Ordinary Magic - by Gregory M Walton (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The emotional questions we face-Do I belong here? Can I do it? Do you love me? -can define our lives. If you're expecting an interaction to go wrong, that expectation can make it so. That's spiraling down. But as esteemed Stanford psychologist Greg Walton shows, when we see these questions more clearly, we can answer them well. Known to social psychologists as wise interventions, these seemingly magical shifts in perspective can help us chart new trajectories for our lives. They help us spiral up. Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis of fascinating research-both his own and others'-Dr. Walton explains the common anatomy of these tools and shows how we can use them to solve problems in a wide variety of situations, including: With our children: how a few choice words from parents or teachers can build trust and achievement. In our relationships: witness the power of a seven-minute conversation to engender more intimacy among couples-a year later. At work: how to convey news-good or bad-in ways that motivate employees. In school: a simple practice to help new college students of color build their belonging, leading to better achievement, career success, and life satisfaction years later. In our policy: how a one-page letter reduced recidivism among kids returning to school from juvenile detention by 40 percentage points; how a postcard campaign cut suicide rates in half. It's easy to think problems are out of our control. But in fact, we have vast opportunities for change. Ordinary Magic puts the tools for change at your fingertips"--

Book Synopsis

"By one of the great psychologists of our time, a book that shows us how we can answer the universal questions that define our lives: Can I succeed? Do I belong? Am I loved?"--Carol S. Dweck, PhD, bestselling author of Mindset

Discover simple psychological shifts that build trust, belonging, and confidence--from the co-director of the Dweck-Walton Lab at Stanford University

The emotional questions we face can define our lives. If you're expecting an interaction to go wrong, that expectation can make it so. That's spiraling down.

But as esteemed Stanford psychologist Greg Walton shows, when we see these questions clearly, we can answer them well. Known to social psychologists as wise interventions, these shifts in perspective can help us chart new trajectories for our lives. They help us spiral up.

This is ordinary magic: The ordinary experiences that help us set aside the ordinary worries of life to unleash extraordinary change.

Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis of fascinating research--both his own and others'--Dr. Walton pulls back the curtain to reveal the magic at work:

- With our children: The few choice words from a parent or a teacher that builds trust and achievement.
- In our relationships: How the right opportunity to reflect, for just a few minutes before a conflict conversation, can engender greater intimacy among couples--even a year later.
- In school: How learning that everyone feels as out of place at first as you do at a new school--they really do--can unleash extraordinary potential, improving your life a decade later.
- In our policy: how a one-page letter reduced recidivism among kids returning to school from juvenile detention by 40 percentage points; a postcard campaign cut suicide rates in half.

It's easy to think problems are out of our control. But in fact, we have vast opportunities for change. Ordinary Magic puts the tools for change at your fingertips.

Review Quotes

"This book addresses the deepest questions we ask ourselves--Can I succeed? Do I belong? Does my partner really love me? It then shows us how to approach these questions in ways that enhance well-being and success--for ourselves and others. Greg Walton is one of the great psychologists of our time and Ordinary Magic is a life-changing book."--Carol Dweck, author of the international bestseller, Mindset

"This book reveals how small steps can lead to giant leaps. . . . Greg Walton shares what it takes to increase success in school, reduce stress in marriage, and boost happiness in life. It's an eye-opening look at how we have more power to improve our lives than we realize."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

"This book is a kind of manual for becoming a psychologically wiser human being by one of the most respected and sincere scholars I know."--Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

"The most important popular psychology book of the year, from one of the most important psychologists in a generation, Ordinary Magic shows how to make your mind work for you, not against you, when tackling life's most meaningful questions."--Kelly McGonigal, author of The Upside of Stress

"Do life's biggest problems feel insurmountable? Greg Walton has the answer in his remarkable book Ordinary Magic. Using cutting edge behavioral science, he shows how to break big problems into bite-sized goals we can all accomplish."--Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard Professor and #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Ordinary Magic breaks it down. Here are the secret ingredients to conjure the magic of more confidence, trust and belonging for ourselves and others. Blending stories, engaging descriptions of research, and straightforward, evidence-backed advice, the result is a bold, accessible and inspiring book."--Hazel Rose Markus, co-author of Clash: How to Thrive a Multicultural World

"A book that is fun to read and will change your life."--Timothy D. Wilson author of Redirect: Changing the Stories We Live By

"Ordinary Magic is required reading for anyone interested making positive change in the world--an essential how-to guide from one of the most important psychologists working on the challenge of behavior change today."--Laurie Santos, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast

"This is an inspiring book by one of psychology's greatest architects of how to change behavior for the good--in relationships, in one's personal life, in the schooling of minority and low-income students, in building institutional trust, even in how to reduce global poverty--a must read by anyone interested in seeing our society improve."--Claude M. Steele, author of Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do

About the Author

Greg Walton, PhD, is the co-director of the Dweck-Walton Lab and a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Dr. Walton's research is supported by many foundations, including Character Lab, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. He has been covered in major media outlets including The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times.