Smarter Faster Better

The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

By: Charles Duhigg

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Power of Habit and Supercommunicators and “master of the life hack” (GQ) explores the fascinating science of productivity and offers real-world takeaways to apply your life, whether you’re chasing peak productivity or simply trying to get back on track.

“Duhigg melds cutting-edge science, deep reporting, and wide-ranging stories to give us a fuller, more human way of thinking about how productivity actually happens.”—Susan Cain, author of Quiet

In The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Charles Duhigg explained why we do what we do. In Smarter Faster Better, he applies the same relentless curiosity and rich storytelling to how we can improve at the things we do.

At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key concepts—from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision making—that explain why some people and companies get so much done. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics—as well as the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, FBI agents, airplane pilots, and Broadway songwriters—this book reveals that the most productive people, companies, and organizations don’t merely act differently. They view the world, and their choices, in profoundly different ways.

Smarter Faster Better is a story-filled exploration of the science of productivity, one that can help us learn to succeed with less stress and struggle—and become smarter, faster, and better at everything we do.

Some long-winded "stories". Some good points

A few good points and explanations such as internal locus of control vs external locus of control and envisioning how something will unfold to improve performance. But like other reviewers complained, I got annoyed with the author's insistence on telling "stories". I don't care about verbal exchanges between two people "He said" "She said" "He replied" "She retorted" etc. I found myself yelling at the audio book while I was driving "GET ON WITH IT! I DON'T CARE!" The author did better with his previous book about Power of Habit[s]. Also, the narrator reads this thing so slowly - good thing I could speed up Audible to 1.5-1.8x. I normally just go at 1.1 but this guy is really slow.

Great practical insights

I thought this was going to be another book on making lists and being organized. I am desperate to be more productive and am willing to listen to any book that will help. This book is so much better! It translates concepts and insights into actionable steps such as creating a mental model of a day's work or a meeting to help visualize what productivity would mean in that encounter. The stories which illustrate these concepts are engaging and enjoyable. I already recommended this book to my colleagues. It is at least as good as and in my opinion better than other classics like Good to Great.

Choice matters in determination

Book that gives several methods for realizing your dreams and ambitions. Using case studies of probability , business motivation, military transfer and other behavioural scientific studies he delivers a method for solving problems and reaching the goals of work and personal life.

Long narration, could use specific techniques

The first title from the author, Power of Habits was much better read...this book was long and not to the point...the stories and case studies were good, but I expected specific and not anecdotal methods

An excellent collection of insights

This was well worth the time. it was thoroughly enjoyable and every chapter left me feeling better informed about its main topic.

not bad

good book in general. could have been better with less story and more methodology and exemples on how to applied those principles. but overall nice book.

Loved it.

I found this book easy to listen to and full of easy to use ideas. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to up their game and create a better future.

So many good points

This book is really insightful and designed in such a way that you can't help but applying it to your life as well as being engrossed in the stories themselves.
I'm going to have to listen to it again and but the book to see his outline of applicable parts I can implement.

Change your thought change your life

if you only take one thing from this book you will make an inpact In your life. It's filled with adivice that you can take action on.

great content, less than great analogies

wasn't a fan of the analogies. The meat of the book was good, the sides ... meh