As researchers and scientists learn more about the
functioning of our brains, an increasing number of articles and publications
are developed to help us understand how are brain works, and particularly how
to be aware of the shortcuts the brain tends to take that aren’t always
appropriate and how certain brain functions happen incredibly quickly without
conscious thought. I’m going to recap
some of those to set up Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit.
The autonomous brain functions were explored brilliantly by
Daniel Goleman in Emotional Intelligence. As an example, if we accidentally touch
something hot, we’ll jerk our hand back almost instantly, as the super-fast
reptilian brain reacts. James Surowiecki,
in The Wisdom of Crowds, explored subconscious biases, and logic
shortcuts that we frequently take, that lead to poor choices and bad decisions –
but how, in many circumstances, groups and markets are more likely to make the correct
choice, or come up with closer estimates.
Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman, which I
previously reviewed here, is a must read.
Professor Kahneman is a
scientist, and takes a researcher’s approach.
The professor gives us a very thorough and thoughtful presentation of
the many shortcuts and logic flaws that the human brain is capable of, and
gives us advice on how to recognize situations where our more logical,
analytical reasoning must be brought to bear (e.g. investing decisions) rather
than let our more spontaneous brain capability generate answers and make
decisions. As we age, we are even more susceptible
to clever offers and sales pitches, and aren’t as aware of situations as we
should be – making the effort to reason
even more critical. I strongly recommend
this book, particularly to those of us over 50.
It turns out that there aren’t that many Warren Buffets…. Having said that, some parts of this book are
challenging. Kahneman uses several
mathematic and statistical examples. I
like to think of myself as reasonably math-literate, but there were occasions that
I not only didn’t get the same answers to math problems that the book
presented, I couldn’t figure out how to get those answers.
That brings us to The Power of Habit, subtitled
Why We What We Do in Life and Business.
Mr. Duhigg covers some of the
same material that the previously mentioned authors have, but with
concentration on how habits form, how the brain uses habits to permit multi-functioning
(e.g. - how easy is it for you to sing along with your car radio/cd/IPOD while
driving your daily commute?) and what is required to change a habit once
formed. However, in contrast to Professor Kahneman, Mr. Duhigg is
a story-teller. And a good one. The book then is less rigorous but more approachable. His begins with a touching story of a man
whose brain was damaged by an infection, but whose habits were so ingrained
that he could function at a reasonably high level. He explores how AA successfully rehabilitates
so many alcoholics by habit change and how disciplined training habits helps
produce Olympic athletes like Michael Phelps.
He has numerous business examples of how habits of workers can be
changed for the better (including Alcoa and Starbucks) and also how businesses
can exploit our habits (Fabreze; Target).
There are inspirational stories about Rosa Parks and the
civil rights movement and Rick Warren and the creation of the Saddleback
Church. There is also a cringe-worthy
tale of a gambling addict unable to shake her gambling addiction and the
destruction of her life as a result.
The book concludes with a very practical explanation of how
habits can be changed. Note: the author
is upfront that changing habits is hard work – no miracle cure.
Highly recommended.
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