Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

Book Review.

Books like James Clear’s “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” are typically marketed to entrepreneurs or as a self-help guide, aiming at achieving success or increased productivity. And, fair enough. This book would be an excellent choice in those capacities.

However, this one also deserves to be on the shelves of moms and dads. “Atomic Habits” offers a mindset shift that is just the thing busy parents who are trying to do “all the things” and do them right now.

The first thing I noticed about James Clear’s book is that it is very precisely named. He starts out by defining atomic: “1. an extremely small amount of a thing; the single irreducible unit of a larger system. 2. the source of immense energy or power” and habit: “a routine or practice performed regularly; an automatic response to a specific situation.”

It’s so smart. The reader can immediately understand the overall thesis.

The second thing I noticed about “Atomic Habits” is that it’s organized with clarity in mind. (Perhaps James Clear too is also precisely named.) Clear walks the reader, step by step, through his overarching philosophy on habits, how habits are fundamentally developed, and finally what he deems “laws of behavior change” to put the power of habits to work. He wraps up with some “advanced” thinking and even a bonus chapter just for parents. (See, I told ya!)