YOUR BRAIN WEIGHS 500 POUNDS

Pledger presents a collection of principles designed to help readers improve habits and reach greater potential in this motivational guide.

In the introduction to his book, the author makes the flat declaration that he is not a self-help guru, but he nevertheless promises that, if readers commit to the various principles (which Pledger calls “recipes”) he puts forth, the book “will transform your perspectives, overhaul your habits, and revolutionize the way you pursue your goals,” which will strike many readers as pretty much exactly the kind of thing a self-help guru would say. In a series of 100 brief chapters, each presenting one of the “recipes” for the “brain diet” Pledger recommends, the author lays out a broad series of precepts drawn from both his own experience and the writings and sayings of self-help gurus such as Tony Robbins, Atomic Habits author James Clear, and, inevitably, Warren Buffett. Pledger discusses dozens of aspects of both personal behavior (such as proper comportment and making small talk) and professional habits (including the “grind” mindset and the willingness to face adversity and criticism), always in bite-sized sections with references to familiar examples from history (Thomas Edison) and pop culture (Rocky Balboa). In every instance, he counsels humility, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from setbacks. “You can think of failure as one of your most valuable teachers,” he writes, “even if it never says a word.” In almost every section of his book, the author simultaneously prioritizes flexibility and steadfast commitment to goals.

Pledger might claim that he’s not a self-help guru, but, as noted, he sure sounds like one; he thanks his readers for joining him on this “journey” and dispenses very, very familiar self-help advice at almost every turn, writing things like “Think deliberately and control your emotions,” and “Choose your social circles wisely.” He advocates making a commitment to book-reading for at least 30 minutes a day (invoking Warren Buffett), stressing that readers have an edge over nonreaders. Such bromides and many others like them fill these pages and are also predictable staples of self-help literature. If Pledger is indeed a self-help guru, his readers will find that he’s a very good one; something about simply hammering away at one of these cliched “principles” after another lends them a cumulative effect. He also takes compelling side paths, some of which are a winning combination of contemporarily savvy and old-fashioned: He advises his readers, for instance, to practice proper social etiquette (including something he calls “conversational courtesy”) and cautions them against indulging in the “impulsive thinking” encouraged by social media. He’s a stern guide to the guidance he lays out, but he’s also invariably encouraging, assuring readers that sticking to a routine will pay dividends. (“If you work out every day for ninety days, it is probable that you will be in better shape after three months.”) The material on offer here will be nothing new to frequent readers of motivational literature, but familiar advice can still be good advice, and this book is full of good advice.

A formulaic but forceful series of personal and entrepreneurial guidelines.