Making Habits, Breaking Habits

Why We Do Things, Why We Don't, and How to Make Any Change Stick

By: Jeremy Dean

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Say you want to start going to the gym or practicing a musical instrument. How long should it take before you stop having to force it and start doing it automatically? The surprising answers are found in Making Habits, Breaking Habits, a leading psychologist’s popular examination of one of the most powerful and underappreciated processes in the brain. Although people like to think that they are in control, the vast majority of human behavior occurs without any decision-making or conscious thought.

Drawing on hundreds of fascinating studies, psychologist Jeremy Dean busts the myths to finally explain why seemingly easy habits, like eating an apple a day, can be surprisingly difficult to form, and how to take charge of your brain’s natural "autopilot" to make any change stick.

Witty and intriguing, Making Habits, Breaking Habits shows how behavior occurs more than just a product of what you think. It is possible to bend your habits to your will - and be happier, more creative, and more productive.

©2013 Jeremy Dean (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"Making changes does take longer than we may expect - no 30-day, 30-pounds-lighter quick fix - but by following the guidelines laid out by Dean, listeners have a decent chance at establishing fulfilling, new patterns." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"An accessible and informative guide for listeners to take control of their lives." ( Publishers Weekly)

No Sugar Coating Allowed

The author makes it very clear that he hates the idea of quick and easy permanent change books and theories. In a way he is so outspoken about how difficult and how long new habits take to become established that it almost makes it seem "why even try?".

This book is filled with information and data from many, many research studies. It is a bit dry at times and often discouraging as well. I agree with several other reviewers that it was unnecessarily long winded in parts. All that said--I think the author is correct that the quick fixes and fantasy ideas presented in other books are really not helpful in the end. Far better to know up front what you are up against when you are trying to build positive or eliminate negative habits. Forget about the notion of "21 days to a new you". Think instead about 300 plus days instead!

At times I felt overwhelmed by too much information and too much negativity over all. Plus the overview of when habits become mental illness was pretty dark. To me, a very sobering look at change and the underbelly of habits.

The book does contain helpful points and methods. Just don't expect a positive and upbeat listening experience. A serious book about habits.

A learning experience

The book was a little slow and methodical and some parts I did not listen as well but there was definitely some good information and new, helpful information.

Important, unexpected information about habits.

Would you consider the audio edition of Making Habits, Breaking Habits to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the book, however I found the narration to be outstanding in the audiobook. It got me hooked, and I was able to focus on what he was saying. In some non-fiction books I find myself zoning out and having to rewind to understand what was said, in this book I don't remember that happening, I just felt excited by Sean Pratt's reading.

I think the print book would be good, because I would like to refer to some studies. Also, I found the beginning of the book super fascinating but now I can't remember what I learned form it, so the print book might be useful to jog my memory.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening chapter of the book.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

That it takes on average 66 days to produce a new habit, and that it depends on the difficulty of the habit. Simple habits could take only 20 days, but more difficult habits still weren't a habit after 84 days (the end of the study). And some habits, if extrapolated after the study ended, might take as long as 254 days to form!

Any additional comments?

There is a lot of important information about habits and what is needed to break them. And largely, they can't be broken, they must be replaced. There are a lot of helpful tips about how to make new habits, as well as tips on other related topics. And all of them are backed up by studies.

Deep Self-Help Book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

It depends on the friend to be quite honest. The book I believed was golden because it gave you a lot of studies and research that the author did to prove his points in this book. However, some people want the 'quick fix' on how to help themselves without having studies and research to back it up. I believe this book is more self aware than self help, only because it tells you why you do certain things and how you can manipulate your mind to change those aspects.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There were no characters in the book as the book was a self help book.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite part of the book was when he was talking about how your sub conscience mind has more power than your conscience. Example would be, if you make yourself a cup of coffee Monday thru Friday every morning before you go to work, it would suddenly become a habit and a ritual for you. But lets say that Saturday you do not make coffee as you use that time to sleep in or relax. Then lets say Monday is a holiday as to which you do not have to work, you still might find yourself making that cup of coffee on Monday and waking up at a certain time on Monday because you have been in that habit for quite some time. This was the most interesting part to me.

Could you see Making Habits, Breaking Habits being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

More of a documentary than anything. Again, it was more of a self help book than it is a character based book.

Any additional comments?

The book is good to listen too and again should be enjoyed and listened too if you like the research and study aspect. I will admit however, you need to have full concentration on this book because it sometimes can get a bit boring.

Good book

Explains psychology of why we make habits. Also explains how we can make new ones.

a good read

80% of this book is on the science and understanding of habit formation and its continuation of those habits in our life. the last few chapters, the 20% is on how to make changes. it was a long listen to get to how we can make changes in our habits, and because of this I often drifted off in boredom. overall i learnt heaps, and i now need to listen to those last chapters again and take notes so i can try out the researched techniques for myself un order to make my own changes. thanks to the author for sharing this info 😀.

Yay!

This book met my expectations and the later chapters were especially helpful. If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend Better Than Before, by Gretchen Rubin.

Great background for self-help program

An entertaining summary of hundreds of psychological studies that explore and explain the creation and altering of human habits. this is the science behind the self-help gurus.

Worth it

Any additional comments?

This really is a great book. Made me confront and examine a lot of stuff in my life that was uncomfortable but necessary. Definitely worth the time to listen to it.

Habits are fascinating!

This book could also have been titled: Finding Happiness through Choosing your Habits Well.

Our Pursuits of Happiness is an elusive chase.
Our mind is so vast and complex, Dean takes us on a walk through our mind, pointing out things so obvious - we missed them.
While the studies are explained well, I think this book could have been more compact to be easier digested by people not as intrigued by studies, but the general outcome and discoveries.
Ps, this is one of the books I’ve chosen to re-read this year due to its great content, and my Love for the intriguing aspects of the importance of Habits in our Lives.