigal
4.1 AVERAGE
I've read a lot of books on procrastination and improving personal productivity, so I was pretty skeptical of this book having anything new or surprising to reveal. But, I was wrong. What I appreciated about this book was the reassuring tone and the ideas for cultivating an attitude of self-compassion as a concrete step towards tackling your willpower challenges.
Since the book was developed from the author's wildly popular continuing education course at Standford, the format and progression of the chapters lends itself easily to planning your own "willpower challenge" project.
Since the book was developed from the author's wildly popular continuing education course at Standford, the format and progression of the chapters lends itself easily to planning your own "willpower challenge" project.
This book didn’t help me have more will power but it did help me understand that my primitive brain is a self-sabotaging instant gratification asshole.
By chapter three the author started talking about research done by Roy Bowmister. They explained that, "sure they researched satanic rituals and UFO abductions, but you need to be on the fringe...".
This was the chapter on "ego depletion", which has been debunked and not replicated. I couldn't go any further in this book after this book took this a scientific fact.
This was the chapter on "ego depletion", which has been debunked and not replicated. I couldn't go any further in this book after this book took this a scientific fact.
This book checks all the boxes of what a self help book should have. At the end of the each chapter gives you practical action that you can take to help you in achieving your goals. The author did alot of research before putting anything in the text. The english used is easy to understand.
I had an audiobook version, which I listened to while driving. Would highly recommend if you want to fix a bad habit of yours or if you want to learn about psychology.
I had an audiobook version, which I listened to while driving. Would highly recommend if you want to fix a bad habit of yours or if you want to learn about psychology.
This was a pretty quick read. It kind of validated some stuff I already do and made me think about a few different techniques for Getting More Shit Done. It's kinda pop-psychology pep talks with a liberal sprinkling of dad jokes. It has an overall pretty reassuring tone, like--don't worry if you struggle with this! Everyone does, because science!
I mentioned to a few people that my book club was reading this and multiple people told me [b:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433|The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|Charles Duhigg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366758683s/12609433.jpg|17624817] was better, but to be honest I'm probably not going to read that. I have also heard that you could just watch Kelly McGonigal's TED talk instead of reading this.
I mentioned to a few people that my book club was reading this and multiple people told me [b:The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|12609433|The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business|Charles Duhigg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366758683s/12609433.jpg|17624817] was better, but to be honest I'm probably not going to read that. I have also heard that you could just watch Kelly McGonigal's TED talk instead of reading this.
I'm on a bit of a motivational reading kick, and I read this immediately after finishing Baumeister's Willpower book [b:Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength|11104933|Willpower Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength|Roy F. Baumeister|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1347857263s/11104933.jpg|16027103], and shortly after [b:Succeeding When You're Supposed to Fail: The 6 Enduring Principles of High Achievement|12250724|Succeeding When You're Supposed to Fail The 6 Enduring Principles of High Achievement|Rom Brafman|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1333576874s/12250724.jpg|17225214].
It's based on a continuing ed class that McGonigal teaches at Stanford and is broken into ten chapters based on the lessons she gives. I'm a sucker for examples, and she tells some great stories about her students. She ranges a lot wider than Baumeister, and if I could only read one book on Willpower, this certainly gives more bang for the buck. Certain concepts were familiar, and I appreciated revisiting the work of Daniel Gilbert ([b:Stumbling on Happiness|56627|Stumbling on Happiness|Daniel Todd Gilbert|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327947323s/56627.jpg|152688]), but other concepts, such as enforcing consistency rather than resisting altogether, were new to me.
McGonigal breaks willpower challenges into three types: will-power, won't-power, and want-power and looks at ways to enhance each one, as well as common misconceptions that lead to setbacks. Although the author encourages readers to take a full 10 weeks to finish the book, as though they were taking the class, complete with mental and even written exercises, she makes allowances for those who want to read all the way through, which is typical of her relaxed, embracing, and positive tone.
It's based on a continuing ed class that McGonigal teaches at Stanford and is broken into ten chapters based on the lessons she gives. I'm a sucker for examples, and she tells some great stories about her students. She ranges a lot wider than Baumeister, and if I could only read one book on Willpower, this certainly gives more bang for the buck. Certain concepts were familiar, and I appreciated revisiting the work of Daniel Gilbert ([b:Stumbling on Happiness|56627|Stumbling on Happiness|Daniel Todd Gilbert|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327947323s/56627.jpg|152688]), but other concepts, such as enforcing consistency rather than resisting altogether, were new to me.
McGonigal breaks willpower challenges into three types: will-power, won't-power, and want-power and looks at ways to enhance each one, as well as common misconceptions that lead to setbacks. Although the author encourages readers to take a full 10 weeks to finish the book, as though they were taking the class, complete with mental and even written exercises, she makes allowances for those who want to read all the way through, which is typical of her relaxed, embracing, and positive tone.
The best book I have ever read on the subject. Written by a very credible author. The book has a good balance between theory and practical exercises.
We all carry with us various myths about what willpower is, our relationship with it, and how to do better with it. However, so many of our assumptions about willpower are often wrong in total or problematically applied because of a failure to understand what willpower is and its different forms. McGonigal's provides a fantastic foundation to exploring and articulating willpower by breaking it into three different forms (I will, I won't, I want). She guides readers through the science it has taken to better understand it from our historical or often racially, culturally, classist views of willpower to one that highlights just how willpower works in many different ways with cognitive, physiological, and mental tricks that humans fall prey to quite often. One of my favorite parts of McGonigal’s work is that she provides small challenges for readers to test out with each new idea she introduces. While it is inevitably something she, herself, has developed, I can’t help but think, her sister, Jane McGonigal has helped or advised in as it has a strong gamification element to it. What I appreciate most about this book is that it reminds the reader that willpower is often a moving target and that one cannot necessarily conquer it but rather just better understand where and when one is most likely to succeed or surrender to short-term desires that are at odds with long-term goals.
Great read! I listened to this book as an audiobook through a library loan so I couldn’t slow it down as much as the author suggested, but I still think I gained a lot of knowledge from it. Even just being aware of my willpower and noticing my willpower challenges has made a difference. A book I think I will reach for again in the future!
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced