Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Following his previous book, “The Power of Habit,” Charles Duhigg (New York Times) has written an interesting book on productivity and success at home and the workplace. Taking real-life case studies, Duhigg examines what it means to be productive and common trends in smart, productive, successful people. To this end, Duhigg gives eight common trends that promote productivity. For motivation, he explains that having an internal locus of control (believing control comes from the inside, not the outside) tends to increase productivity. Teams should have a sense of psychological security to succeed. Productive individuals tend to focus quickly on the problems before them and set both smart and stretch goals. Other productive individuals can manage others and make decisions using Bayesian psychology. Innovation is crucial to success, achieved through a few different means. Finally, manipulating and working with data engages individuals and promotes success.

The book is well written and broken out by chapter and section in a logical way. As with his previous bestseller, Duhigg gives real anecdotes and case studies that prove the importance of the topic at hand. Typical chapters start with the beginning of a story or study, and he ends the chapter with the resolution to the story highlighting the research in the middle sections and drives home the point of the chapter. Even if you’re not looking for lessons on productivity, the research, and anecdotes about IBM, commercial airlines, Disney’s Frozen, public schools, Saturday Night Live and predicting the future in poker is entertaining. Not a self-help book, you won’t be more productive by reading this, but you will gain insight into individuals who are productive or successful with a fun, well-researched read.▪️