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marshmallow test self control walter mischel executive function delayed gratification human behavior bill clinton highly recommend getting to the point worth reading great job long time better life help their kids interesting read mastering self-control well researched good book really good must read
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CharlieTop Contributor: Philosophy
VINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 stars Pervasiveness of self control
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2017
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The Marshmallow Test provides interesting anecdotes related to self control and the disastrous effects of lacking it. The main theme is how childrens' self control, evaluated through taking the marshmallow test- forgoing eating one marshmallow for a later reward of two marshmallows- manifests throughout later life.

The problem I have with this book is that the conclusions do not seem convincing, the author constantly qualifies his assessments by saying of course there are cases that do not follow the norm. It also does not get to the root of self-control, it instead assumes the outcome of one test as the baseline. It similarly does not explain the basis of the hot and cool systems, but just takes for granted their fundamentality.

A positive aspect of the book is the conclusion that self control is not innate and can be effectively improved and cultivated throughout one's life. It also shows the enormous and varied ways self control affects one's life. Lastly, It is interesting because it covers a variety of psychological tests that anybody can relate to.

Even if it is not groundbreaking, it is still worth the time to read.
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MzWms
3.0 out of 5 stars I'm struggling to read this book. I am familiar ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2018
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I'm struggling to read this book. I am familiar with the test and the outcomes. Since the book is 279 pages (not included notes, index et al) I thought there might be some gripping information. The book is just slow and wordy. Instead of getting to the point, it explains that there may be a surprise conclusion to the studies and tests performed based on expectations and scientific experience, but then there's no surprise conclusion and it was all just filler words.
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Mike
3.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly researched, but the execution...
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2017
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As a parent, I feel so much more qualified and ready to empower my three kids to take control of themselves as they grow.

As a 40-something man who is in need of help gaining some sense of self control, I feel like I've picked up a few nuggets of wisdom here and there about how the subject matter can be applied to who I am now, but not enough to resolve my more immediate needs.

There is a lot of great information about shaping those who are in the early stages of development, but not much to apply practically (beyond the last couple of chapters) to well-ingrained issues being addressed in those of us further along the journey.
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Coert Visser
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting psychology book
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2016
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Walter Mischel, the author of this fascinating book, is a 84 year old professor at Columbia University. Mischel became known at the end of the 1960s, mainly through his publications about two topics. The first topic was the degree to which situations influence human behavior. He did research which showed that the idea that people have stable personality traits which cause us to behave consistently over many situations is largely a myth. Instead, he demonstrated, we tend to behave quite differently in different contexts. Thus, characteristics of situations have a significant influence on how we behave.

The second topic was self-control. Together with colleagues he did much research into the causes and consequences of self-control, in particular with regard to how children manage to delay gratification. The series of experiments which these researchers did have become know under the popular name of the Marshmallow test, hence the book title.

The book begins with a details description of the marshmallow experiments. Mischel shows how the ability of children to delay gratification and resist temptation has great implications for how their lives proceed. Children who were more able to delay gratification, on average had more successful and happier lives than children who were worse a delay gratification.

Mischel emphasizes that this willpower is not a predetermined and fixed characteristic of people but a learnable skill. He explains that through relatively easy and learnable techniques we can learn to not respond in an emotional and uncontrolled manner but in a wise and controlled manner.

In case you should wonder, Mischel did not get stuck in the '60s and '70s at all. The book proves that he remained very involved and up-to-date in current research in psychology and neuroscience.
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ion goiman
3.0 out of 5 stars Very repetitive
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2019
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Interesting read but the writing style is lacking and somewhat repetitive. The book is just slow and wordy. Instead of getting to the point, it explains that there may be a surprise conclusion to the studies and tests performed based on expectations and scientific experience, but then there's no surprise conclusion and it was all just filler words. Even if it is not groundbreaking, it is still worth the time to read.
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Mark Loves Kindle Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff though not always the easiest read
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2016
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There is a lot to love here. First, this is the book by the guy who invented the famed Marshmallow Test so being able to read about it from its creator is helpful and interesting. Secondly, he does a great job making the ideas of self-control practical and useful. I thought it lagged a little in the middle and isn't always an easy read but it's solid and very useful. Great stuff. If you persevere you will learn how to build your self-control or help your child grow their self-control.
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Yuta Yamasaki
5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for those in difficulty.
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2017
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This is a very good book especially when you feel yourself in tough situation in your job career. I first bought this book for some reference for bringing up my child who is about to be 3 years old and getting more assertive in some situation losing her "self-control." I found this book, however, pretty useful even for adults, getting its message that they can also change their view and behavior when they meet some temptation using if-then strategies. This happened to coincide with my present situation where I feel myself in bleak condition for my present and future career, and feeling strong temptation to flee to more easy job. After reading, I'm more determined to face the present situation and have more grit.
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Top reviews from other countries

N. Howell
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2017
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An excellent book full of facts and insights told in an engaging way. I recommend for anyone interested in psychology, and also enormously helpful for me as a teacher; this book gave me hundreds of ideas to help the children in my class.
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Caroline Flanagan, Author of Babyproof Your Career
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, empowering, a brilliant aid to taking ownership of your life
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2018
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I loved this book, the stories it tells and the fascinating conclusions it draws from extensive research about why we behave the way we do and, where that behaviour isn’t in our best interests (eg. Over eating, over drinking, over reacting, over indulging, excessive anger - anything that demonstrates a lack of self control), what we can do to change it.

What I loved most: the evidence that our brains are malleable, ie we are not fixed in stone when we are born, but rather can take conscious steps to change our thoughts and our behaviour. In other words, that we have some control over our destiny. My beliefs exactly!

What I’ll do differently: this book opened my eyes to the different workings of the brain. How we have a hot system (impulsive, pleasure seeking) and a cool system (rational, future focused). Both are necessary and play different roles and impact on our lives in different ways. Now, when I (my cool system) tell myself I won’t have a glass of wine (immediate temptation) after work because I want to wake up feeling rested in the morning (future benefit), and it gets to after work and I (my hot system) says ‘have a glass of wine! It’s been a long day,’ I’ll try some of the tricks used by the Marshmallow Test kids in this book for resisting the temptation!
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ST Nicholls
3.0 out of 5 stars Labours the basic point
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2017
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Really labours the core thesis, which if you know nothing about this may be ok, but if - like me - you understand the core concept, you read the first half of the book going "yeah, yeah we get it! Now get on with it ad tell me how I can use this wisdom!"
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H. Wilson
3.0 out of 5 stars Too much research, not enough practical application
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 1, 2018
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As someone who struggles with self control, I thought this would give me some useful insight. Whilst interesting, the book talks heavily about the writers research over the years which was quite repetitive.

I also found the writing style quite heavy going. Was more relevant to parents of children than adults wishing to improve self control i found.
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wiltshirelass
3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2018
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I bought the audio version to go along with this book but it's so detailed in places that I'd find myself re-reading paragraphs to make sure I'd understood properly.

This is a truly fascinating book, gives insight into your own and other people's behaviour. I see some of why I am in here. It gives me wiggle room to change some future behaviour. It shows how character is built, how effort pays off. It might be an essential tool for parenting.
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