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Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength Paperback – August 28, 2012

4.5 out of 5 stars 2,428 ratings

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One of the world's most esteemed and influential psychologists, Roy F. Baumeister, teams with New York Times science writer John Tierney to reveal the secrets of self-control and how to master it.

"Deep and provocative analysis of people's battle with temptation and masterful insights into understanding willpower: why we have it, why we don't, and how to build it. A terrific read." —
Ravi Dhar, Yale School of Management, Director of Center for Customer Insights

Pioneering research psychologist Roy F. Baumeister collaborates with
New York Times science writer John Tierney to revolutionize our understanding of the most coveted human virtue: self-control. Drawing on cutting-edge research and the wisdom of real-life experts, Willpower shares lessons on how to focus our strength, resist temptation, and redirect our lives. It shows readers how to be realistic when setting goals, monitor their progress, and how to keep faith when they falter. By blending practical wisdom with the best of recent research science, Willpower makes it clear that whatever we seek—from happiness to good health to financial security—we won’t reach our goals without first learning to harness self-control.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The psychologist Roy F. Baumeister has shown that the force metaphor has a kernel of neurobiological reality. In Willpower, he has teamed up with the irreverent New York Timesscience columnist John Tierney to explain this ingenious research and show how it can enhance our lives. . . . Willpower is an immensely rewarding book, filled with ingenious research, wise advice and insightful reflections on the human condition." —Steven Pinker, The New York Times Book Review

"An accessible, empirically grounded guide to willpower and how best to deploy it to overcome temptation." —
The Wall Street Journal

"
Willpower is sure to inspire further groundbreaking research into the mechanics of willpower. One implication is already apparent. Since repeated behaviors eventually turn into habits, improving willpower long term requires a unique strategy-a habit of changing habits, of continually expanding our zones of comfort. One such practice, it seems, is the 'routine' of learning. That's a habit that this brilliant book will certainly nourish." —The Daily Beast

"Baumeister and Tierney use their appealingly upbeat voice to explain the intricate call-and-response between the failure of self-control and its problematical results." —
Kirkus Reviews

"Willpower affects almost every aspect of our lives. From procrastination, to saving for retirement to exercising, Tierney and Baumeister have given us a wonderful book in which they not only share fascinating research on the subject but also provide simple tricks to help us tap into this important quality." —
Dan Ariely, Duke University, author of Predictably Irrational

"
Willpower is sinfully delicious—once you start reading, you won't be able to stop. A fascinating account of the exciting new science of self-control, told by the scientist who made it happen and the journalist who made it news." —Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University, author of Stumbling on Happiness

"Who knew that a book about such a daunting topic could be as wonderfully entertaining as it is enlightening! Tierney and Baumeister have produced a highly intelligent work full of fascinating information (and great advice) about a core element of modern living. Bravo." —
David Allen, author of Getting Things Done and Making It Work

"Willpower (the thing) lies at the curious intersection of science and behavior. 
Willpower (the book) lies at the intersection of Roy Baumeister, an extraordinarily creative scientist, and John Tierney, a phenomenally perceptive journalist. Ignore it at your peril." —Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics

"Will, willpower, and mental energy have been shunned by modern psychology. Roy Baumeister, the most distinguished experimental social psychologist in the world, and John Tierney, a renowned journalist, have teamed up to put Will back into its rightful center stage place. This little masterpiece is a must read for all of us who want to exercise, diet, manage our time, be thrifty, and resist temptation." —
Martin Seligman, former president of American Psychological Association

"This is a manual from heaven for anyone who has ever wanted to lose weight, stop smoking, drink less, work more efficiently and more intelligently. An astonishingly good - and accessible - inquiry into one of the more elusive areas of human psychology: why we go on thwarting ourselves when we really know better. On top of that, Willpower is a vastly entertaining book, full of fascinating stories about the complexities of our evolutionarily-wired brains. A brilliant accomplishment, at every level." —
Christopher Buckley, author of Thank You for Smoking

"Deep and provocative analysis of people's battle with temptation and masterful insights into understanding willpower: why we have it, why we don't, and how to build it. A terrific read." —
Ravi Dhar, Yale School of Management, Director of Center for Customer Insights

About the Author

ROY F. BAUMEISTER directs the social psychology program at Florida State University. He has written more than 450 scientific publications and consistently ranks among the world’s most frequently cited psychologists.

 

JOHN TIERNEY writes the “Findings” science column for the New York Times. His writing has won awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Physics. This is his third book.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 28, 2012
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143122231
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143122234
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.83 x 8.44 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,428 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,428 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and entertaining, with one noting it's a page-turner. They appreciate the insightful content, with one review highlighting the comprehensive research on willpower, and many find it worth the cost. The sound quality receives positive feedback, with one customer mentioning it's convenient for listening during commutes. Customers have mixed views on the willpower concept, with some finding it like a muscle that can be strengthened, while others find it elusive.

