Former Global Head of Behavioral Science for the world's largest company. Stanford trained behavioral scientist. Founder of Persona.
Over the past 15 years, I've read hundreds of books, papers, and articles on habit formation.
99% of them weren't worth it.
Save yourself the time and just read these 5 🧵👇
Book #1: Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Most people don't have a concrete understanding of how their brains work.
This book gives you a simple, practical model of the mind and how to harness it.
Book #2: Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything
Most people try to start habits that are too big and complex. This almost ensures failure.
This book teaches you that habit formation should be simple, and that habits should start small.
Book #3: Making Habits, Breaking Habits
Most habit books are based on the observations and n=1 experiments of the writers. They aren't based on scientific research.
This book does the best job of summarizing what we know from academic research.
Book #4: Atomic Habits
Most habit-formation books and articles provide a disorganized set of hacks that may or may not work.
James gives you a practical and effective framework for making consistent improvements & building solid habits.
Book #5: Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick
Wendy Wood is a living legend in the habit research world. There's no one better to give a practical and academic overview of what habits are & how they can be changed.
TL;DR: Forget all the other books and articles on habits, just read these 5:
Switch
Tiny Habits
Making Habits, Breaking Habits
Atomic Habits
Good Habits, Bad Habits
Links and full titles can be found above.