Books › The marshmallow test
The marshmallow test
336 pages
A warm, scientifically grounded exploration of why we give in to temptation and how we can learn to wait for the sweeter reward.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like attending a masterclass taught by a brilliant, deeply empathetic professor who genuinely wants you to succeed. The pace is steady and methodical, guiding you through decades of psychological research with an accessible, conversational warmth. It cultivates an intellectually stimulating and optimistic mood, replacing the heavy guilt often associated with a lack of willpower with a fascinating look at the cognitive machinery of self-control. You aren't just reading about a famous experiment; you are being handed the tools to reframe your own impulses. It will delight fans of pop-psychology and self-improvement who crave evidence-based insights over empty platitudes, leaving the reader with a profound sense of personal agency and the comforting realization that self-control is a skill to be practiced, not a trait you are simply born without.
- Mood
- intellectually stimulating
- optimistic
- reflective
- Tone
- authoritative
- encouraging
- accessible
- analytical
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the mechanics of willpower · personal agency · cognitive reframing · lifelong growth · delayed gratification
- The writing
- Clear, conversational, and grounded in scientific rigor without relying on dense academic jargon.
- The arc
- Begins with a fascinating look at childhood behavior and builds toward an empowering realization of our own capacity for change.
- Who it's for
- Curious minds who want to understand the psychological machinery behind their daily choices and habits.
Content notes
- discussions of addiction
- weight loss and dieting
About the book
"Renowned psychologist Walter Mischel, designer of the famous Marshmallow Test, explains what self-control is and how to master it. A child is presented with a marshmallow and given a choice: Eat this one now, or wait and enjoy two later. What will she do? And what are the implications for her behavior later in life? The world's leading expert on self-control, Walter Mischel has proven that the ability to delay gratification is critical for a successful life, predicting higher SAT scores, better social and cognitive functioning, a healthier lifestyle and a greater sense of self-worth. But is willpower prewired, or can it be taught? In The Marshmallow Test, Mischel explains how self-control can be mastered and applied to challenges in everyday life--from weight control to quitting smoking, overcoming heartbreak, making major decisions, and planning for retirement. With profound implications for the choices we make in parenting, education, public policy and self-care, The Marshmallow Test will change the way you think about who we are and what we can be. "-- ǂc Provided by publisher.
Description from Open Library.
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