Article archive / December 2021
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 12. Source pages: 12.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Randy Lemoine, PhD Psychologist, Baton Rouge
BOOM! This book will blow your mind! It is a powerful mix of the real science of habit change and practical everyday applications, highlighted by some rather entertaining, real-life success stories, ranging from gold medalists to dieters. But wait, before we get too carried away with the “nuclear blast” analogy of this book, know that the message of this book is actually about the other meaning of “atomic;” i.e., tiny; minute; aka “itty-bitty.” This meaning is captioned in the book’s subtitle: “Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results.” When undertaking habit change, we are often deluded by the belief that it will require a massive effort. “Nay, nay,” says the author, James Clear, who is one of the world’s leading experts on habits. Actually, our tiny, daily habits are “the compound interest” of lasting behavior change – for both our positive and negative habits. A minute 1% change in a habit applied daily reaps huge, mega-ton dividends over time. And a key message that is now backed by neuroscience is: You can replace, but not erase a bad habit. An attractive feature of this book is that the chapters are organized by the four core laws of habit change and each chapter includes practical strategies and tips for intervention. Atomic Habits – a “good read” for both the scientist-practioner and those who we serve. And maybe if you replace some of those “naughty habits,” Santa will slip a copy into your Christmas stocking this year! MerryChristmas2U.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.