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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, praised for its actionable framework and scientific approach.

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2022

The Habit Loop

Wendy Suzuki

Explores how habits are formed in the brain and offers evidence-based strategies to reshape them, combining neuroscience with practical techniques for lasting behavior change.

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2020

Never Lose a Customer Again

Joey Coleman

Applies habit-formation principles to customer loyalty and retention, showing how to create sticky habits that keep clients engaged long-term.

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2012

The Power of Habit

Charles Duhigg

A bestselling exploration of how habits work in individuals, organizations, and society, featuring compelling case studies and the science behind habit loops.

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2019

Tiny Habits

BJ Fogg

Presents a behavior-change method focused on creating micro-habits tied to existing routines, emphasizing celebration and self-compassion over willpower.

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2018

How to Break Up with Your Phone

Catherine Price

Tackles digital habit formation and smartphone addiction with practical strategies and mindfulness techniques to reclaim attention and presence.

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2010

The Happiness Advantage

Shawn Achor

Argues that happiness fuels success and shows how to build positive habits and mindset shifts that enhance wellbeing and productivity.

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2016

Deep Work

Cal Newport

Frames deep focus as a habit to cultivate in a distracted world, offering practical strategies for building concentration and meaningful work habits.

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2014

Essentialism

Greg McKeown

Teaches how to build habits of saying no and prioritizing what truly matters, combining habit science with a philosophy of focused effort.

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2010

Switch

Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Examines how to change behaviors and habits at personal and organizational levels by reshaping emotions, motivation, and environmental factors.

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02

The classics

2012

The Power of Habit

Charles Duhigg

A bestselling exploration of how habits work in individuals, organizations, and society, featuring compelling case studies and the science behind habit loops.

Distill this book →
2018

Atomic Habits

James Clear

A practical guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones through small, incremental changes that compound over time, praised for its actionable framework and scientific approach.

Distill this book →
2019

Tiny Habits

BJ Fogg

Presents a behavior-change method focused on creating micro-habits tied to existing routines, emphasizing celebration and self-compassion over willpower.

Distill this book →
2010

Switch

Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Examines how to change behaviors and habits at personal and organizational levels by reshaping emotions, motivation, and environmental factors.

Distill this book →
2010

The Happiness Advantage

Shawn Achor

Argues that happiness fuels success and shows how to build positive habits and mindset shifts that enhance wellbeing and productivity.

Distill this book →
2014

Essentialism

Greg McKeown

Teaches how to build habits of saying no and prioritizing what truly matters, combining habit science with a philosophy of focused effort.

Distill this book →
2016

Deep Work

Cal Newport

Frames deep focus as a habit to cultivate in a distracted world, offering practical strategies for building concentration and meaningful work habits.

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2012

Mindfulness for Beginners

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Introduces mindfulness as a foundational habit for awareness and behavior change, grounded in decades of neuroscience research and meditation practice.

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2011

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Explores cognitive biases and automatic thinking patterns that underlie habit formation, providing deep insight into how our minds shape behavior.

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2011

The Willpower Instinct

Kelly McGonigal

Reveals the science of self-control and willpower as a habit-like capacity that can be strengthened through understanding stress, motivation, and desire.

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