Switch, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, is about making change even though it’s a difficult task. They tell the stories of individuals that impact their communities, companies and lives in a positive way all by making one simple change and leading the way. They start the book by explaining why change is so difficult, citing research that says we all have two sides in our brains a rational side, and an emotional side. This is why at night, your rational brain sets your alarm for 6 AM, but when the alarm actually sounds at 6 your emotional brain hits snooze. According to the authors, “the beauty of [Clocky] is that it allows your rational side to outsmart your emotional side. It’s simply impossible to stay cuddled up under the covers when a rogue alarm clock is rolling around your room.”

Clocky is getting pretty famous! Check out these three books he’s been featured in. All three books featuring innovative and cool technology and design. Clocky was deemed worthy (and dare we say, cool enough?) to make it into all three!

Crazy Stuff by Marcais and Marchand	Glimmer by Warren Berger	Gadget Nation by Greenberg

Nudge, by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein shows how it’s easier to “trick” people into doing what you want (or what they should do) than to try to educate them why. It’s easier because people generally don’t think very hard about the choices they make. By carefully structuring the choices you present, others by default make the “right” choice. According to Thaler and Sunstein, “Choice architecture is the context in which you make your choice. Suppose you go into a cafeteria. What do you see first, the salad bar or the burger and fries stand? Where’s the chocolate cake? Where’s the fruit? …The person who decides how to display the food is the choice architect of the cafeteria.” (via Amazon) The book details how it is possible to design environments that make it more likely for us to act in our own interests.  The authors think that Clocky is an excellent example of this.