Preview

Comparing Duhigg And Thoreau

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
779 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparing Duhigg And Thoreau
Both Duhigg and Thoreau express their thoughts on habits that are definitely insightful, but whats interesting is the similarities and differences between them. The Writers were from different time periods and you can see how that plays affect on their ideas, with Duhiggs being much more modern and scientific, and with Thoreau having much more of a spiritual and personal approach to the topic. According to Thoreau, walking allows us to escape the burdens of modern society, including its obsession with technology and productivity. It provides an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the present moment, and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. For Thoreau, walking was a form of rebellion against the conformity and materialism of modern …show more content…
His approach to habits was not merely observational, but he also suggested action steps to change them. Another very popular piece about habits is written by American Author Charles Duhigg. According to Duhigg in “The Power Of Habit”, habits are the small decisions we make every day that reinforce our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. He argues that habit formation is a crucial part of our human evolution; it is what has allowed us to automate routine actions, freeing up our cognitive resources for more complex situations. One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of identifying the "cue" that triggers a habit. Duhigg argues that by identifying and changing the cue, we can change the habit altogether. By understanding the science behind habits and the strategies for changing them, we can take control of our lives and achieve success in both our personal and professional endeavors. Now, a very noticeable similarity between the authors are the “grooves” that Thoreau mentions and the “cues” that Duhigg …show more content…
He suggested that individuals must work to develop habits that enable them to achieve their goals and live a fulfilling life. Furthermore, he believed that habits must be actively cultivated and not simply be the product of happenstance. Although the writers were trying to describe the same things, they both had different ideas and thoughts on how hibits were made, helpful, and different for everyone. The most interesting part though is their different ending conclusions, because it shows what they personally learned from the subject and what they thought was important to share. Thoreau's conclusion on habits is a testament to the power that these behaviors can have on one's life. He believed that habits are the foundation of an individual's character and the key to achieving one's goals. Furthermore, Thoreau believed that individuals must take active steps to change the grooves of their lives, by cultivating habits that align with their values and allow them to live a fulfilling life. Duhigg's approach to habits provides valuable insights into the role that habits play in our lives and how they can be

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Emerson and Thoreau are equally significant writers when it comes to transcendentalism. Both writers were part of the movement and genuinely believed that individualism is vital to having a successful and fulfilling life. In fact, Thoreau lived on Emerson’s property when he began constructing his popular book “Walden”. The two of them were close and shared the same theme that focused on nature and individualism. However, this is not the only thing that the two writers have in common. In Emerson’s…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Both considering themselves transcendentalists, there should similarities between Thoreau and Emerson, yet there is more than a noticeable similarity between the two writers. Thoreau and Emerson share common views on their logical reasoning for issues. Both writers stress an importance of the individual over the society. Henry David Thoreau expresses this thought by accepting the motto "That government is best which governs least" in the first sentence of his essay Resistance to Civil Government…

    • 264 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    misbelieving with mainstream society. There are many focuses on the compare and contrast of the bonds that Emerson and Thoreau encouraged by analysing details from several works of literature. Transcendental authors, Ralph Emerson and David Thoreau expressed their thoughts about the relationship between people and Nature. In the essay, “Nature”, by Emerson and the essay, “Walden”, by Thoreau both explain how important it is to have a relationship with Nature. In “Nature”, Emerson stated, “I become a transparent…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The themes between the writing of Emerson, Thoreau, Krakauer, and Donovan all correspond to each other. Although, all authors are diverse, they all share the same ideas. In this essay I will discuss the similarities and beliefs they all correlate. One major idea they share is self-reliance. In all works, they discuss the fact of controlling themselves and not relying on the government. Michael Donovan says “It’s all on me…. therefore falls-onto-me,” indicating his viewpoint that he is the only…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thoreau and Emerson both believe in the citizens. Without the citizen that follows the law, government won’t exist and the society can’t function. Thoreau believe that citizen can take action to improve unjust government and Emerson believe the citizen can change the society if they believe in themselves to take action. They both believe in action is required for changes to happen. Both authors criticize their fellow citizens for going along with a government that doesn’t decide their action through…

    • 296 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Henry David Thoreau once stated in Civil Disobedience “I was not born to be forced. Let us see who is the strongest. What force had multitude? Thoreau, the father of Transcendentalism, would have never predicted the events that would take place because of Hitler, nearly a century later, the way Hitler took what he wanted and did not care what people he affected. Both Hitler and Thoreau have one thing in common, they are willing to fight for what they believe, but how they differ is their methods…

    • 2625 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    in the Sea, drink the wild air”. This quote by Emerson embodied many traits of transcendentalism. In this ideology that emerged in New England around 1836, it focused greatly on the individual and concepts emphasizing the goodness of nature. Both Thoreau and Emerson were notable figures of this belief, that advocated for individuals to escape the corruption of society and embrace the self. Through this major belief, it helped many people around the world to remember what it's like to feel alive. With…

    • 1820 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Whitman removes his clothes, Thoreau removes his worldly possessions bringing out their true selves uninfluenced by the public eye. Both works emphasize themselves the individual, but also an inward looking and meditation on what they truly are. To do so they both must leave society and go into the wood, to find out how to live and depict how to live it out.…

    • 64 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    procrastinating with yourself or a daily routine you do throughout the week these could be know as habits. Though people always wonder if they have a choice in these habits they have. In The power of habit by Charles Duhigg there some examples of people choosing their habit. Coming to the end of the book Duhigg concludes with "your habits are what you choose them to be" (273). I agree that people can choose their habits only if you clear understanding what are habits and how do they run. When considering how habit…

    • 231 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thoreau

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Individual follows his own set of rules While Emerson and Thoreau certainly have difference of opinions, they recognize the need for public discussion and discourse. a.“Self-Reliance” and “Civil Disobedience” supports individuality and personal expression. b. Views of society and government c. Passionate belief in the necessity of rights http://thoreau.eserver.org/wendy.html The two authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, are similar in many ways. A first example would be…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays