Book Summaries - You Exec

This book is all about finding what is truly important in life and

discarding everything else. The language here is irreverent and abrasive,

but it helps drive home the idea of just saying “f*ck it” to things that

don't matter. The book may seem like another self-help program dressed up

in gritty terms and scare tactics. But a closer look reveals that the

lessons here are more about “wake-up” than they are about “self-help.”

Layer after layer, the book peels away those ineffective “feel good”

tactics and replaces them with a good dose of reality.

Using examples of how habits impact daily life and business, The Power of

Habit explains why people do the things they do. With an understanding of

how and why habits have so much influence, it's possible to change

behaviors. The book explains how habits are formed, how they become a part

of the subconscious, and how they often go unnoticed. It's the lack of

awareness that makes some habits so damaging and understanding how habits

are built is the first step in recognizing them.

People often aren't able to come up with an answer that is logical and

practical when faced with making a decision. This problem happens because

we approach issues with a combination of viewpoints. Experience, biases,

emotion, instinct, and, of course, logic all play a role in decision

making. This book breaks down these viewpoints into two systems of thinking

– the fast and slow systems. System 1 is a mode of thinking based on

emotion and subconscious reaction. This type of thinking happens quickly,

typically called “gut instinct,” and can be impractical and flawed. System

Two is a mode of thinking based on slow, deliberate thought and a more

logical approach. By understanding how and why the two systems affect

decision-making and new experiences, it's possible to learn how to make

better decisions and create new ways of thinking based on reasoning.