First published 2011
Roy Baumeister and John Tierney explore the science behind self-control and how to strengthen it. Baumeister's research shows that willpower functions like a muscle that grows stronger with practice but weakens with overuse. The brain's willpower runs on glucose, which explains why hunger and sleep deprivation make resisting temptation so difficult. The authors examine how people spend roughly four hours daily fighting off temptations, making weak self-control a universal struggle. Through stories of successful individuals like David Blaine and Eric Clapton, plus laboratory experiments, the book demonstrates practical techniques for building and conserving willpower. Readers learn to set effective goals, monitor progress, and establish habits that reduce the mental energy needed to avoid temptation. The book offers concrete strategies for mastering self-control in a world filled with more temptations than previous generations faced.
Genres: psychology, self-help, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction
291 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press