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The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It book cover
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Psychology Non-Fiction Self-Help Science Business

by Kelly McGonigal

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4.11 (15.3K ratings)
calendar_today 2011
description 275 pages

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal holds a highly rated rating of 4.11 out of 5, based on 15.3K reader ratings. First published in 2011. The book spans 275 pages.

About The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It

The first book to explain the new science of self-control and how it can be harnessed to improve our health, happiness, and productivity.After years of watching her students struggling with their choices, health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., realized that much of what people believe about willpower is actually sabotaging their success. Committed to sharing what the scientific community already knew about self-control, McGonigal created a course called "The Science of Willpower" for Stanford University's Continuing Studies Program. The course was an instant hit and spawned the hugely successful Psychology Today blog with the same name.Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, McGonigal's book explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters. Readers will learn:Willpower is a mind-body response, not a virtue. It is a biological function that can be improved through mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, and sleep. People who have better control of their attention, emotions, and actions are healthier, happier, have more satisfying relationships, and make more money. Willpower is not an unlimited resource. Too much self-control can actually be bad for your health. Temptation and stress hijack the brain's systems of self-control, and that the brain can be trained for greater willpower.In the groundbreaking tradition of Getting Things Done, The Willpower Instinct combines life-changing prescriptive advice and complementary exercises to help readers with goals ranging from a healthier life to more patient parenting, from greater productivity at work to finally finishing the basement.

Detail Value
Author Kelly McGonigal
Published 2011
Pages 275
Genres Psychology, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Science, Business
Average Rating 4.11 / 5.00
Total Ratings 15,318

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

4.1
starstarstarstarstar
15.3K ratings
With a rating of 4.11, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It is rated near the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.99, it performs above expectations.

How It Compares

4.11
This Book
3.99
Science Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It?

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It is categorized as Psychology, Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Science. Its primary genre classification is Science.

Is The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It worth reading?

Based on 15.3K reader ratings, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It has an average score of 4.11 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."

How many pages is The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It?

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It has 275 pages.

Who wrote The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It?

The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It was written by Kelly McGonigal. It was first published in 2011.

What is the ISBN for The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It?

The ISBN-13 for The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It is 9781583334390.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026