Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney Books
Roy F. Baumeister is a social psychologist known for his research on self-control, decision-making, and social belonging.
Known for: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Books by Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney
Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Why do smart, talented people sabotage their goals, while others with fewer advantages steadily build successful lives? In Willpower, psychologist Roy F. Baumeister and science writer John Tierney argue that the answer often lies in self-control. Drawing on decades of experimental research, they show that willpower is not just a moral virtue or a vague personality trait. It functions more like a limited psychological resource that can be depleted, protected, and trained. The book explores how self-control shapes nearly every major area of life, from health and money to relationships, work, and personal achievement. What makes this book especially valuable is its blend of rigorous science and practical insight. Baumeister is one of the leading researchers in social psychology, particularly in the study of self-regulation, while Tierney brings the clarity of an experienced journalist who knows how to turn research into memorable stories. Together, they explain why resisting temptation becomes harder after a long day, why too many decisions wear us down, and how habits can reduce the burden on our mental energy. The result is a deeply useful guide to understanding one of the most important forces behind human behavior.
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Willpower Works Like Mental Energy
One of the book’s most striking insights is that self-control is not endlessly available on demand. We often talk as if discipline were simply a matter of character: either you have it or you do not. Baumeister and Tierney challenge this view by showing that willpower operates more like a mental ene...
From Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Ego Depletion Shapes Everyday Behavior
The phrase ego depletion may sound abstract, but it describes an everyday reality: after prolonged self-control, people become more vulnerable to impulse, distraction, and poor judgment. Baumeister’s research suggests that the same system used to regulate thoughts, emotions, appetites, and behavior ...
From Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Glucose Fuels Self-Control and Focus
A surprising and controversial idea in the book is that self-control has a biological component tied to energy use in the brain. Baumeister and Tierney discuss evidence suggesting that acts of self-regulation draw on glucose, the body’s readily available fuel. When blood sugar drops or energy is poo...
From Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Too Many Decisions Drain Your Strength
Freedom feels empowering, but endless choice can quietly exhaust us. One of the book’s central insights is decision fatigue: every choice, even a small one, draws on the same self-control system used for discipline and focus. As decisions accumulate, mental clarity deteriorates. People become more i...
From Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Habits Reduce the Need for Willpower
People often imagine that highly disciplined individuals are constantly battling temptation and winning through heroic effort. The book offers a more useful picture: the most effective people rely less on constant self-control because they build habits that make good behavior automatic. Habit is wil...
From Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
Attention Control Is Self-Control Too
Willpower is not only about resisting cake, cigarettes, or spending. It is also about directing attention. Baumeister and Tierney show that self-control includes the ability to focus the mind, ignore distractions, regulate emotions, and stay aligned with long-term goals. In modern life, that may be ...
From Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
About Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney
Roy F. Baumeister is a social psychologist known for his research on self-control, decision-making, and social belonging. John Tierney is a science journalist and columnist for The New York Times, focusing on psychology and behavioral science.
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Roy F. Baumeister is a social psychologist known for his research on self-control, decision-making, and social belonging.
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