The Power of Moments

Chip Heath and Dan Heath, the authors of Switch and Made to Stick, study why some brief experiences can lift people up and change them, and how such moments can be designed instead of left to chance. They argue that the most memorable positive moments mostly come down to four elements: elevation, insight, pride and connection. They examine why people recall the best or worst point of an experience and its final moment while forgetting the rest, and why cherished memories cluster in a short period of youth. One example is an experiment in which two strangers become best friends within forty-five minutes. Teachers, managers and parents all appear among the cases.

Angela Duckworth endorsed it, saying she learned something new on every page, and Adam Grant called it immediately actionable, with fresh ideas for motivating employees and delighting customers. Eric Ries included it in his top 10 business books, describing the Heath brothers as master storytellers.