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How to Change Your Life

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240 pages, Hardcover

Published December 7, 2023

44 people are currently reading
258 people want to read

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Jake Humphrey

32 books11 followers

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5 stars
51 (22%)
4 stars
96 (42%)
3 stars
64 (28%)
2 stars
13 (5%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Dylan Villalobos.
8 reviews
February 16, 2024
"How to Change Your Life" by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes stands as a transformative guide designed to empower readers to enact significant changes in their lives. At its core, the book is a synthesis of practical wisdom, psychological insights, and actionable strategies, all aimed at fostering personal growth and overcoming the hurdles that often hinder self-improvement.

Humphrey, known for his broadcasting career, and Hughes, a respected organizational psychologist and author, combine their expertise to create a narrative that is both engaging and educational. Their collaboration brings forth a unique blend of personal anecdotes, scientific research, and real-world examples that illuminate the path toward change.

One of the book's strengths is its accessibility; the authors have a knack for distilling complex psychological concepts into clear, understandable language without diluting their potency. This makes the book an invaluable resource for readers from all walks of life, whether they're looking to make minor adjustments or undertake major life overhauls.

The structure of the book is meticulously crafted to guide the reader through a journey of self-discovery and transformation. It starts by challenging readers to reflect on their current situations and the changes they wish to see. Following this introspection, the book introduces a series of principles and techniques for breaking old habits, forming new ones, and cultivating a mindset conducive to growth.

A noteworthy aspect of the book is its emphasis on the psychological barriers to change, such as fear, procrastination, and self-doubt. Humphrey and Hughes offer practical advice on navigating these obstacles, grounded in the latest psychological research and cognitive-behavioural strategies. Their approach is not one of quick fixes but rather focuses on sustainable change through self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability.

Another key element of the book is its actionable content. The authors do not just theorize about change; they provide readers with a toolkit of exercises, reflections, and challenges designed to translate insights into action. This hands-on approach ensures that readers are not just passive consumers of information but active participants in their journey toward change.

In conclusion, "How to Change Your Life" by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes is a compelling and insightful read that delivers on its promise. It stands out for its accessible yet profound exploration of the psychology of change, its practical guidance, and its empowering message. Readers seeking to navigate the complexities of personal transformation will find this book to be a valuable companion, offering both inspiration and practical strategies for making lasting changes in their lives.
Profile Image for Oismiffy.
213 reviews3 followers
October 7, 2024
In fairness I dipped in and out of this and I find that always changes my impression and enjoyment of a book. But the fact I’m dipping in and out also indicates that I’m not hooked by it.

It’s ok, but nothing mind blowing or new that made me sit up wide eyed and excited. It certainly makes some interesting and useful points, but nothing that the previous book hadn’t already covered.

Maybe it’s more rewarding if you are looking to change your life, rather than an habitual “self-help” reader like me?
Profile Image for Amy Jones.
90 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2024
Great way to start 2024 with this book!

Countless real life, relatable ways to help you change your mindset and habits. The 5 ways are broken down into lessons using examples from social experiments and well known successful figures. Very insightful.
Profile Image for Anton.
389 reviews100 followers
February 10, 2025
5% in I was feeling disappointed. The whole thing felt very shallow. This is a short book, too. But I persevered. In the end, yes, it has never gotten particularly "deep", but it was enjoyable! It is a nice compilation of popular psychology advice, well presented, and has a very high audiobook production quality.

So, enter with expectations that are not too high, and you may enjoy it!

Cautious recommendation.

Pairs well with:
The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
and
The Day that Turns Your Life Around: How One Decision Can Shape Your Destiny

Both from my recent reading trails.
6 reviews
December 10, 2023
If you love the podcast, you’ll love this. It follows an interesting process with examples from some very inspiring people. I listened to the audiobook version, which has questions to answer in the recap at the end of every section. This book is very useful if you’re seeking to change or even to challenge your thoughts no matter where you are on your journey.

I’m going to listen to it again, take more notes and go listen to the original episodes with the people featured here.
Profile Image for Debbie.
237 reviews3 followers
February 1, 2024
It’s decent. Very surface level stuff with tips and tricks that I’ll most likely keep in mind.
I didn’t know about 75% of the people mentioned and I don’t listen to the podcast (was a random shop buy) so it helped keeping it entertaining.
I’ve actually compiled a short list of books mentioned that I want to read in the future.
Profile Image for Arbaaz Allybux.
117 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2025
This book is one of those self-development books that doesn’t just inspire—it gives you a roadmap for doing the work. It’s packed with wisdom, reflections, and practical advice drawn from the High Performance Podcast interviews, making it feel like you’re getting the greatest hits of hundreds of inspiring conversations in one go.

The book doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but it does offer a lot to chew on. There are insights on mindset, discipline, values, habits, and success—all grounded in real-life stories and examples from athletes, entrepreneurs, thinkers, and leaders. Jake & Damian pull heavily from their podcast episodes and also reference other well-known books and authors, which adds depth and variety to the message. Sometimes it feels like you're reading a summary of a well-curated reading list—but in a good way.

