Number 5

Atomic Habits

Mary Ann

If you recall, last year I wrote a blog about the six books that have most influenced my life. This is a feature in the magazine, The Week, where they ask famous writers what 6 books influenced them.   However, I only had 4.   Well, lo and behold, I just found Number 5! 

Atomic Habits by James Clear is my Number 5.  Insert fireworks!! It has appeared on several non-fiction best books and people began mentioning Clear’s work on podcasts or in news article. It was published in 2018 and has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for 260 weeks – 5 years!  How did I miss this?  Better late than never!

 Since Covid, I have done a non-fiction book club with my friend, Lisa, so we added Atomic Habits to our list of books.  We have a healthy pile of to-read books, but we decided to move it to the front of the line. This was our first book of 2025, and we were both totally in love with it.  

Not only does this book tell you how to break a bad habit but also how to start a new habit.  Some of his suggestions you have heard before.  However, it is how James Clear presents his ideas.  The book is very well-organized.  There are four laws that are fundamental to his program – Make it Obvious, Make it Attractive, Make it Easy, and Make it Satisfying. For each of these laws, he gives relatable examples and provides you with small techniques and tools to build, stop, or change a habit.  At the end of each chapter, there is a concise bulleted summary of the chapter’s focus, and at the end of each section, there is a chart that builds throughout the book with clear steps to stop a bad habit or begin a good one.  Everything Clear presents is rooted in scientific studies.  From tiny steps, great things happen. 

Personally, I gained a better understanding of why I do what I do.  For most of my life, I have been preparing to do something. For example, I say I want to write a book.  I read.  I attend classes.  I learn. I attend workshops.  I join writing groups.  It is prep, prep, prep!  James Clear calls this being in motion, and that has been what I have been doing for many, many years.  I just needed to write – just do it!   That is why writing the Silver Sage Sisters blogs has been such a blessing to me.  I have deadlines.  I must write.  Why did it take me 70 years to figure this out?  What was I waiting for?  Especially at the time of life.  

Atomic Habits is one of those books that you want to keep close by to refer to.  It is funny that both Lisa and I both decided to do this as we completed the book.  However, I found a podcast on Atomic Habits – Cheat Sheet that has nice discussions on the materials presented in the book.  The pod cast run about 10 to 25 minutes.  There are two seasons.  This is an easy way to review the laws and is a short pep talk to keep you going with better habits.  I also checked out James Clear’s website – atomichabits.com.  It is full of all kinds of ideas and products.  You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter, 3-2-1 Thursday.  It is short and sweet giving you 3 ideas from James Clear, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for you.  Check it out.  It is excellent!

I have given Atomic Habits to several people, and I think it will be my go-to gift for future graduations and the like.  What a gift for young people!  It echoes for me The 7 Habits of Effective People by Steven Covey.  Both are timeless and can change your life.