222 customers mention "Readability"199 positive23 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging, with one customer noting it's a page-turner, and another highlighting its effective summary style.

"...It's a great read and I would think everyone would have something to gain because the subject matter is universally applicable - learning tricks to..." Read more

"...They give good, quick advice in recommending that we focus on one project at a time for the simple reason that our..." Read more

"...Bottom line - it's a really fun read and you might learn a few things about yourself along the way." Read more

"This book is very interesting if you are curious about the science and research behind willpower...." Read more

216 customers mention "Insight"193 positive23 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one review highlighting its abundance of case studies that keep listeners engaged, while others appreciate how it teaches about brain function and provides learning tricks to strengthen willpower.

"...reading this book, is that you have a "muscle" which acts as your mechanism of self-control, will-power, AND decision-making...." Read more

"...the subject matter is universally applicable - learning tricks to strengthen our willpower and recognizing the warning signs that our willpower is..." Read more

"...They achieve their aim with the use of solid research, effective story telling and varied examples to drive their points home...." Read more

"...Small successes build our confidence and ultimately our willpower - a concept known as self-efficacy...." Read more

23 customers mention "Enjoyment"17 positive6 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a fun quick read that passes the time well.

""However you define success - a happy family, good friends, a satisfying career, robust health, financial security, the freedom to pursue your..." Read more

"...written, with more than a few flashes of wit and dazzle, and the authors entertain and inform us with the trials and tribulations of the likes of..." Read more

"With utmost respect to 2 writers, I may say this is not a fulfilling or inspirational book for readers who seek inspiration on willpower subject...." Read more

"...That's it in a nutshell. Read the book though. It's well read and entertaining. Lots of folks are attacking the author these days...." Read more

19 customers mention "Value for money"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth the cost, with one mentioning it's a real deal for self-improvement.

"...This, to me, is a must read and we'll worth the small cost. I'll be reading it again. I'm hoping you'll give it an earnest try...." Read more

"...It may feel boring and monotone the first two chapters but it is all worth it. Read it!..." Read more

"...This is one of the exceptions, however. Definitely worth the time/money if you're looking to improve or understand willpower." Read more

"...What the writers have posited is well thought out and reasonable...." Read more

8 customers mention "Sound quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the sound quality of the book, with one mentioning it is convenient for listening while commuting.

"...range from 15-20 minutes each in length, making it convenient for listening to/from work..." Read more

"...Easy to read and has sound backup for the viewpoints expressed." Read more

"something we all need help with. This was good listening material. I did pick up a few things that I did not know from this...." Read more

"Great audiobook! Listened on my ride from Utah back to Colorado. Not sure of the kids enjoyed it in the back, but I sure did." Read more

15 customers mention "Willpower"9 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's approach to willpower, with some finding it interesting and noting that willpower is like a muscle, while others find the subject elusive.

"This book really explained willpower, how it works, and how I can use my will power to create more self control in my life...." Read more

"...One gets the feeling that willpower is an elusive subject...." Read more

"...Willpower is a very powerful tool in the human arsenal, but it is limited, and the author makes this crystal clear...." Read more

"...Furthermore, the book uses a very broad definition of Willpower and because of this, the book is not life changing...." Read more

Baumeister’s glucose experiments could not be reproduced
1 out of 5 stars
Baumeister’s glucose experiments could not be reproduced
Wikipedia, “In 2016 a large study carried out at two-dozen labs in countries across the world that sought to reproduce the effects described in these studies was unsuccessful. Engber, Daniel (March 6, 2016). "Everything Is Crumbling". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2011
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I usually avoid self-help books because they have no basis in anything other than the author's opinions. THIS book is just the opposite. What you have here are the results of literally thousands of professional experiments, and that alone should make the "no-free-will" contingent squirm.

    What you can take as gospel, after reading this book, is that you have a "muscle" which acts as your mechanism of self-control, will-power, AND decision-making. Like any muscle, it will collapse when too much strain is placed upon it --- therefore you should not decide to quit smoking, quit drinking, take up a vigorous new exercise regime, and lose a hundred pounds on the same day. Make reasonable plans, monitor yourself, and -- when you reach "ego depletion," for God's sake STOP making decisions. Grab a bite and take a nap; replace your glucose so you are ready for the next challenge.

    I was delighted to see the idiotic "self-esteem" movement receive the final nails in its coffin, and a decent burial. We Americans don't need unearned self-esteem: we very much need self-control (or, as Theodore Dalrymple would put it, "self-respect.") There may not be much difference. A teenage girl in Britain who gets horribly drunk on the weekend and passes out on the street after soiling herself is obviously lacking in self-control AND self-respect.

