Good Influence - by Jay Maddock & Justin Moore (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Help the people you love make lasting, healthy changes with this science-backed playbook from two globally renowned behavioral experts with over 50 years of combined experience.

We are surrounded by loved ones who are struggling--with their health, their habits, and their well-being. Whether we're watching friends and family grapple with substance use, chronic stress, poor diet, or self-defeating unhealthy routines, the instinct to help is universal. Yet most of us rely on nagging, lecturing, educating, or withdrawing; strategies that backfire, deepen resistance and strain relationships rather than inspire change.

In Good Influence, behavioral scientists Jay Maddock and Justin Moore draw on decades of research to offer a clear, practical guide to one of the most overlooked challenges in self-improvement: how to help someone else change. Blending cutting-edge behavioral science with relatable real-world scenarios, they reveal why people engage in harmful behaviors, why change is so difficult, and how support, done right, can make all the difference.

You will learn how to:

• Replace ineffective habits like enabling and nagging with evidence-based support strategies
• Understand the psychology and timing of healthy behavior change
• Communicate in ways that build trust, motivation, and momentum
• Create environments and relationships that make healthier choices easier

Accessible, compassionate, and grounded in science, Good Influence empowers readers to become a steady, skillful force for positive change in the lives of those who matter most.

About the Author

Jay E. Maddock is one of the world's leading experts on health behaviors. He is a Regents Professor of Public Health at Texas A&M University. He has published over 200 scientific articles on a variety of health behaviors including physical activity, nutrition, smoking, alcohol abuse, stress management, safe sexual behaviors, and many more. His research has been covered in The New York Times, CNN, Salon, Forbes, Good Morning America, Scientific American, BBC, Le Monde, Vice, and Fortune. He is an avid nature lover and can often be found hiking, snorkeling, paddling, or just about anything else outdoors.

Justin B. Moore is a renowned behavioral scientist with advanced training in epidemiology and implementation science. He is a Professor in the Department of Implementation Science at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He has published over 230 scientific articles on a variety of health behaviors including physical activity, nutrition, obesity prevention and treatment, substance use, prenatal care, breastfeeding, and others in journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Obesity, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In his spare time, he enjoys watching sports, camping, hiking, and traveling with his wife Theresa and their dogs Scarlett and Ginger.