The Law of Least Effort
This chapter introduces the Law of Least Effort, which states that people naturally choose the option requiring the least amount of work. It emphasizes optimizing your environment to reduce friction for good habits and increase friction for bad ones, making it easier to follow through on desired behaviors. Priming the environment for future use is presented as a key strategy.
Key Stories & Examples
Spread of Agriculture
The shape of continents (east-west vs. north-south) influenced the spread of agriculture. East-west axes (Europe/Asia) allowed for faster spread due to similar climates, unlike north-south axes (Americas/Africa) which faced climate variations.
Environmental factors significantly impact human behavior. Ease of implementation influences adoption and growth.
Japanese Lean Production
Japanese electronics manufacturers in the 1970s focused on 'lean production,' removing any wasted effort in the manufacturing process, which led to greater efficiency and reliability compared to American companies.
Systematic reduction of friction and waste leads to increased productivity and better outcomes.
Oswald Nuckols' 'Resetting the Room'
Oswald Nuckols proactively resets rooms after each use, putting things back in their place, throwing away trash in the car, and wiping down the toilet while the shower warms up. This keeps everything in good shape and saves time in the long run.
Preparing the environment for the next action reduces friction and promotes consistency.
British Tax Collection
The British government increased tax collection rates by simplifying the process, directly linking to the tax form instead of a page where the form could be downloaded. This reduction of one step increased response rates significantly.
Even small reductions in friction can have a significant impact on behavior and outcomes.