    A surprise boost is given to religion, and to religious practices. After all, most religions give us a pretty thorough training in required exercises, and those are the things that strengthen our "muscle" of will-power and self-control.

    More amazing, and inexplicable, is the experience of people like Eric Clapton, a notorious boozer right up until the moment when he collapsed, gave up, and "surrendered." Quite amazingly, he rose from the floor knowing he would never drink again. This may be similar to the experience of George W. Bush, who simply reports, "I haven't had a drink since 1986." Psychologists have no explanation of the experiences of those who "surrender" to a higher power, but churchmen think they do.

    This book is tough to summarize: I recommend that you get it and put it in your library. You may find yourself consulting it frequently.
    21 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2011
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    "However you define success - a happy family, good friends, a satisfying career, robust health, financial security, the freedom to pursue your passions - it tends to be accompanied by a couple of qualities. When psychologists isolate the personal qualities that predict "positive outcomes" in life, they consistently find two traits: intelligence and self-control. So far researchers still haven't learned how to permanently increase intelligence. But they have discovered, or at least rediscovered, how to improve self-control. Hence this book."

    "The first step in self-control is to set a goal, so we should tell you ours for this book. We hope to combine the best of modern social science with some of the practical wisdom of the Victorians. We want to tell how willpower - or the lack thereof - has affected the lives of the great and the not-so-great. We'll explain why corporate leaders pay $20,000 a day to learn the secrets of the to-do list from a former karate instructor, and why Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs are creating digital tools to promote nineteenth-century values. We'll see how a British nanny tamed a team of howling triplets in Missouri, and how performers like Amanda Palmer, Drew Carey, Eric Clapton, and Oprah Winfrey applied willpower in their own lives. We'll look at how David Blaine fasted for forty-four days and how the explorer Henry Morton Stanley survived for years in the African wilderness. We want to tell the story of scientists' rediscovery of self-control and its implications outside the laboratory."

    Now, I hope these two quotes from the Introduction give a sense of what this book is about - it's one-half psychology and one-half self-help. It's a great read and I would think everyone would have something to gain because the subject matter is universally applicable - learning tricks to strengthen our willpower and recognizing the warning signs that our willpower is being exhausted. Here are some other practical quotes: "Ego depletion thus creates a double whammy: Your willpower is diminished and your cravings feel stronger than ever." "What stress really does, though, is deplete willpower, which diminishes your ability to control those emotions." "You could sum up a large new body of research literature with a simple rule: The best way to reduce stress in your life is to stop screwing up. That means setting up your life so that you have a realistic chance to succeed. Successful people don't use their willpower as a last-ditch defense to stop themselves from disaster, at least not as a regular strategy...people with strong self-control spent less time resisting desires than other people did."

    In sum, this is a very helpful book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the psychology of human motivation, or someone looking for a practical self-help book. I would say that either Peck's book, The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth, or Ellis's book, A New Guide to Rational Living, would make a fine follow-up of to this book.
    42 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • lmhh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, enlightening and retains a sense of humour
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2012
    I just finished reading this book and, seeing myself in the behaviour of so many of the experimental subjects, ended up laughing out loud at times.

    Its primary conclusion is that we have a finite amount of willpower, and if aware of this, can make better decisions and effectively conserve it for the important "stuff" and recognise when we have depleted our reserves and take need to take action to charge up again. It also provides research observations and evidence which you are likely to find explain some of the behaviours you have engaged in from time to time but never understood, which is generally my test of whether a book like this is worth reading.

    It is a well researched book but written in a very readable style which comes us up with some surprising evidence and conclusions, at the same time as giving straightforward advice on how to conserve/effectively use willpower while not beating yourself up because you can't be supremely efficient all the time.

    One of the things I do like about it is that it doesn't pretend to offer a "silver bullet". I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a little bit more done with a little less stress.
  • Schönes Buch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Das Buch ist wundervoll
    Reviewed in Germany on November 15, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Habe viel gelernt
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  • Mahfuz Hassan
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is incredibly helpful into understanding human willpower and ...
    Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This book is incredibly helpful into understanding human willpower and bettering ones self in every aspect of ones life. The book is well written, interesting, entertaining and informative at the same time. I would highly recommend this book. The look of the book is also quite sleak, though after time the cover can have some visible fingerprints on them, though they wipe off pretty well if you're concerned.
  • Cliente Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensável
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 28, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Excelente!

    Abordagem aprofundada desta função tão primordial da nossa Mente consciente. Recomendo após ler este livro a leitura do Desbloqueie o Poder sua mente do Michael Arruda.
  • JoseTarso
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rediscover the value of willpower
    Reviewed in Mexico on October 6, 2018
    It is a good and easy reading book. You will look for practical experiments that shows the importance of will power for our daily life tasks.