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Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
42 reviews
mjwilliamson's review against another edition
Found it extremely triggering with all the allusions to eating management, calorie counting and weight tracking. I don’t even have a body-dysmorphic related ED but it’s the casual references and nonchalance about it all that got to me. As a result I’m only going to read the chapter summaries because I want to learn from him but I can’t do the whole thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Eating disorder
Minor: Fatphobia
clavishorti's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
When delving into the opening pages of James Clear’s Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of a simple yet highly effective writing style. The language employed is not just a means of communication; its simplicity serves as a unique allure, enabling readers to easily grasp each concept presented by the author.
With high expectations, I ventured further into the pages of this book, hoping for the revelation of profound and original ideas. Unfortunately, this literary journey did not entirely fulfill the lofty expectations I carried. While the book presents a series of principles and ideas relevant to habit formation, there is a tendency for the author to rely on concepts and research from external sources, providing more of a sense of amalgamation than creation. I yearned for a more distinct voice from the author himself. I found myself wanting a deeper connection to James Clear’s own insights and perspectives rather than a predominant reliance on external findings. This absence of a more personal touch left a void in the narrative, impacting the overall resonance of the book.
A notable aspect that stands out is the repetition of messages, which, while intended to ensure reader understanding, sometimes gives rise to monotony. On several occasions, I found myself having to reread pages to ensure comprehensive understanding. Nevertheless, it cannot be ignored that the book also introduces positive elements that add value. Each chapter is accompanied by a summary that provides focus and facilitates reflection, adding a structural dimension that I appreciate. However, as I reached the conclusion, disappointment resurfaced. The ending felt somewhat inadequate, leaving me with a desire for a more thorough understanding or a stronger conclusion.
Although this book may not entirely meet my expectations, I acknowledge that every reader has a unique and subjective experience with a work. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones may not be the perfect answer for everyone, but as a piece of literature paving the way for positive change, it offers inspiration and fundamental considerations that are valuable.
With high expectations, I ventured further into the pages of this book, hoping for the revelation of profound and original ideas. Unfortunately, this literary journey did not entirely fulfill the lofty expectations I carried. While the book presents a series of principles and ideas relevant to habit formation, there is a tendency for the author to rely on concepts and research from external sources, providing more of a sense of amalgamation than creation. I yearned for a more distinct voice from the author himself. I found myself wanting a deeper connection to James Clear’s own insights and perspectives rather than a predominant reliance on external findings. This absence of a more personal touch left a void in the narrative, impacting the overall resonance of the book.
A notable aspect that stands out is the repetition of messages, which, while intended to ensure reader understanding, sometimes gives rise to monotony. On several occasions, I found myself having to reread pages to ensure comprehensive understanding. Nevertheless, it cannot be ignored that the book also introduces positive elements that add value. Each chapter is accompanied by a summary that provides focus and facilitates reflection, adding a structural dimension that I appreciate. However, as I reached the conclusion, disappointment resurfaced. The ending felt somewhat inadequate, leaving me with a desire for a more thorough understanding or a stronger conclusion.
Although this book may not entirely meet my expectations, I acknowledge that every reader has a unique and subjective experience with a work. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones may not be the perfect answer for everyone, but as a piece of literature paving the way for positive change, it offers inspiration and fundamental considerations that are valuable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming and Eating disorder
gracieec's review against another edition
informative
2.75
Some useful information, but a lot of fat phobia and diet culture. Things like talking about people who lost crazy huge amounts of weight with just a little habit change, or constantly equating fatness work only being unhealthy. I took it all with a grain of salt
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder
josiee123's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I listened to this on audio so may need to review more and make notes. It's a good set of systems I'm just not sure how much I can track and review everything! However can upgrade some systems. And the author gives real life examples of success. I don't wanna feel pressured to optimise my entire life, unless we're also optimising quality rest - so I've deducted half a star for the "never take a day off, don't miss twice etc" because my lifestyle is just too busy to do every single thing every day. Does the guy not take weekends? Hahah. I'm gonna make myself a Summer Holiday Day Off Habit for hecks sake. I do also now have a weekend routine, for good or ill... Also have deducted half a star for so many mentions of food, diet, veganism and also notions of "good/bad" food. Nutritional awareness is important but this could be highly sensitive for people with ED or other food sensitivities to be tracking every time they have the "bad habit" of eating a donut or whatever. Balance is important but the granular level of focusing on all your food intake/treats/calories versus your general diet could lead to "gymification" and sadness, or worse. Same advice for workouts, sometimes I injure myself badly or have stress/deadlines bro.
