A&B #55

Hey everyone,

I spent this week going back and forth with my book cover designer. It's still a work in progress but you can check out the current

.

 I also wrote two threads you might enjoy:

1. A list of 20 fiction books that can change your life.

2. A mega-thread with the 12 best book recommendation threads on Twitter. 

Alright, let's dive into this week's newsletter.

📚 Book Lessons:

This week's book is Atomic Habits by James Clear.This is probably the best book on habits out there (I'm rereading it for the third time–it's that good). One of the key reasons it's been such a hit is because the advice is super practical. If you haven't read it yet, I HIGHLY recommend it. Here are 3 lessons from it:1) Set Systems, Not GoalsLots of books claim that the best way to achieve a result is to set a specific, actionable goal. Having a goal is a great intention, but it's much better to have a system. Why?A system is the process by which you achieve your goal. For instance, you may have a goal of losing 30 pounds, but that alone won't do you much good. However, if you have a system where you go for a jog every morning before work, that will help you slim down.Goals are great for setting a direction, but systems are better for making progress.2) Plan Out Your New Habits In 2001, researchers in Great Britain worked with 248 people to build better exercise habits. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: The 1st group was asked to track how often they exercised. The 2nd group was asked to track their workouts and read about the benefits of exercise. The 3rd group was asked to track their workouts, read about the benefits, and formulate a plan for when and where they would exercise.The results? In the 1st group, 35% of people exercised.   In the 2nd group, 38% of people exercised. In the 3rd group, 91% of people exercised!And this study isn't unique. Hundreds of studies have shown that writing down the exact time, date, and place for an action will dramatically increase the odds of a person following through on it.So if you want to increase the chances of performing a new habit, follow this plan: I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]. 3) Stack New Habits Onto Old OnesAnother strategy for implementing a new habit is to connect it with an existing habit–this is called habit stacking. Rather than pair your new habit with a particular time and place, you pair it with a current habit that acts as a cue to perform the new habit.Here are a few examples: After I pour my morning cup of coffee, I'll read a book for 5 minutes. After I sit down for dinner, I will say one thing I'm grateful for. After my partner comes home, I will ask them how their day was.So if you want to implement a new habit into your routine, use this formula: After I [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) After you set a goal, set up a system to achieve it:

• If your goal is to write a book, set up a system to write 500 pages every day.

• If your goal is to read more books, set up a system where you read for 10 minutes every morning and have a book with you wherever you go.

2) Plan out your new habit:

• Think of a new habit you want to develop and create a detailed plan when and where you'll do it using this formula: 

  • I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION].

3) Stack new habits onto old ones:

• Another strategy for developing a new habit is to follow the habit-stacking formula:

  • After I [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].

🎧  Podcast Update:

I took the best lessons from my podcast with John Gray and turned them into clips. You can watch them here:

• Why Men Need Their Cave Time

• MEN Don't Make This Mistake In Relationships

• Why Little Things Matter A LOT To Women

📖  Reading Lesson: Here's a thread with 12 tips to help you read more books.

⭐️  Weekly Quote:"Books differ from all other...media primarily because one single book can significantly change the reader’s attitude and action to an extent unmatched by the impact of any other single medium.”-CIA (yes, that CIA)

🙏  Support:No sponsor this week, but I do have a favor to ask you...The A&B newsletter just hit 8k subs and my goal is to get to 10k before the year ends.So...if you've been enjoying this newsletter, can you share it on social media?Tag @alexandbooks_ on Twitter or Instagram and I'll reshare your post!

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!Read on,Alex W.