Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Do you agree with the book’s premise that bad habits are the result of unconscious cues that trigger unproductive behavior? Why or why not?
• Do you agree with the book’s definition of “good” and “bad” habits? Why or why not?
• Compare Atomic Habits to other self-development books on habit formation and productivity, such as The Power of Habit or Rewire. How do these texts differ in their approach? Do you find one approach more helpful than the others?
• Does the text engage in survivorship bias, or choosing to present evidence that supports its argument while ignoring evidence that does not? What are the ethical implications of this approach?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Discuss an experience you’ve had with developing a good habit or breaking an undesirable one. How did you do it? Would you recommend that method to others?
• How do thoughts and emotions influence your behavior? Do certain situations trigger your practice of a bad habit? Why do you think this is?
• How has childhood affected your formation of habits and their emotional associations? How does Atomic Habits address the role of childhood in habit formation?
• Atomic Habits draws examples from neuroscience, sociology, psychology, sports, and the arts. Which of these areas resonates with you most? Have you used any of these techniques in your own life? What was the result?
• Do you believe that willpower can break habits? How does this relate to addiction and behaviors associated with trauma?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does the text present the theme of language as an important aspect of habit formation and change, and what implications does this have for society’s reliance on social media and the internet?
• Does the text address neurodivergence and conditions such as ADHD and autism in an individual’s ability to shape their habits, outlook, and identity? What assumptions does Atomic Habits make about its readership, and how might that limit the book’s applicability?
• Guilt and shame are often used to discourage people from engaging in bad habits. Is this effective? What are the ethical implications of this approach?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Consider how the book presents the Four Laws of Behavior. What rhetorical devices does the book use to make its message stick? 
• Personal success narratives are an important aspect of the self-help genre. How does Atomic Habits use success stories from the author and other key figures to reinforce its message? 
• Atomic Habits often uses examples of animal behavior, such as Nino Tinbergen’s experiment with herring gulls, to draw conclusions about human behavior. What is the effect of this method?
• How does the book present the impact of family, friends, and social groups in a person’s formation of good and bad habits? For Clear, do peer pressure and conformity have positive or negative effects?
• How does Clear use the analogy of atoms as a controlling metaphor for the book’s argument? What aspects of atomic particles are important to the book’s message? Does this analogy always work? Why or why not?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Create a method for forming good habits and/or breaking bad ones. What would you call it, and how does it work?
• Conduct an experiment by trying a non-scientific method to form or break a habit, such as hypnosis or neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). Was the approach effective? What did you learn from the experience?