Ordinary Magic: The Science of How We Can Achieve Big Change with Small Acts

“This book addresses the deepest questions we ask ourselves—Can I succeed? Do I belong? Does my partner really love me?—and shows us how to approach these questions in ways that enhance well-being and success. . . . A life-changing book.”—Carol Dweck, author of the international bestseller Mindset

Discover simple psychological shifts that build trust, belonging, and confidence—from the co-director of the Dweck-Walton Lab at Stanford University

The emotional questions we face can define our lives. If you’re expecting an interaction to go wrong, that expectation can make it so. That’s spiraling down.

But as esteemed Stanford psychologist Greg Walton shows, when we see these questions more clearly, we can answer them well. Known to social psychologists as wise interventions, these seemingly magical shifts in perspective can help us chart new trajectories for our lives. They help us spiral up.

Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis of fascinating research—both his own and others’—Dr. Walton explains the common anatomy of these tools and shows how we can use them to solve problems in a wide variety of situations, including:

• With our children: how a few choice words from parents or teachers can build trust and achievement.
• In our relationships: witness the power of a seven-minute conversation to engender more intimacy among couples—a year later.
• At work: how to convey news—good or bad—in ways that motivate employees.
• In school: a simple practice to help new college students of color build their belonging, leading to better achievement, career success, and life satisfaction years later.
• In our policy: how a one-page letter reduced recidivism among kids returning to school from juvenile detention by 40 percentage points; how a postcard campaign cut suicide rates in half.

It’s easy to think problems are out of our control. But in fact, we have vast opportunities for change. Ordinary Magic puts the tools for change at your fingertips.