"With a new afterword by the author"--Front cover

"Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Random House, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, in 2012" --Title page verso

"Originally published in slightly different form in both hardcover and trade paperback in the United States by Random House, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, in 2012 and 2014, respectfully"--Page [5]

Duhigg takes us to the edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling information into narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a new understanding of human nature and its potential. At the book's core, the author argues that the key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives. --Adapted from publisher description

Prologue: The habit cure -- Part one. The habits of individuals. The habit loop: how habits work -- The craving brain: how to create new habits -- The golden rule of habit change: why transformation occurs -- Part two. The habits of successful organizations. Keystone habits, or the ballad of Paul O'Neill: which habits matter most -- Starbucks and the habit of success: when willpower becomes automatic -- The power of a crisis: how leaders create habits through accident and design -- How Target knows what you want before you do: when companies predict (and manipulate) habits -- Part three. The habits of societies. Saddleback Church and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: how movements happen -- The neurology of free will: are we responsible for our habits? -- Afterword: Some things learned about weight loss, smoking, procrastination, and teaching -- Appendix: A reader's guide to using these ideas