Complete Book Review of Atomic Habits by James Clear
James Clear’s Atomic Habits is the latest practical guide for making positive change in your life. This best seller is on every list of the best non-fiction books or self-help books, so I finally read it. Here’s all my thoughts on the book.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.“
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Full Book Review Without Spoilers
Non-fiction is not my go to genre to read, but I do love learning and am interested in making better habits in my own life. Personal development is something everyone can work on, whether you usually read this type of book or not. And I would highly recommend this one because it’s easy to read, easy to apply to your life, and actually helpful.
Clear states in very understandable language the small changes we can make for effective habits. The book clearly organizes the information to keep all this information straight, and I never felt overwhelmed while reading. The amount of time it takes to read the book definitely pays off for how much it can help your personal growth.
Whether you’re making one new habit or trying to change your whole daily routine, this book has very usable and easy-to-apply ways to do that. The incremental changes talked about in the book are things that anyone can do, no matter your starting point. Clear talks in such a way that’s very straightforward and easy to understand.
If you’re looking to make real change in your life, try reading this book.
Practicality
This is one of the most practical self-improvement books I’ve ever heard. Some of the information in the book I had heard before in pieces, but never as clearly and concisely together as Clear writes in this book. I think it’s definitely worth reading if you’re trying to make changes in your life, whether it’s small improvements or even big things.
Writing
James Clear’s book is written in an extremely organized and thorough way with clear outlines that are simple to follow. He writes in a way that even people who don’t normally love non-fiction can enjoy. Clear also gives tons of real-life examples that make the information itself very easy to understand.
Full Book Review With Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers.
If you’re the type of person that likes self-improvement or learning, add this book to your reading list. It’s one of the most concise and practical books I’ve read in the self-improvement genre. Whether you’re making new habits or trying to change a current habit, there’s something in this book for everyone.
The book clearly outlines that four parts of habits, and how to use each part to either start, change, or stop habits. One of the most convincing parts for me to read was the impact of identity-based habits. I had never consider to make goals and take actions based on the type of person I wanted to be rather than a result I was looking to achieve.
Clear also gives all the relevant scientific research to back up his methods. But the book isn’t too wordy or dense to understand like some self-improvement or business books. It’s a good book for any reader looking to make changes in their daily life.
Pros of the Book
One of the biggest pros of this book is the sheer amount of resources that Clear offers for habit formation such as the two-minute rule, habit stacking, and the habit tracker. He also has all of these and more on his website you can access!
Another pro of the book is that compared to other books on similar topics, this one is much easier to read and easier to actually apply to your every day life. I think almost anyone reading it will be able to take something away from it.
Cons of the Book
I really didn’t have many complaints with this book, but a small one I have (because of my reading habits) is that this is not a book to sit down and read all the way through. There’s so much applicable information to take in that you have to stop and think about it. It also doesn’t read like a story, so I had to take breaks.
Another con that may or may not apply to you is that some of the information is hard to apply or understand if you don’t have a specific habit in mind. I recommend having a habit you want to start or change (even a small one) in your mind as you read through the book.
Conclusion
Atomic Habits is one of my favorite self-improvement books because of the clear writing and real practicality of the book. I recommend you read the whole book to find the most effective way to change the habits in your own life. There’s bound to be something in this book that sticks with you or is a good fit for your routines and goals.
You can find the book here.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating- 4 out of 5 stars
This is a great read if you’re looking for a self-improvement book. It was enjoyable to read, even though it’s non-fiction and more of an outline than a story. The core ideas of the book were very helpful and easy to start using in your daily life.
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
Anyone who’s a fan of self-improvement, leadership, or business books would enjoy this read. I think it’s most enjoyable if you do have specific habits in mind to start or change, but really anyone looking to grow, learn, or set better goals will like this book. The whole book is packed with effective ways to change your behavior if that’s what you’re looking for.
What to Read After
There’s tons of self-improvement books out there that all promise to change your life. But there’s few that really stand out as well-written, easy to read, and actually applicable. Here’s a few more like that.
The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
For me at least, the title is not appealing, but this book is one of the easiest self-improvement books to read because it’s written as a story. It also helps improve your daily routines and habits if that’s what you’re looking for. You can find the book here.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Here’s another time-tested book great for habits and goal setting in your daily life. I found this one very applicable as well. You can find it here.
