The Willpower Instinct

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It is an excellent self-help book based on solid research. The author, Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, has thoughtfully interpreted into highly understandable and relevant strategies for improving well-being.

The book is a guide for improving your self-control. I learned many good strategies for increasing willpower and how to recognize when I am having a willpower challenge.

Each chapter makes use of fascinating paradoxes to dispel common misconceptions about self-control. The book explains, through science and real world examples, why people act against their long term interest. Then it goes to the next level and provides many different strategies to overcome the most common willpower challenges.

The Willpower Instinct is based on the award winning class which Ms. McGonigal teaches at Sanford University. Her writing style is very conversational and entertaining. She has a keen sense of humor which shows up throughout the book. While she is a college professor, the book was written for the general public in easy to understand language.

McGonigal provides the insight you need to understand--and more importantly, have compassion for--your personal challenges, along with the techniques, tools, and perspective makeovers you need to gain more of that seemingly elusive self-control.

The result is a refreshing understanding of how our brain works and how to train our willpower without stress in order to achieve a better way of living.