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

• Genre: Nonfiction; self-help
• Originally Published: 2018
• Reading Level/Interest: Grades 9-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 6 parts; 20 chapters plus introduction and conclusion; approx. 320 pages; approx. 5 hours, 35 minutes on audio
• Central Concern: Drawing from neuroscience, sociology, psychology, sports, and the arts, the author outlines strategies for reinforcing productive habits. The key is building good systems and making small, incremental changes.

James Clear, Author

• Bio: Born in Ohio; studied biomechanics at Denison University, where he was a star baseball pitcher; writes and speaks about habits, choices, and continuous improvement; finds inspiration in many fields, including architecture, biology, history, and math; publishes a popular newsletter that includes 3 brief ideas, 2 quotations, and 1 thought-provoking question each week
• Awards: New York Times bestseller

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Habit Loop
• The Importance of Identity
• Systems Versus Goals

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Learn the basics of the psychology and neuroscience behind habit formation according to modern science and pop psychology.
• Read paired texts to analyze the overall effectiveness of the author's writing style and research presentation.
• Recall and apply what they've learned about Clear's Atomic Habits, habit formation, and habit systems to develop their own habit system or coach another person to create a working system.