The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Book by Charles Duhigg

Review by Derik Borden

The Power of Habit is an amazing book on understanding why we do the things that we do. People react and behave to certain things out of habit and often without even realizing they are doing it. The book is a great read for anyone interested in understanding what motivates people and yourself and provides tools to create new habits and break the old ones. 

The book is divided into three sections. The first section is all about the habits of individuals. I found this section to be incredibly captivating because of the insights into how habits work, how to create new habits, and what is needed for lasting transformation. This is where you are introduced to the habit loop (The Cue, The Reward, and The Routine) which is the key to understanding and changing habits.

The second section of the book is about the habits of successful organizations. I enjoyed this section because it aligns well with the concept of culture in the workplace. Culture has to do with creating an environment that is positive and enjoyable. Leaders can do this by emulating and reinforcing the habits that will drive success in the organization.

The final section is about the habits of societies. This is the shortest section of the book and is really a recap of how our habits can influence the world around us. It’s important to remember that what we do, both positive and negative, can have an impact on the people we work with and the organizations where we work. Therefore, understanding the power of our habits and how to influence and change those habits is important.