Abstract
The writing aims to review the book “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duwigg and explains the author’s perspective about human habits. The review states the method of behavior change as explained by Charles Duwigg, where he discusses the process of habit building and the methods that addicts might utilize to break free from their addictions. “The Power of Habits” objectively describes how patterns arise and how the brain adapts to undertake particular behaviors to which individuals get addicted. The author recommends that the addicts change their working routines and involve themselves in matters that actively engage their bodies to end the habits. The author states the function of each element of a pattern and gives relevant examples that sincerely explain the points the author directs. This review also outlines the various methods used by the author to gain information.
Introduction
Employees’ behavior contributes to the growth of the business and impacts its public image. A company grows depending on how its employees relate with the customers in providing services and goods. A friendlier relationship between workers and clients results in a boost in the company’s sales. According to Charles Duhigg’s opinion, human behavior arises from habits. He states that habits are activities that human beings engage with on a day-to-day basis. In his book, Duhigg acknowledges that habits contribute significantly to personal and organizational success. Positive habits often lead to better organizational structure and routines that help the business succeed in its endeavors. The book meets its objectives of explaining the causes of various habits and how human beings can adapt to new lifestyles, such as exercising more often to change their behaviors. This paper seeks to review the works of Charles Duhigg in description and elaboration of the impacts of habits on individuals and the society in the world today.
Book Summary
The book states that individuals form habits by repeating specific actions continuously. The brain is triggered to adapt to conducting the activities at a particular time. The choices we make and forget them but remember to do them daily are what form habits. The cue, routine, and reward are the contributors to patterns. Cues are things that trigger the habit in humans, whereas routine is the behavior frequently done. A reward is the gain attributed to the habits familiar to us. Charles Duhigg states that one has the power to decide on the patterns they possess. People can alter the behavior by changing the routine and shifting to new ones that support their desires. For instance, a person addicted to watching movies can change their habits by engaging in more productive activities such as reading leading to a transformation from one addiction to another.
Among other issues discussed in the book is the relationship between habit formation and business success. He attributes the success of businesses to the regular performance of employees and other stakeholders within them. The more positive the habits are, the more the industry succeeds. Business habit results in a routine schedule that directs where workers are supposed to be and what they ought to be doing—being at the right place doing the right thing frequently every day, results in the formation of a business habit. Thus, this habit eventually affects how the business conducts itself. If staffs perform the Keynote habits, the company is prone to prosperity. Keynote habits are actions that positively influence people’s lifestyles.
Book Strengths
In the book, scientific approaches are used, making it more exciting and factual. The author engages various scientific methods such as administering questionnaires and scenarios to explain the arguments he states. He involves studies from multiple organizations that show that habits correlate with individual and social development. His work addresses various scientific fields, including social psychology, clinical psychology, and neuroscience, giving it a reliable base. The book “The Power of Habits” is also written in story form, making it enjoyable for readers. Charles Duhigg engages readers through stories and real-life situation examples. Thus the book is more informative and elaborates the background of habits in humans and their impact on day-to-day engagements. It is, therefore, helpful in determining human response towards specific factors.
Book Weaknesses
However, despite the book’s success in explaining the formation, destruction, and outcomes of human habits, the author fails to account for the difficulty of humans in changing addictive habits that involve chemical use. He does not acknowledge that some patterns that entail chemicals such as drug abuse are difficult to change through a change of routine. Moreover, it explains the majority of the habits using a similar framework that talks about the habit loop. The author explains based on the simple framework of the habit loop. The writer is not clear about how readers can use his work to promote changes inhabits. Instead, he combines various cases hence no accurate ways that can direct people towards quitting bad habits. The book is not straightforward in addressing the fundamental issue of breaking unwanted habits in human beings.
Conclusion
This book is influential in using scientific information research methods and accurately describes the state of human habits. The author applies his background knowledge in scientific research to ensure that he delivers his work in a manner that is world widely acceptable. Moreover, he also inquiries from other scientists about the factors attributable to the formation and breakdown of habits in humans; thus, making his work is recommendable to other readers. Readers get motivated to rely on the information provided in the book because it is scientifically proven. Conversely, the author fails to identify different methods of transforming the habit apart from changing the routine. Nevertheless, the few weaknesses do not discredit the work Charles Duhigg has done.