Roy F. Baumeister

John Marion Tierney

The authors review the latest research to report key findings on willpower and offer practical advice for increasing it.

Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

Willpower

Katie Cheng

Should probably be my guiding light in life...

Big ideas:

1. Willpower is more than a metaphor. It is limited, it can be depleted, and some have more than others. Yet it can also be learned and trained. 

2. Willpower can be preserved by outsourcing the mental strain. Break down large goals into smaller tasks. Choose definitive next steps in ambiguous situations. Make plans and maintain good habits so the use of willpower is unnecessary. Make clear goals ("bright lines") and keep yourself accountable.

3. Remember the Zeigarnik effect - unfinished business will stay on your mind and eat away at your mental resources. Instead, write them down.

4. Similarly, learn to close doors on options. Juggling the maintenance of multiple options has a long-term price.

"He believed that a professional writer needed to set aside at least four hours a day for his job: 'He doesn't have to write, and if he doesn't feel like it, he shouldn't try. He can look out of the window or stand on his head or writhe on the floor, but he is not to do any other positive thing, not read, write letters, glance at magazines, or write checks.'" (p 254)

Luca Conti

I already read to many books on similar topics (habits, procrastination, behavior, addiction) so I didn't find anything really new or useful.

Willpower Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

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