What makes this book stand out is its practicality. You’re not just reading motivational fluff; you’re getting ideas you can genuinely apply. Whether it’s shifting your internal dialogue, creating systems for personal growth, or setting boundaries that align with your values, there’s something useful on almost every page. That said, because it’s so packed with takeaways, it’s not a one-and-done read. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to come back to again and again and again, just to soak it all in and keep refining your approach.

If there’s one slight drawback, it’s that some parts may feel a little familiar if you’re already a fan of the High Performance Podcast or well-versed in the personal development world. But even then, Jake & Damian have a great way of tying everything together and presenting it in a cohesive, relatable way.

Insightful, motivating, and refreshingly honest—How to Change Your Life is a book worth revisiting whenever you need a reset or a reminder of what matters most.
Profile Image for Chris Barrett.
65 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2024
Reposted from CB Book Reviews on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1zNfp9t_...

Duo of Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes from The High Performance Podcast follow up on their first book, High Performance: Lessons From The Best On Becoming Your Best, with this their second book.
Full disclaimer here, I am a High Performance listener, I have been to a live recorded episode and the 2023 tour, and I have also read the first book, so I may be a little biased in my rating.
The High Performance Hosts guide you through the 5 Steps of Change, taken the combined works of American literature professor, Joseph Campbell and communication expert, Nancy Duarte:
1) Dream
2) Leap
3) Fight
4) Climb
5) Arrive
This book is very similar in structure to the previous one: Introduce the authors and what they are trying to offer, explain the psychological principles which support what is attempting to be achieved, back this up with evidence from Podcast Episodes, before a ‘Pit Stop’ (challenging activity) to flip the research and evidence onto the reader.

As designed, I found many of the activity tasks challenging, but this has left me with some ideas of personal changes that I wish to set in motion this year.

I enjoyed this book, especially as some of the quotes used were a reminder of the experiences that I have previously heard. I feel that in the podcast and in the book, Jake and Damian are very good at simplifying and explaining the psychology to make it accessible for all.
Profile Image for Jo Berry ☀️.
299 reviews16 followers
July 11, 2025
This is a short book full of inspiring beginner's advice to help you think differently. I read a lot of self-help books for professional reasons, so I can recommend the good ones and warn people off the ones with dangerous ideas. I'd say this is a really good book for people in their late teens and twenties who are stuck in unhelpful thought patterns. It's got the sort of advice a coach or mentor would offer their students to motivate them. It's full of inspiring clips from interviews with people you've probably heard of, and the takeaways from their stories can be generalised into useful life advice. Worth a read if you need a push in the right direction.
Profile Image for Martha Phillips.
9 reviews
January 31, 2024
Honestly this was terrible. I listened to it on audible and the preview was Jake Humphrey talking about his departure from the BBC. I thought it sounded quite interesting and naively thought the book might be more about his own success and career. WRONG. It’s just a poorly constructed self help book. Nothing new covered. Just like any other book of the last few years purporting to change the way you think to make you successful. Sorry to say this was a waste of a credit.
12 reviews
December 22, 2023
It is okay, but it is just another rehashed version of their podcasts.

Fortunately, I do not listen to most of their podcasts (only when I am particularly fond of a guest).

The audiobook contains snippets using the guest's voice which is a nice touch, but leads to it being just a long-version podcast.

I will not be buying/reading/listening to another of their 'books'.
Profile Image for Abstract Reader .
543 reviews
July 8, 2025
Fantastic!

And I mean FANTASTIC!! Every chapter hits you with the bang! Every chapter is then summarised by the authors! And bang again!

One of the most powerful and and inspiration books out there.

And on a side note…. Jake should consider a side career in audio book narration.. especially in the romance genre :)
Profile Image for Lisa San Martín .
164 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2025
While the principles are nothing new, I really enjoyed the former of story from a real-life athlete/performer etc, and then the learnings that we can take from it. Enjoyable and easy to read, and I really liked how it framed taking responsibility for your own life.
Profile Image for Lynsey.
23 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2025
Some interesting points but I’ve given a lower score as I feel I could of got the message of this book by reading a summary. It’s good there are worked examples but it’s. A little drawn out. Interesting read overall, and some ideas I’ll be using going forward.
72 reviews
January 13, 2024
Easy going book.
Almost everything read before somewhere else.
549 reviews3 followers
January 20, 2024
A massive fan of HPPC and this didn’t fail.
Profile Image for Becky Wren.
23 reviews
February 22, 2025
Big fan of High Performance podcast so was always going to love this. And can’t wait to see Damian on stage in person soon. 👍
Profile Image for MRS C.
51 reviews
February 6, 2024
If you are a listener to the podcast, this is a bit of a rip-off as they are going over previous recordings. There are some useful tips, psychology and scientific studies scattered throughout. It was quite interesting but I'm not sure I would recommend. Good for those that are sports fans.
2 reviews
February 7, 2024
Well Worth the read. Gripping and full of knowledge from many generations of genius and remarkable people
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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