Atomic Habits (500,000 Copies Sold Commemorative Special Edition)

Author James Clear · Publisher Business Books · Publication Date 2019-02-26 · ISBN 9791162540640

About the Book

"If you do the same thing 100 times, it becomes your powerful weapon!"
A life-changing project brought about by small repetitions that seem insignificant!

Diet, English study, exercise... You've probably made some resolutions this year. You might have ambitiously written down your goals in a new diary or declared to those around you, "I'm starting a diet tomorrow." A month later, your previous resolutions have faded, and you're still eating late-night snacks and not exercising. You might feel a little awkward because of the boasts you made to people, but you rationalize it by saying, "I'm not good at sticking to resolutions," and return to your old routine. However, there are people who, once they make a resolution, always see it through. At some point, they might proudly declare, "I recently lost about 10 kg from dieting," showcasing their healthier physique. Are they exceptionally strong-willed? Or do they have incredibly strong willpower? Both are wrong. They are neither stronger-willed nor have stronger willpower than you. They simply repeated very small habits little by little every day. So, how can you change like them?

James Clear, the author of "Atomic Habits," says that to turn any habit into your weapon, you only need to remember four things. These are the "Four Laws of Behavior Change": every habit must be obvious (First Law), attractive (Second Law), easy (Third Law), and satisfying (Fourth Law).

The author experienced a remarkable transformation with these laws. He developed the habit of eating an apple every morning, something he used to forget constantly. The author tried to eat an apple every day for a healthy diet, but every time he bought apples, he would put them in the refrigerator's fruit compartment and forget about them, eventually throwing them away uneaten. However, when he made the habit of "eating an apple every day" "obvious," a change occurred. The author placed the apples visibly on the table. This naturally reminded him to eat an apple whenever he had a chance, every day. As such, the method introduced by the author allows you to achieve your desired goals by simply changing your current habits a little, without special willpower.

However, variables sometimes arise in our daily lives. There will inevitably be times when you cannot perform the habit you resolved to do today. The author reassures us that it's okay to boldly give up on one mistake. Instead, he urges us to uphold the principle of "never missing twice in a row." This is because if you miss that habit twice, another new bad habit begins.

Furthermore, the author shatters our prejudice, which is often caught up in the myth of the "10,000-hour rule," in this book. Generally, we believe that change requires investing a lot of time. However, what makes a significant difference is "frequency," not "time." Whether it's 21 days, 30 days, or 300 days is not important. It's crucial to repeat often, even if it's just for 2 minutes. Repeating a habit twice over 2 days and repeating it 100 times will lead to vastly different results.

"1 in 10 Americans has read his newsletter at least once!"
Habit-forming methods highly praised by top minds worldwide, including Google, Facebook, and Apple!

Upon its release, "Atomic Habits" immediately caused a stir across the United States, garnering significant attention from various media outlets such as Amazon, The New York Times, and Forbes, as well as corporations. In particular, his lecture at Stanford University is still widely discussed. Moreover, in this book, the author was the first in the world to explain habits by integrating cognitive science and behavioral science, and prominent American media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post have praised it as a masterpiece on habits. This signifies a shift in the paradigm of habits, moving beyond theoretical explanations to provide practical strategies that anyone can easily implement.

For the author, who dramatically recovered from the depths of his life, "atomic habits" were a last chance and a key to salvation. Daily small actions seemed insignificant, but when they accumulated, they brought about an unimaginable transformation for him. "Atomic Habits" is a book that offers concrete practical tips to those who constantly want to change little by little but can't find a way, and to those who dream of a leap in life. I hope you, too, experience the miracle of atomic habits firsthand, like the author.

Table of Contents

Prologue Starting a New Life
Emerging from the Depths of Life | Astonishing and Tremendous Changes

Part 1. The Dramatic Changes Created by Atomic Habits
Chapter 01. How Did Ordinary Athletes Become World Champions?
Just 1 Percent Different Every Day | Endure the Valley of Disappointment | Throw Goals in the Trash | You Fool, It's the System

Chapter 02. Identity, the Greatest Secret to Motivating People
Two Questions That Change Your Life | Habits Are Self-Esteem

Chapter 03. Make Everything Easy, Enjoyable, and Simple
What Determines Life's Efficiency | What Happens When You Buy a Donut | The Four Laws of Behavior Change

Part 2. First Law, Clarity Makes a Difference
Chapter 04. Life Changes as You Think It Will
Good Habits vs. Bad Habits

Chapter 05. Break Down and Combine Very Specifically
When Habits Meet Time and Place

Chapter 06. Environment Determines Behavior
The Secret to Eating an Apple Every Morning | Why Study Better at Starbucks Than at Home

Chapter 07. Techniques for Avoiding Bad Habits

Part 3. Second Law, Attractiveness Makes a Difference
Chapter 08. Why Are Some Habits More Appealing?
Drawn to What We 'Want' More Than What We 'Like' | Adding New Habits to Daily Life

Chapter 09. Why Do My Habits Change Based on Those Around Me?
Three Groups That Determine Our Behavior

Chapter 10. Can Bad Habits Be Fixed Enjoyably?
The Real Reason You Play Games | If You Want to Create Positive Feelings

Part 4. Third Law, Easiness Makes a Difference
Chapter 11. The 10,000-Hour Rule Is Wrong
Should I Do a Lot, or for a Long Time?

Chapter 12. Let's Take the Easy Way Out, If Possible
What Google and Amazon Sell | Minimum Effort, Maximum Results

Chapter 13. Minimum Time for Change
Be Absurdly Trivial

Chapter 14. How Do They Break Bad Habits?
Smart People's Habit Management Methods

Part 5. Fourth Law, Satisfaction Makes a Difference
Chapter 15. How to Catch Both Fun and Reward
People Who Prioritize Immediate Gratification | The Power of Small Rewards

Chapter 16. How to Repeat Daily
Benjamin Franklin's Last Gift | Habits Crumble at the Second Mistake

Chapter 17. Someone Is Watching You
How Seatbelts Became a Global Habit

Part 6. How Are the Best Habits Formed?
Chapter 18. Habits Have an Aptitude
There's a Habit That's Just Right for Me | Between What You're Good at and What You Like | Genes: If You Can't Change Them, Use Them

Chapter 19. Where Does the Power to Keep Going Come From?
The Difference Between Experts and Amateurs

Chapter 20. The Counterattack of Habits
Lessons Learned from the Failure of the Greatest Team in History | There Are Other Paths in Life

Epilogue Repeat It 100 Times, and It Becomes Your Weapon
Appendix 1 18 Truths About Human Behavior
Appendix 2 If You Enjoyed This Book
Notes