Better Than Before : : Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives

Locations
Call Number: 158.1 Ru, Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Pittsfield Branch, Traverwood Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	158.1 Ru	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	158.1 Ru	4-week checkout	Due 05-03-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen	4-week checkout	Due 05-21-2024
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen	4-week checkout	Due 05-25-2024
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen	4-week checkout	Due 05-24-2024
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Self-Help / General / Rubin, Gretchen	4-week checkout	Due 05-03-2024

"Habits are the invisible architecture of our lives. Rubin provides an analytical and scientific framework from which to understand these habits--as well as change them for good. Infused with her compelling voice and funny stories, she illustrates the core principles of habit formation with dozens of strategies that she uses herself and tests out on others. Rubin provides tools to help readers better understand themselves, and presents a clear, practical menu of strategies so readers can take an individualized approach. She tackles each strategy herself and in doing so shows us the importance of knowing ourselves and our own habit tendencies. Armed with self-knowledge, we can pursue habits in ways that will truly work for us, not against us. Going to the gym can be as easy, effortless, and automatic as putting on a seatbelt. We can file expense reports, take time for fun, or pass up that piece of carrot cake without having to decide. With a foundation of good habits, we can build a life that reflects our values and goals"-- Provided by publisher.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Table of Contents
Fiction Profile
Excerpt
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Better submitted by Judeyblu on July 24, 2015, 8:00pm As much as I try to feel good about myself, I don’t.

Why do I do the things I shouldn’t, and when I do them why am I so upset at the result?
It’s not like someone else did it- I DID IT.

I do it because of habits.

Rubin’s book is all about this issue. Out habits, why we do the things that we do over and over. How to break through that cycle.

I enjoy that she used herself as a guinea pig as she worked her way through the list of ways to be better, break old habits, create new ones.

I also like that she isn’t above bribing herself. That’s my kinda gal.

great book! submitted by smgop on August 1, 2015, 8:42pm Loved it - added new insight on how to form good habits.

Habit formation for the win submitted by SurfGrape on June 16, 2017, 3:13pm I’ve read a couple of Rubin’s earlier books, but thought they were only so-so, mainly because I wasn’t the target audience for them. However, BETTER THAN BEFORE is much more my style. I’m interested in anything that can help me be more productive, and cultivating better habits is the number one way to do it.

Other books start with the outside world, telling you how to set up a schedule or reward yourself for accomplishments. However, Rubin starts from the inside. What motivates people? It turns out that people are motivated either by external expectations (what do I have to do?) or internal expectations (what do I want to do?). The external expectations are things like rules, work deadlines, and anything that’s on our calendars. Internal expectations are things like eating better, saving money, or writing a novel.

If someone responds to both internal and external expectations, they are an upholder. If someone resists all expectations, both inner and outer, they are a rebel. Both these types are rare. Most of us are either obligers, who respond well to external motivation but struggle with internal; or we’re questioners, who are motivated by internal expectations but only obey outer expectations if they make sense.

Rubin goes on to discuss other, more subtle factors that can make or break a habit. She explains the importance of monitoring and scheduling, and shows how to start a habit and the danger of ending one. She warns about things like distraction, loopholes, and the convenience factor. However, the four kinds of motivation infuse every chapter of BETTER THAN BEFORE, because once you know what motivates you, you can accomplish anything.

Better Than the Average Self-Help book! submitted by mickplu on July 7, 2018, 6:26am I borrowed this from the library but will probably get my own copy. Interesting tips on changing and developing habits based on whether you are a questioner, obliger, rebel, upholder, marathoner, sprinter, over buyer, under buyer, etc. Each category is well described and there's a test at the end of the book if you were unable to already determine your category. The author's blog is quite helpful and popular.

Better Than Before submitted by boocathy621 on July 7, 2018, 1:49pm Good book. Practical advice on forming good habits and eliminating bad ones. Groups people into types to target strategies to help foster and eliminate habits. A lot of her own personal experiences are included. Very helpful.