May 1st 2026 - Reading Summary
The Hobbit
Bilbo reveals himself
Bilbo reveals himself to the group and they are amazed at his story of how he escaped. He leaves out the detail of the ring but suspects Gandalf knows he's hiding something.
Onwards
Gandalf says the group needs to trek ahead as nightfall is coming and the goblins will sure try to find them. Bilbo is hungry but they lost all their supplies in the mountains when they were captured.
Atomic Habits
Chapter 7 - The Secret to Self-Control
- The Vietnam war
During the Vietnam war around 15% of soldiers became addicted to heroin. When they returned home only 5% of them relapsed within a year and 12% within three years.
This shows how a change in environment can change something as difficult as addiction.
- A word of caution
I would caution that this should not be taken as a green light to engage in behaviors that lead to addiction as one could very easily fall within the 12% of those who relapse or never be able to successfully change the environmental cues which trigger the addict habits.
- Environment as the trigger
Research shows that those who are successful at self-control don't have heroic will power but are those who spend less time in triggering environments.
- Habits are self affirming
The process of bad habits is self affirming. When you feel stressed you overeat and overeating making you feel stressed so the cycle continues.
- Remove yourself
The author suggests removing yourself from the environment that triggers bad habits. This is not always possible though.
- Make it invisible
Making the cues for bad habits invisible is another strategy where you prevent yourself from being exposed to things that trigger them.