The Achievement Habit

Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life

By: Bernard Roth

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Did you know that achievement can be learned? As Bernie Roth explains, achievement is a muscle. And once you learn how to flex it, you'll be able to meet life's challenges and reach your goals.

Based on a legendary course Roth has taught at Stanford University for several decades, The Achievement Habit employs the remarkable insights that stem from design thinking to help us realize the power we all have within to change our lives for the better. By ridding ourselves of issues that stand in the way of reaching our full potential, we gain the confidence finally to do things we've always wanted to do. Combining design thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication skills, and life adjustments, listeners will learn:

• Why trying and doing are two different things
• Why using reasons (excuses), even legitimate ones, to explain one's behavior is self-defeating
• How to change your self-image into one of a doer and achiever
• How subtle language changes can resolve existential dilemmas and barriers to action
• How to build resiliency by reinforcing what you do rather than what you accomplish
• How to be open to learning from your own experience and from those around you

Our behavior and relationships can be transformed - if we choose to, we can be mindful and control our intentions to create habits that make our lives better. And with this thoughtful book as your guide, you can.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 Bernard Roth (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Engaging and enjoyable

This book was not what I expected, but I still found it engaging and enjoyable, due in no small part to the narrator, whose conversational tone is a great match for the author's writing style and perfectly conveys the wry humor in the text. The narrator's performance is flat-out terrific.

Having read and/or listened to some other books with "Habit" in the title, I was expecting a nuts-and-bolts sort of book, and this is anything but (I can see how this might frustrate those who are looking for nuts and bolts). Instead, this book is the distilled experience of a man who has lived a long life, seen much, done a lot, and thought deeply about it. The author is 87 as I write this, and got his PhD before I was born--and I'm in my early fifties.

The book splits its attention between the philosophical and the psychological, and has a great many anecdotes, which are sometimes circuitous ways of either illustrating or leading up to a point. If you are interested in the ways that subtleties of language can affect your thinking, how the arrangement of chairs in a room affects the interaction of a group, how movement affects creativity, and how to think differently about teaching something to others, you will find something to take away from this book.

a must read

loved it. lots of useful tidbits and principles for life and work... bernie is super.

Basic self promotion

Overall this book sounds mostly like a self promotion of the author and his projects, something written to look good on his resume. Pretty basic motivational information, I really had no takeaways from it. At least it was not too boring.

Very Actionable

I've read/listened to a lot of "self help" books, podcasts, audiobook etc. This would be in my top 5. it's full of actionable advice, doesn't repeat itself, and isn't full of barely related anecdotes. The narrator is great as well.

fantastic book!

this book served as a reminder of many things and has empowered me to make different choices and to think about how I interviewed with the world. Great parallel to design thinking!

Fantastic

Excellent material presented in practical terms. Clear and Enjoyable narration. Audible version is worth it.

powerful and truthful

great book and awesome reader. the books has made great changes in my life and those around me.

Touchy feely mixed with a few solid suggestions.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Basically its focus. Remove the unhelpful autobiography and sentiment. focus on practical advice.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Basically actually deliver useful information promised in the title.

What about Sean Pratt’s performance did you like?

He has a pleasant voice and excellent modulation.

Did The Achievement Habit inspire you to do anything?

Yes, avoid the writings of Mr. Roth and consider other titles read by Mr. Pratt.

Any additional comments?

I regret the time I spent listening more than the money I spent.

Audible: First time user

The narrator was very good. A helpful resource and reminder for future reference. A definite must read for anyone who desires to make achieving an individual and group expectation

It's good

I like it, but it should have more practical content, than personal stories from the autor, but it does give you good ideas,