The Willpower Instinct (by Kelly McGonigal)

Table of Contents

BookInfo

ISBN: 9781583334386	Number of Pages: 288
Publisher: Avery	Book Title: The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It
Publication Year: 2011	Target Audience: Trade
Author: Kelly McGonigal	Reading Age: 18+

Summary

The Willpower Instinct is a popular psychology course at stanford university.

This book provides readers with a clear framework of how self-control works, what self-control is, , and why self-control is important.

As a health psychologist, Dr. Kelly McGonigal‘s job is to help people manage stress and make positive changes in their lives. Over the years, by observing how students control their choices, she realized that many ideas about self-control actually hinder our success.

For example, taking self-control as a virtue may derail a well intentioned goal. Therefore, McGonigal asked her students to understand the physiological basis, psychological traps and various social factors that affect self-control.

McGonigal absorbed insights from psychology, neuroscience, economics and other disciplines, and set up a course called “science of willpower” for Stanford University’s continuing education program.

Those who participated in this course said that they could “change their lives”. This course is the basis of the book The Willpower Instinct .

The Willpower Instinct is one of the best books on self discipline, Best Discipline Books In 2022

About the Author

Kelly McGonigal (Ph.D) is a Stanford University’s award-winning psychologist

Combining new achievements in psychology, neurology and economics, McGonigal offered two courses for Stanford University School of Continuing Education, including The Science of Willpower and Living Well With Stress, which were popular courses in the history of Stanford University School of Continuing Education.

The Willpower Instinct PDF version is avaliable Later ,Please come back soon.

Introduction: Welcome to Introduction to Willpower
In order to succeed in self-control, you must know why you failed
How to use this book
01 I want to do, I don’t want to do, I want to: What is willpower? Why is willpower important?
Why do we have willpower?
Neurological principles of “I want to do”, “I don’t want” and “I want”
Two self caused problems
Train your brain and strengthen your willpower
Summary of this chapter
02 Instinct of willpower: born to resist the temptation of cheesecake
Two different threats
Will power instinct: think twice before you act
Train your mind and body
The cost of too much self-control
A country full of pressure
Summary of this chapter
03 Tired to powerless resistance: Why does self-control have limits like muscles?
Self controlled muscle mode
Why is self-control limited?
Train “muscle of will power”
Does self-control really have “limits”?
Daily consumption and civilization destruction
Summary of this chapter
04 Tolerance of evil: Why does evil follow good deeds?
From saint to sinner
Questions about progress
Make mistakes today and fix them tomorrow
When sin looks like virtue
Hazards of environmental protection
Summary of this chapter
The big lie of the brain: Why do we mistake desire for happiness?
Commitment to reward
Neurobiological principles of “I want”
The Brain Secreting Dopamine: The Rise of Neuromarketing
Make dopamine work
The dark side of dopamine
The Importance of Desire
Summary of this chapter
06 “So what”: Why do people succumb to temptation when they are depressed?
Why does pressure evoke desire?
If you eat this cookie, the terrorists win
“So what” effect: Why does guilt not work?
Decide to improve your mood
Summary of this chapter
07 Selling the Future: Economics of Timely Pleasure
Sell the future
No way out: the value of pre commitment
Meet your future self
The time to wait, the time to yield
Summary of this chapter
08 Infectious: Why is willpower contagious?
Transmission of infectious diseases
Individuals in society
A member of a group
The power of “I should”
Summary of this chapter
09 Don’t read this chapter: Limitations of “I don’t want” power
Isn’t it ironic?
I don’t want to feel that way
Don’t eat that apple
No Smoking
Internal acceptance and external control
Summary of this chapter
10 Conclusion
Acknowledgement