The Power of Moments Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

Chip Heath, Dan Heath — 2017

The New York Times bestselling authors of Switch and Made to Stick explore why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us—and how we can learn to create such extraordinary moments in our life and work. While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter. What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children? This book delves into some fascinating mysteries of experience: Why we tend to remember the best or worst moment of an experience, as well as the last moment, and forget the rest. Why “we feel most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel most alive when they’re not.” And why our most cherished memories are clustered into a brief period during our youth. Readers discover how brief experiences can change lives, such as the experiment in which two strangers meet in a room, and forty-five minutes later, they leave as best friends. (What happens in that time?) Or the tale of the world’s youngest female billionaire, who credits her resilience to something her father asked the family at the dinner table. (What was that simple question?) Many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck—but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them? The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences.

Reviews

Nelson Zagalo@nzagalo

Sep 3, 2022

“The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact” (2017) é o terceiro livro que leio dos irmãos Heath depois de “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” (2006) e “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard” (2010). Direi que este “Power of Moments” se aproxima bastante de “Made to Stick” pela estrutura, mas em termos de objetivos congrega os dois anteriores. Em “Made to Stick” tínhamos o modo como podíamos desenhar experiências que permanecessem na memória das pessoas. Em “Switch” tínhamos o modo como poderíamos contornar as dificuldades que se colocam à mudança. Em “Power of Moments” juntam-se ambos e temos então a discussão sobre o modo como o design de experiências pode contribuir para a transformação de pessoas. Percebe-se que é o mais ambicioso dos três, mas apesar de algumas boas ideias dificilmente entrega o que promete, principalmente pela dimensão da ambição. Ainda assim vale a leitura para quem trabalha na área. O resto da resenha está no blog, com links e imagens: https://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com...

Dana Kraft@dkatx

Aug 15, 2022

This book offered a few interesting takeaways but it felt very similar to their previous books, especially Switch. I like the concept of trying to purposely create memorable or motivating moments but I don't think it really delivers much new on that front. At least it didn't for me. If you haven't read any othe the Heath brothers' books, I would suggest starting with Made To Stick, which I think is their best. Favorite quote is: "Action leads to insight more often than insight leads to action." p. 117

Cindy Lieberman@chicindy

Mar 26, 2022

A decent book that outlines ways to deliver more memorable (positive) moments of interaction. Examples are from a wide range of fields including hospitality, healthcare, education and customer service (naturally). Also how managers can make interactions with staff more useful and motivating. Nothing earth shattering but a good reminder of why it is important to focus on the experience and the people with whom you are spending time.