Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Introduction-Chapter 3

Reading Check

1. What life event shaped the author’s life experience with habits?

2. According to Clear, what are the three different types of change?

3. What are the four stages of a habit?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How did the British cycling team manage to make such large gains in a short amount of time?

2. How do habits become unconscious?

Paired Resource

“Investors in People”

• In this 4-minute video, Sir Dave Brailsford talks about how he used the philosophy of 1% gains to transform the British cycling team.
• Which elements of Clear’s argument are evident in this video?

Chapters 4-7  

Reading Check

1. What is the purpose of the Japanese railway conductor’s habit of pointing and calling?

2. What is the format of an implementation intention?

3. What is habit stacking?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Clear suggest readers apply pointing and calling to their own habits?

2. Describe the Diderot Effect.

3. Why does Clear say that every habit should “have a home.” (Chapter 6)

Paired Resource

“The Diderot Effect: Why We Want Things We Don’t Need — And What to Do About It”

• This article by James Clear includes personal anecdotes and specific advice about avoiding impulse spending.
• Does Diderot’s story adequately illustrate Clear’s point about both environment and habit stacking? Why or why not?

Chapters 8-10  

Reading Check

1. What is temptation bundling?

2. According to Clear, which spheres of influence in our society impact habit formation?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Give one example of a mindset shift that Clear describes to support habit-forming.

2. What role does socialization play in habit formation?

Chapters 11-14

Reading Check

1. What were the results of the photography class experiment?

2. What is the Law of Least Effort?

3. What is the Two-Minute Rule?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Clear distinguish between motion and action?

2. What are some ways that Clear suggests we reduce obstacles to fitness habits?

3. Why does Clear insist on the Two-Minute Rule in forming new habits?

Paired Resource

“Plan For Failure: Being Consistent Is Not the Same as Being Perfect”

• This article by James Clear explains how perfectionism gets in the way of our forming consistent habits.
• Discuss this article in the context of Clear’s ideas on The Importance of Identity. How does our self-perception contribute to how we handle failure?

Chapters 15-17

Reading Check

1. Why does the human brain crave instant gratification?

2. What are the benefits of habit tracking?

3. What is the “Cardinal Rule of Behavior Change?”

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What role can accountability partners play in habit formation?

2. What does “never miss twice” mean?

Paired Resource

“The Ultimate Habit Tracker Guide: Why and How to Track Your Habits”

• This article by James Clear explains habit trackers and includes photographic examples.
• Discuss: is the habit tracker all that it’s cracked up to be? Have you tried one before? How would you improve upon Clear’s examples?

Chapters 18-Conclusion

Reading Check

1. What is the Goldilocks rule?

2. What happened after the Lakers implemented the Career Best Effort Program?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What role can genetics play in habit formation?

2. What lesson does Clear illustrate in telling the story of the 1986 Los Angeles Lakers?

Recommended Next Reads 

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

• Before Atomic Habits, this book rocked the public mind through a deep exploration of habit science, emphasizing some of the least understood elements (like the role of willpower) and how businesses leverage habit science to market and sell products (such as Target and Febreze).
• The Power of Habit on SuperSummary

The Creativity Habit by Twyla Tharp

• Renowned choreographer Tharp shares how creativity is not rooted in inspiration as much as it is rooted in good habits and consistent work.
• She serves as one of Clear’s sources/examples.
• The Creative Habit on SuperSummary