Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today

Wow, this really changed my perspective on why I procrastinate. Hershfield argues that procrastination is essentially a battle between our past, current, and future selves, and that we often fail because we can’t visualize that future version of us vividly enough. I loved the section on "pre-commitment devices," like locking your phone away to force your future self to work. The blend of rigorous science and narrative storytelling makes the concepts stick. One of the most fascinating parts was the study on Alzheimer’s versus ALS patients and how our "moral self" defines who we really are. It’s rare to find a book that is both intellectually stimulating and immediately applicable to your daily routine. This is easily worth a few hours of your time if you want to understand your own decision-making better.

Ever wonder if you’re actually the same person you were when you were eight years old? This book dives deep into that riddle. Hershfield uses the concept of "memory" and the "moral self" to explain why we feel a thread of continuity even as our cells and preferences change. I was fascinated by the "projection bias" section—how we pack the wrong clothes for a trip because we can’t imagine feeling differently than we do right now. It’s a brilliant exploration of the human psyche. The storytelling is excellent, and the practical strategies for "befriending" your future self are actually doable. It's a must-read for anyone interested in why we struggle with long-term goals and how to finally overcome that gap.

As someone who always puts off saving for retirement, this was a necessary wake-up call. Hal Hershfield explores the "temporal chasm" between who we are now and the person we'll become in twenty years. To be fair, I never realized that I treat my future self like a complete stranger. It’s a bit jarring to realize I’d rather have $990 today than $1000 in a few months, but the ship anchor metaphor explains that pull of the present perfectly. The writing is accessible and moves quickly, though some of the behavioral psych points felt familiar if you've read other popular habit books. Still, the specific focus on "mental time travel" provides a fresh lens on why we sabotage our own goals. It isn't just about money; it’s about identity and how we perceive our own evolution.

Finally got around to finishing this, and I’m glad I did. It’s a thought-provoking look at how our perception of time shapes our choices. I particularly appreciated the advice on "mental time travel" and using days instead of years to make the future feel closer. If you think about an event being 3,650 days away instead of 10 years, it suddenly feels more urgent. The book is full of these little practical "hacks" that go beyond simple financial planning. My only gripe is that it occasionally feels like a collection of studies stitched together. That said, the "vampire reference" about endless existence was a brilliant way to frame the question of who we’d be if time didn't matter. It’s a great read for anyone into behavioral psychology.

This book manages to turn complex behavioral economics into something actually fun to read. I loved the comparison of our lives to a "ceaseless evolution." We aren't just one person; we are a collection of separate selves. The advice on using "commitment devices" with automatic punishments was a game-changer for my productivity. Not gonna lie, I’ve already started writing a letter to my future self to make that "stranger" feel more like a friend. The book is quite long and gets a bit bogged down in the middle, but the overall message is powerful. It’s practical, scientifically grounded, and makes you look at your daily calendar in a completely different way. Definitely worth the read.

I had high hopes for this one because the premise of "befriending your future self" is so compelling. However, the execution felt a bit repetitive after the first hundred pages. The author uses a lot of cake analogies—if you eat the cake now, will your future hips thank you? It’s a bit reductive. Frankly, I was more interested in the deep philosophical questions about identity, like the "end-of-history illusion," than the constant focus on avoiding being "fat or poor." I wanted more on how to build a creative, expansive life, not just how to avoid worst-case scenarios. It’s a decent read with some solid science, but it could have been trimmed down significantly. It’s a good concept that gets a bit lost in its own length.

The research here is top-notch, but I’m not sure all the case studies hit the mark. For instance, the story about the serial killer Pedro Rodrigues Filho felt like an extreme way to illustrate that people can change. Did we really need a murderer's story to understand the concept of a "reborn" self? Look, the book offers plenty to ponder, especially the "yes/damn" effect—we’ve all agreed to a future party only to regret it when the day actually arrives. But the middle sections drag. I found myself skimming through some of the redundant explanations of projection bias. It's worth a read for the core takeaways, but don't expect to be gripped by every single chapter. It’s more of a 3.5-star experience for me.

After hearing Hal on a podcast, I was excited to dive into the full text. As someone in my mid-fifties, the realization that my current choices will impact the "final third" of my life is becoming very real. I want to stay healthy and independent, yet I still find myself choosing the immediate reward over the long-term benefit. This book explores that "why" in great detail. The science is solid, and the writing style is very readable. However, I found it a bit too focused on avoiding negative outcomes like loneliness or poverty. I would have loved more discussion on pursuing dreams and growth. It’s a solid book, just a bit repetitive in its examples.

Truth is, the concept here is better than the execution. I support the idea of thinking about the future self to motivate today’s actions, but the book spends too much time on the "how many parts of you need to change" philosophical debate. It felt a bit disjointed. On one hand, you have very practical tips for avoiding procrastination, and on the other, you have deep dives into the "vampire" existential crisis. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. I did appreciate the "yes/damn" effect explanation, as it explains so much of my social anxiety regarding over-committing. It's worth several hours of your time if you're a fan of psychology, but it didn't quite live up to the hype for me.

Not what I expected. While I appreciate the author's credentials, this felt like another "pop-psych" book that stretches a single good idea into far too many pages. The core message is simple: connect with your future self to make better choices. Do we really need twenty different ways to say that? I found the tone a bit patronizing at times, especially with the constant warnings about eating too much or not flossing. To be fair, there are some interesting bits about the "end-of-history illusion," but they are buried under layers of filler and those repetitive cake analogies. If you've read any other behavioral economics books lately, you can probably skip this one and just read a summary. It felt very repetitive by the end.