"Making a choice that is 1 percent better or 1 percent worse seems insignificant in the moment, but over the span of moments that make up a lifetime these choices determine the difference between who you are and who you could be."

This isn't the kind of book I usually gravitate towards, but I definitely read it at the right time; it gave me a lot to think about and I do feel as if I got a lot out of it. The author's passion for what he's writing about completely shines through and he writes in a really accessible, engaging way that made this an easier read than I was expecting. 

I didn't love how many references to weight loss there are, and it also falls a bit into the 'you always have to be productive' trap, which I appreciate could potentially be harmful or distressing to some. However, for me, the tone felt light enough that I felt I could take away and apply what was personally relevant and not feel the need to follow every single step all the time, and I think that kind of small positive impact across a bunch of readers can only be a good thing.

a nice short book that explains the science behind habits and illustrates it well with example stories!
the mention of the atomic habits website got a bit annoying but most of the time it was necessary since i was listening to an audiobook and they wanted to show illustrating graphs.

trigger warning! the very beginning of the book describes in detail the author’s traumatic injury and if you’re sensitive to talk of injury or blood it is very much fine to skip it. i had to pause it multiple times in order to get through but it really doesn’t add much value to the book and i wish i’d skipped it.

This book is of a higher calibre than most self-help books of its type. Lots of thought-provoking material and good practical advice. The overused real life examples which I’ve found to be a staple of this genre are also more relevant here than in other similar books. My main criticism would be that the author’s account of his life-threatening injuries that is provided as background is just too graphic and lengthy a story to open the book with. You might want to skip past this introduction and return to it later. Audiobook was well read by the author, but probably better to get this as a print book rather than an audio book as a lot of charts and graphs are not included with the audiobook and need to be downloaded separately.

This book... what do I even say? It's short, effective, digestible. It gave me tips on habit building and also made it interesting to learn about, even if I already knew about them. This is definitely a book that I'll return to if I need to. It was really that good. The only thing was that at some parts, the book dragged and it could have been shorter, but even then, it's a really good book. 

When delving into the opening pages of James Clear’s Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of a simple yet highly effective writing style. The language employed is not just a means of communication; its simplicity serves as a unique allure, enabling readers to easily grasp each concept presented by the author.

With high expectations, I ventured further into the pages of this book, hoping for the revelation of profound and original ideas. Unfortunately, this literary journey did not entirely fulfill the lofty expectations I carried. While the book presents a series of principles and ideas relevant to habit formation, there is a tendency for the author to rely on concepts and research from external sources, providing more of a sense of amalgamation than creation. I yearned for a more distinct voice from the author himself. I found myself wanting a deeper connection to James Clear’s own insights and perspectives rather than a predominant reliance on external findings. This absence of a more personal touch left a void in the narrative, impacting the overall resonance of the book.

A notable aspect that stands out is the repetition of messages, which, while intended to ensure reader understanding, sometimes gives rise to monotony. On several occasions, I found myself having to reread pages to ensure comprehensive understanding. Nevertheless, it cannot be ignored that the book also introduces positive elements that add value. Each chapter is accompanied by a summary that provides focus and facilitates reflection, adding a structural dimension that I appreciate. However, as I reached the conclusion, disappointment resurfaced. The ending felt somewhat inadequate, leaving me with a desire for a more thorough understanding or a stronger conclusion.

Although this book may not entirely meet my expectations, I acknowledge that every reader has a unique and subjective experience with a work. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones may not be the perfect answer for everyone, but as a piece of literature paving the way for positive change, it offers inspiration and fundamental considerations that are valuable.

Clear, concise, and generally non-judgemental. It tries to balance the idea that you can change your life but that you aren't a failure if your life doesn't look how you want. It looses out on being a top-tier read because it was clearly anti-fat and classist at many points. 

Timely to tackle this audiobook while in the midst of a lifestyle change. Acquired new tools from this listen to assess my current habits and what I need to work on professionally and creatively. Very enlightening.  

This book gave amazing and simple advice. It is definitely going to make a change in my life and many others' as well. I especially loved the bit about changing the environment and approaching habits with a nonjudgmental attitude. I think these are great ideas and I'm very hopeful after reading this. I do have a couple nitpicky thoughts though:

You can tell the author is an athlete. There are lots of sports metaphors and references to losing weight. I was not a fan of how losing weight and restricting calories were always referred to as positive goals- it can be reductive and harmful to do this. While the simplicity of this book is a big strength, the world is not always so black and white.

Great book! Really adds a lot of value if you’re looking to optimize your life and rewire your behaviors. There’s a lot of information covered but Clear does a great job to provide additional resources and sum up key points. I believe it’s a worthwhile read for anyone!