Books Atomic Habits

Key Concepts

1. The Habit Loop
Every habit follows a 4-step loop:

Cue → triggers the habit

Craving → the desire or motivation

Response → the action itself

Reward → reinforces the habit

Understanding this helps you build good habits and break bad ones.

2. The Four Laws of Behavior Change

Make it Obvious → design cues to trigger good habits

Make it Attractive → pair habits with rewards

Make it Easy → reduce friction; start small

Make it Satisfying → reinforce repetition

(Invert these to break bad habits: make them invisible, unattractive, hard, unsatisfying.)

3. Focus on Identity, Not Just Goals

Goals: “I want to run a marathon.”

Identity: “I am a runner.”
Your habits are votes for the person you want to become.

4. Systems Over Goals
Goals are results; systems are the processes that produce those results.
Focusing on systems ensures lasting change.

5. Tiny Changes Compound
Small improvements (like 1% better each day) may feel trivial at first but compound into remarkable results over time.