A review by bibilly
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change by Charles Duhigg

3.5

more like a complementary reading to Atomic Habits, as it explains how habits work neurologically, than an actual guide, even though it was published first (or perhaps because of it). paused it many times to read and do other things, but three ideas stuck with me. first, the concept of keystone habits (like that one action you repeat every morning and defines your whole day), which create a positive domino effect when controlled. thus, instead of obsessing over every behavior you want to change, you might find it easier to focus on those basic habits that directly influence the course of your day and night. secondly, the fact habits aren't directly related to or do not depend on memory, so that even amnesiacs can build complex ones. finally, the golden rule of habit change: bad habits can't be extinguished, only transformed. using the same cue and providing the same reward, you can change the routine or sequence of behaviors that links them, but this link will always be ingrained in your brain. these three factors explain why I hardly go about my day as planned the night before, and why, on the other hand, I need chains of habits and borderline obsessive rituals to properly function. as a pathological anxious and sleep deprived person, with an undiagnosed executive dysfunction, I could never rely on my memory or attention span, much less outside help, thorough my life. for that reason, I'm always taking notes, setting reminders and trying new routines, while fighting the cues to my many bad habits and getting depressed over my depressive cravings. so the good news is that memory isn't everything. the bad is that I'm a little too compulsive.