It's a great framework but I'll be adopting a softer approach to snacks, mindless YouTube and sleeping in for my mental health (rest tracking if you will). Rowena Tsai has a great video on 7 Types of Rest which is a good combination for this
It's a great framework but I'll be adopting a softer approach to snacks, mindless YouTube and sleeping in for my mental health (rest tracking if you will). Rowena Tsai has a great video on 7 Types of Rest which is a good combination for this
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
reading_leaf's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
Helpful tools but feels pretty Alistic yet so something to keep in mind. Still a worthy read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Injury/Injury detail
the_robyn's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Enjoyed this book for the helpful advice on how to get rid of bad habits and replace them with new ones. Some ideas were genuinely new to me, and for what it's worth, the new-to-me tidbits have already helped me keep going on a positive habit that I've had troubles sticking with in the past. I found those parts very digestible and clear.
That said, there's a couple things I didn't love - the incessant self-promotion, where the author promotes his blog and newsletter in what feels like every chapter (and they're short). I also didn't love his insistence on how missing a habit twice is apparently a complete disaster!? Anyone with a chronic condition, or, I guess, simply a life where sometimes your days don't all look the same, can attest, this doesn't always work, as much as you want it to. If your bike has a flat or your car breaks down on your way to the gym, or your kid's sick or you're sick or a family member needs help, I'd venture most people would prioritize helping with / fixing those things rather than adamantly trucking on with their habits because a guy said so in a book, or that's how you get to be "successful". a) life happens, and b) not everyone has the freedom to design every single one of their days around a very specific routine they can lay out for themselves.
Oh and, for the love of everything holy, DO NOT give your passwords to other people so they can "reset them for you every week" to hold you accountable. How anybody comes up with a suggestion like that is beyond me.
Also steer clear of at the very least the intro chapter if you don't like to read about injury/medical details, since there was a fair bit of that in there.
That said, there's a couple things I didn't love - the incessant self-promotion, where the author promotes his blog and newsletter in what feels like every chapter (and they're short). I also didn't love his insistence on how missing a habit twice is apparently a complete disaster!? Anyone with a chronic condition, or, I guess, simply a life where sometimes your days don't all look the same, can attest, this doesn't always work, as much as you want it to. If your bike has a flat or your car breaks down on your way to the gym, or your kid's sick or you're sick or a family member needs help, I'd venture most people would prioritize helping with / fixing those things rather than adamantly trucking on with their habits because a guy said so in a book, or that's how you get to be "successful". a) life happens, and b) not everyone has the freedom to design every single one of their days around a very specific routine they can lay out for themselves.
Oh and, for the love of everything holy, DO NOT give your passwords to other people so they can "reset them for you every week" to hold you accountable. How anybody comes up with a suggestion like that is beyond me.
Also steer clear of at the very least the intro chapter if you don't like to read about injury/medical details, since there was a fair bit of that in there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, and Eating disorder
aztlan's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
A lot of the 'good habit' examples revolve around weightloss/restricted eating_jjqgw's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
a great book indeed
not a huge fan of self help books but this is an exception absolutely loved it even though the writing could've been better (it was kinda boring to me) other than that it's amazing
highly recommend it to everyone it'll change your perspective on many things
not a huge fan of self help books but this is an exception absolutely loved it even though the writing could've been better (it was kinda boring to me) other than that it's amazing
highly recommend it to everyone it'll change your perspective on many things
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
kathlyn's review against another edition
2.75
I agreed with some of the central ideas of this book and thought a lot of the advice was helpful, but I also thought a lot of it veered to close to bio-hacking/“do this one easy thing and change your life.” You aren’t going to transform your life by choosing a gym that’s on your route home for work. I also did not like the constant inclusion of weight loss, calorie counting, dieting, etc. Many mentions of those topics were blatantly fatphobic or promoted disordered eating. I think “Laziness Does Not Exist” by Devon Price is a much better version of this kind of self-help book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
undersea's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
There are good tips in here, but nothing earth shattering. Habit sacking and the 2 minute rule are things that will probably help anyone trying to build new habits, myself included.
But, it felt really “life hacky” at times, like tricking yourself into good habits. Which, if it was that easy, why would we need a book about it? The amount of weight/diet bullshit in here is pretty staggering, it really took me out of the book & made me roll my eyes. The author purposefully ignores the myriad of reasons that go into things like weight or vices. It’s not simply a matter of choice. Maybe he’s trying to stay in his lane, he’s not a psychologist after all, but it just felt way too simplistic and dismissive.
But, it felt really “life hacky” at times, like tricking yourself into good habits. Which, if it was that easy, why would we need a book about it? The amount of weight/diet bullshit in here is pretty staggering, it really took me out of the book & made me roll my eyes. The author purposefully ignores the myriad of reasons that go into things like weight or vices. It’s not simply a matter of choice. Maybe he’s trying to stay in his lane, he’s not a psychologist after all, but it just felt way too simplistic and dismissive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder