Philosopher's Notes Your Future Self

Your Future Self

How to Make Tomorrow Better Today

About the Book

304 pages

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Brian's take

Hal Hershfield’s Your Future Self explores the science of “future self-continuity” and shows that many of our worst decisions happen when we treat our future selves like strangers. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and behavioral research, he demonstrates that when we strengthen the connection between who we are today and who we’ll become tomorrow, we save more, procrastinate less, make healthier choices, and live with greater intention. The core idea is simple but profound: how you imagine your future changes how you behave in the present. Big Ideas we explore include Current You & Future You, Caterpillars, Conquering Procrastination, Pre-Commitments, and Time Traveling.

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==“If you were able to have a conversation with your future self, what would you say, and what would happen as a result?”==

Hal Hershfield

“It can be hard to see that even though we’ve experienced great change in the past, we will continue to experience great change in the future.”

Hal Hershfield

“If you feel a strong connection between your present and your future selves—even though your present self is different from your past self, and your future self will be different from who you are today—you are much more likely to perform the hard work of self-improvement.”

Hal Hershfield

“The well-being of our future selves ultimately depends on the decisions we make today.”

Hal Hershfield

“We’ll have a better shot at improving our lives once we come to understand, know, and love the people we will one day become.”

Hal Hershfield