In my last post, I promised a review of a self-help book. Hmmm, well, I've made an executive decision to review a different book. The one I started, Split Second Choice, I haven't finished yet. The applications in it are mostly in business settings, which just didn't "speak" to me personally. I will probably finish that book at some point, because it is one of my compulsions. I hate leaving a book unfinished even if I don't like it; I keep thinking there might be something for me somewhere in it, and I am over halfway finished with that one.
At the moment, I have about six self improvement books from the library to read and review (and use for my own improvement of course, which is the whole point of this exercise). I will interject here that, as a Christian, I firmly believe everyone should make an effort to read the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Bible at least once a year for practical wisdom on living life as a human trying to be godly (or at least a good and wise person, which most people want to be, even if they don't believe in an all-powerful Creator they are striving to please). Anyway, back to my review...
I have devoured a book in the last week, which DID speak to me in a profound way, Switch (How To Change Things When Change Is Hard), by Chip Heath & Dan Heath (brothers). Not only did I find the book very informative in understanding why (my) change is hard, and how to overcome problems and resistance, but the (true life) research examples were fascinating, and the writing was well done (which can be such a distraction for me if I'm constantly correcting things in my mind). I read all the way through first, planning to go back and outline and take notes for myself, but (hey! what do you know!) at the end was a nifty little page with an outline of all the stuff to remember AND a section on typical problems and resistance to changes and how to overcome them. So helpful! This is definitely one of those books I would gladly read more than once to glean all I can from the teaching.
A brief synopsis of the book is that each of us has an emotional side and a rational side in our brains. Their metaphor is an Elephant (emotional side --- great analogy, since our emotions are HUGE and hard to control!) and a Rider (rational side --- the thinker and planner). Both sides have strengths and weaknesses, and to make a change you have to learn how to direct the Rider and motivate the Elephant. The third piece to the change puzzle is the Path (environment and situation). You also have to shape the Path to make the change easier for the Rider and the Elephant.
The Heath brothers have given so much clear direction on these three components, with specific examples for each, that it's almost impossible to misunderstand or be fuzzy about how to achieve lasting change. The hard part, of course, is applying the principles to your own specific situation, but they try hard to make it as easy for you as possible, whether it be in a business setting, or your community (or nation!), or in a relationship, or the very personal habit you're trying to achieve (or break!).
Yes, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to make a change in their life. I'll update another time whether I am able to make application and succeed in developing my own better habits.
