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A review by ben_smitty
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal
5.0
The Willpower Instinct is one of the best applied psychology books I've ever read. While many self-help books are still stuck in their Freudian or pseudo-scientific ways, Kelly McGonigal brings a fresh perspective to understanding willpower through the realm of neuroscience. Each chapter is filled with the latest scientific research, coupled with funny anecdotes from her classroom at Stanford, and packed with practical applications in having a better control on willpower. I could not have asked for a better book on the topic.
One idea that was surprising to me was the idea of reducing behavior variability. People often struggle with their willpower challenge (say, eating chocolate chip cookies whenever they see one) because they idealize their tomorrows (tomorrow I will start my diet and will no longer crave cookies!). To become more realistic about their tomorrows, they must reduce behavior variability by saying "If I eat this chocolate chip cookie, I will also have to eat chocolate chip cookies for the next 7 days (and actually do it)." People are more hesitant to make bad decisions if they know that their actions will continue for longer periods of time (which they often do with or without the idealization), so reducing behavior variability can be a lifesaver.
There are many more of these interesting tips and tricks throughout the book. Willpower is an issue that we all face, so I highly recommend the book to you!
One idea that was surprising to me was the idea of reducing behavior variability. People often struggle with their willpower challenge (say, eating chocolate chip cookies whenever they see one) because they idealize their tomorrows (tomorrow I will start my diet and will no longer crave cookies!). To become more realistic about their tomorrows, they must reduce behavior variability by saying "If I eat this chocolate chip cookie, I will also have to eat chocolate chip cookies for the next 7 days (and actually do it)." People are more hesitant to make bad decisions if they know that their actions will continue for longer periods of time (which they often do with or without the idealization), so reducing behavior variability can be a lifesaver.
There are many more of these interesting tips and tricks throughout the book. Willpower is an issue that we all face, so I highly recommend the book to you!