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Habit Formation

The best Habit Formation books — new releases and enduring classics — each distilled to its core framework, 7 takeaways, and a practical plan. Tap any book to distill it live.

01

New & notable — the past year

2018

Atomic Habits

James Clear

A practical guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones through small, incremental changes that compound over time.

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2019

The Habit Loop

BJ Fogg

Explores the neuroscience behind habit formation and offers evidence-based strategies for designing habits that stick.

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2020

Tiny Habits

BJ Fogg

A practical framework for creating lasting behavioral change through small, celebratory habits anchored to existing routines.

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2012

The Power of Habit

Charles Duhigg

An investigation into the science of habit formation, revealing the neurological patterns that drive our automatic behaviors.

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2019

Indistractable

Nir Eyal

Addresses how to master internal and external distractions by building habits of focused attention and intentional living.

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2015

Better Than Before

Gretchen Rubin

Examines different personality types and their relationship to habit formation, offering personalized strategies for change.

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2018

Motivation Myth

Jeff Haden

Explains how small, consistent habits and systems matter more than motivation for achieving lasting personal transformation.

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2011

The Willpower Instinct

Kelly McGonigal

Combines neuroscience and psychology to reveal how willpower functions and how to strengthen it through intentional practice.

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2017

Creature of Habit

Jerald Foote

An accessible exploration of how habits are formed at the neurological level and practical methods to reprogram automatic behaviors.

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2021

Effortless

Greg McKeown

Shows how to make progress and build habits with less friction by designing systems that work with human nature rather than against it.

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02

The classics

2012

The Power of Habit

Charles Duhigg

An investigation into the science of habit formation, revealing the neurological patterns that drive our automatic behaviors.

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2018

Atomic Habits

James Clear

A practical guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones through small, incremental changes that compound over time.

Distill this book →
1989

Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey

A foundational work on personal and professional effectiveness through principles-based habit development and character building.

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2011

The Willpower Instinct

Kelly McGonigal

Combines neuroscience and psychology to reveal how willpower functions and how to strengthen it through intentional practice.

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2020

Tiny Habits

BJ Fogg

A practical framework for creating lasting behavioral change through small, celebratory habits anchored to existing routines.

Distill this book →
2015

Better Than Before

Gretchen Rubin

Examines different personality types and their relationship to habit formation, offering personalized strategies for change.

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2011

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Explores cognitive biases and automatic thinking patterns that underpin habitual behavior and decision-making.

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2019

How to Break Your Phone Addiction in 30 Days

Allen Carr

A psychological approach to understanding and eliminating addictive habits through behavioral insight and self-awareness.

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2010

The Compound Effect

Darren Hardy

Demonstrates how small, consistent daily habits and choices create dramatic long-term results through exponential growth.

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2019

Indistractable

Nir Eyal

Addresses how to master internal and external distractions by building habits of focused attention and intentional living.

Distill this book →