How to Have a Good Day

Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life

By: Caroline Webb

Narrated by: Caroline Webb

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

In How to Have a Good Day, economist and former McKinsey partner Caroline Webb shows listeners how to use recent findings from behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience to transform their approaches to everyday working life.

Advances in these behavioral sciences are giving us ever better understanding of how our brains work, why we make the choices we do, and what it takes for us to be at our best. But it has not always been easy to see how to apply these insights in the real world - until now.

In How to Have a Good Day, Webb explains exactly how to apply this science to our daily tasks and routines. She translates three big scientific ideas into step-by-step guidance that shows us how to set better priorities, make our time go further, ace every interaction, be our smartest selves, strengthen our personal impact, be resilient to setbacks, and boost our energy and enjoyment. Through it all, Webb teaches us how to navigate the typical challenges of modern workplaces - from conflict with colleagues to dull meetings and overflowing inboxes - with skill and ease.

Filled with stories of people who have used Webb's insights to boost their job satisfaction and performance at work, How to Have a Good Day is the book so many people wanted when they finished Nudge, Blink and Thinking Fast and Slow and were looking for practical ways to apply this fascinating science to their own lives and careers.

A remarkable and much-needed book, How to Have a Good Day gives us the tools we need to have a lifetime of good days.

©2016 Caroline Webb (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

" How to Have a Good Day is a smart, thorough, and eminently practical book. Just about every page offers a science-based tip to help you become better off - or, in many cases, just plain better." (Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive)

"Behavioral science has come of age in recent years, and it has begged for a world-class translator. Now we have one. Caroline Webb's peerless translation of the behavioral sciences into tools for shaping the quality of our day is the book we've been waiting for. Play with just 2% of the ideas in this book, and you might just end up changing your life's course. Words like 'magisterial' come to mind. Bravo." (Tom Peters, coauthor of award-winning best seller In Search of Excellence)

"Finally, a practical book based on evidence. How to Have a Good Day is grounded in state-of-the-art research on behavior and neuroscience, and animated with vivid examples from professionals who have successfully applied Webb's advice. It might even leave you looking forward to your next tricky conversation or challenging task as an opportunity to try out her tips." (Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times best-selling author of Give and Take and Originals)

Who Doesn't Want to Have a Good Day?

As an NPR devotee, I have become a big fan of the behavioral sciences lately. That was my initial draw to this book, even though I was concerned the work applications may not interest me, since I don't work in a traditional field. Much to my surprise, this book is not only funny and well paced, it's full of practical, and even better, science based advice that is useful in every walk of life. I feel like I learned a lot about my career life, but also interacting with my spouse- and even interacting with my toddler. Additionally, the author does a great job reading it, which is always a big crapshoot with author readers. I can't recommend it enough.

Wonderful Ideas, Empathetic Narration

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

While what Ms. Webb says can improve our lives on a daily basis; even under the direst of circumstances, I can find and apply a number of Ms. Webb's suggestions and improve the most hopeless situation.

Any additional comments?

For someone who reads from and listens to a lot of energetic, motivational speakers, there comes a time when one can, perhaps incorrectly, believe he/she has heard it all.

And then ... You hit that surprising gold mine - of fresh ideas, of tried and trusted solutions, of information rooted in multi-field research, of stories followed by crisp bullet-point advice that can really work and does not make one cringe and feel judged ....

And just when you are celebrating having learnt so much .... more veins of Gold are discovered. The ideas just keep coming.

And all this in a narration that is caring yet not falsely encouraging and that reminds I can do it.

This is what "Good Day" narration by Ms. Webb does for me. So much so, a few aural lessons from this book follow my daily meditation and prayer routine in the morning.

Want a Better Day and a Better Life - Start Here!

Any additional comments?

This is the best written and most useful book I have found in years. I have listened to the audio version twice, have it in Kindle, and have bought two copies of the hardback. I read widely and deeply in the personal development literature - both popular and academic, and I have not found another author who has taken the complex findings in the areas of neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics and made them practically useful for the person who aspires to live life well. I have read many of the source books/studies which Caroline writes about and find that she has a gift for making an exciting, but complex subject, human intelligible. The Audible version of the book is very well done and for me as an American, I particularly enjoy hearing Caroline's British accent and superb delivery. It is really quite good. Not only am I using the insights in this book personally, I am using using them as the basis for workshops and seminars (with attribution of course!). If you want to have a better day and a better life, I recommend you invest in and do a "deep dive" into this book.

Good book to have a good day

I recommend this book, even if contain n too much stories,
This is to be listened one time,

Excellent advice

Too often I find books on the subject of habits go into the science behind everything way too deeply and not enough into actionable takeaways. This is not the case with this book, so it felt like a breath of fresh air. Will definitely go through again and again.

Would Be Better in Written Format

I love these neuroscience/behavioral/economics books, but this was just not pleasant to listen to. First, having read a fair number of books in the genre, I did not feel like it added much to the field. Secondly, I needed the narrator to talk a little faster as I found myself getting lulled to sleep with her voice and pace. There was also a lot of repetition, because I can imagine the summary pages at the end of chapters being read and having a list read to you is not enjoyable. Although there were a few interesting points, for the most part skip this and just get the written book-you'll have a good day!

The Power of Positive Thinking Backed by Research

Well researched, well narrated, a great guide to living and working. Ideal for young workers starting out.

Maybe the print version is better

Would you be willing to try another one of Caroline Webb’s performances?

No. The biggest flaw of this audiobook is the narration. At certain parts it seems as if she giggles to herself as she reads other people's quotes. t think it was to highlight a humorous point but its very distracting. The pacing is odd too and breaks in the subject matter are sometimes hard to distinguish. The author has a nice voice and potentially be a good narrator with some more practice.

Any additional comments?

There were a few interesting tidbits in the book but there is also an entire section in the middle that made me shake my head a bit. A reminder that low blood sugar can cause people to get irritable and not think clearly? Many of these behavioral books are long winded and this one is no exception. I wouldn't say it is worth the audiobook price but rather the print or kindle version so the reader can skip through and avoid the less than stellar narration.

great content, narrated by Siri.

Any additional comments?

The information in this book is really insightful and useful. Easily applied to your everyday life. HOWEVER, the narration made it really hard to pay attention and get through. It's read with all the passion and pacing of a recoded in-flight safety announcement. Perhaps it's better to get the book version.

A good step towards helping yourself...

Just like any changes you want for yourself it has to be done one at a time and deliberately. This book gives you some good things to look at first. She gives reminders on some of the previous chapters which help show how with one change it can be incorporated with others. A book I will be listening to more than once to help on the road to self improvement, which can be influencing to others who are important in your life.