Words and Phrases Explained

• "To write a great book, you must first become the book.": This phrase means that to write authentically and with deep understanding on a topic, the author must have firsthand experience and embody the principles they are writing about. They need to live the ideas rather than just write about them theoretically.

• "an operating manual": This is an analogy. A book is not a piece of machinery, but the author is saying the book is not just for reading; it's a practical guide with step-by-step instructions. Like an operating manual for a car or a television, it tells you how to use something to get a desired result.

• "a synthesis of the best ideas": Synthesis means combining different ideas, concepts, or elements into a coherent whole. The author has taken the most important ideas from various fields like biology, neuroscience, and psychology and blended them to create a new, integrated framework for understanding habits.

• "highly actionable": This means the information provided is not just theoretical; it can be put into action easily and effectively. It provides clear steps and strategies that readers can use to achieve their goals.

• "operant conditioning": A concept in psychology, operant conditioning is a type of learning where an individual's behavior is modified by its consequences. This is done through rewards or punishments that make the behavior more or less likely to happen again. It's often associated with B.F. Skinner.

• "external stimuli": These are things in a person's environment that trigger a response. For example, the sound of a notification on your phone is an external stimulus that cues you to check your phone.

• "internal states": These are a person's thoughts, feelings, moods, and beliefs. They are internal, not visible to others, and they can also influence behavior. For example, feeling bored (an internal state) can lead you to a habit of scrolling through social media.

• "cognitive and behavioral sciences": This refers to two related fields of study. Cognitive science focuses on the study of the mind and mental processes like perception, memory, and reasoning. Behavioral science is the systematic study of human behavior, using controlled and naturalistic observation. The author is saying his model integrates both of these perspectives.

• "the fundamentals of human behavior": These are the basic, unchanging principles that govern how people act and react. The author is suggesting that while specific situations may change, the underlying psychological mechanisms behind habit formation remain constant.