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  • The 5 Second Rule

  • Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
  • Written by: Mel Robbins
  • Narrated by: Mel Robbins
  • Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,321 ratings)

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The 5 Second Rule cover art

The 5 Second Rule

Written by: Mel Robbins
Narrated by: Mel Robbins
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Publisher's Summary

How to enrich your life and destroy doubt in five seconds.

Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends, and mentors who have pushed you to be better than your excuses and bigger than your fears. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing how to push yourself?

Using the science of habits, riveting stories, and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art, and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a "push moment". Then, she'll give you one simple tool you can use to become your greatest self.

It takes just five seconds to use this tool, and every time you do you'll be in great company. More than eight million people have watched Mel's TEDx Talk, and executives inside of the world's largest brands are using the tool to increase productivity, collaboration, and engagement.

In The 5 Second Rule, you'll discover it takes just five seconds to:

  • Become confident
  • Break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt
  • Beat fear and uncertainty
  • Stop worrying and feel happier
  • Share your ideas with courage

The 5 Second Rule is a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for the one problem we all face - we hold ourselves back.

The secret isn't knowing what to do - it's knowing how to make yourself do it.

©2017 Mel Robbins (P)2017 Mel Robbins

What listeners say about The 5 Second Rule

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Could have been a twenty minute book

Mel is a master narrator with great persuasion skills. However, that is all this is. She sounds so sure of herself, so convincing that she knows the science, but she doesn't. For instance, her report on the sleep research if not just a bit wrong, but almost completely wrong.

This book has one somewhat interesting idea in it, that is it. One short chapter would have covered it, the rest is pure filler and often incorrect.

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76 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The 5SR is forgettable but its not Mel's fault

I'm a physician and a neuroscientist, so I was interested in the science behind the book. There's a bit, but not enough to satisfy me. Mel often refers to activating the prefrontal cortex, which the 5SR likely does, but I am used to a much more detailed explanation of why the PFC is activated. My guess would be that the 5SR is much more likely to DE-activate the default mode network of the brain rather than energize the prefrontal cortex, but I'm a neuroscientist and Mel is not. I would have liked more neuroscience, and god knows the book could have used more substance. Take out some of the countless personal stories/infomercials and give me more science. You had lots of room Mel. Not scientific journal-level of detail, but a little more detailed than was mentioned in the book would have been nice.

I don't remember being engaged by the science behind the 5SR. But I do believe the 5SR process is sound, IF you commit to using it. While I was reading the book I used the 5SR quite a bit and it DID help me get going on some tasks, (and make me aware of how much I was procrastinating!) and I can see how and why it would be helpful, again, IF you commit to it. I finished the book about 4 weeks ago and the 5SR has faded significantly from my daily life. I do think old habits are hard to break and the unconscious mind WANTS to stay in those old habits, so my guess is for many people it won't work because the mind wont allow you to use it. The brain and mind has many protective strategies that we arent even aware of, and if it detects that the 5SR could put us in danger, it will conveniently and insidiously fade from our awareness. Indeed while I was reading it I talked to about 10 people who had read the 5SR in their past, and all said the same thing, it did seem to really help them while they read the book, but none of them were using it with any consistency a month or two later. My guess is that is why the book is so repetitive, giving example after example after example of those it really HAS worked for.

So, if you use it, it will work, especially with avoiding procrastination. But my instinct as a neuroscientist and medical doc is that your own Ego likes its dysfunction and unless you are very consciously committed the 5SR it will likely fade over a short time. But for those it works for, it may well change their lives...

I really like Mel, and I appreciate anyone who has turned their life around and tries to help others. So Mel, have me on your show and we can talk neuroscience...

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50 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Could be written in a single chapter.

The message could be delivered in under 100 words. 50% personal story telling. 45% unnecessary fluff. 5% useful.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Mixed results

The author really does a great job at narrating her book. It's the kind of performance you wished every audio book was like. She's not just reading word for word but really she's telling a story.

The content itself is mostly good, but she's repeating the same thing several times, in almost the same words. At some point I felt like she was talking to a child. There's nothing hard to understand here. I usually listen to my audio books twice back to back because I know I missed some details. Listening once for this book will be enough.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Alot of fluff but had some really great concepts

Needs more application, homework you can actually do and less success stories. but overall helped

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Good core concept, but Mel ruined it.

Maybe ruin is harsh, I liked the concept, and sure she dragged it out... but so much she self-appreciates herself, taking many opportunities to say how she and other say she is all that. You can always tell she is reading a story and not just speaking because it actually sounds humble. Also, she generalizes, saying if you get an impulse that you want, don’t think, just count and do it... well in many scenarios that is a horrible idea (ie. Criminal acts). That aside, it’s my main point that bugged me, that and that she spend a whole chapter talking about how she just finished this course which is the real one that will change your life... like seriously, I bought this one, don’t spend twenty minutes selling me something else! With a few changes this could have been much better, but instead it made me want to steer clear of this author.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I am inspired

What a beautiful person to share a simple concept that can change the way we think in five seconds.
I loved all the emails Mel read, they were truly inspiring.
I am so excited to take on the five second rule to change in me what don't like and enhance in me what do like.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is questioning their life or anyone needing a boost (and we all do).
By the way, I have never written a review and I read at least one book a week. What did I do, I 54321 go and wrote the review.
Enjoy the book, read Iit or listen and then read or listen till it is burned in your mind. Yo will not regret it,

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

5% killer, 95% filler.

Get to the point already.
This could have been presented in a single chapter. I now know way too much about her life, which was the real focus of this book.
I skimmed through and finally found out what the rule actually was.
Don't waste your time.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Long-winded, Repetitive and Empty

Listening to the first hour was like listen to an infomercial ad. The author goes on and on about how good her 5 second rule is and how it's transformer so many lives. I found it to be desperate and off-putting right from the start.

I gave it another hour to listen to her story and some of the "science" behind it all but her words are just so cliché and don't provoke any thinking or feelings. It's like listening to an aunt brag about her winning at bingo or something. I just don't care. I tried listening at 1.5x to get through it but I just can't do it.

I bought it for the impressively high rating. I'm not sure if these are fake or if people really just like to be told recycled and bad story telling.

I can't remember a book I disliked as much as this one.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

5 4 3 2 1 BLAST OFF!!!

This book is no BULLSHIT. Mel tells you exactly how it is and exactly what to do to attain greatness.

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5 people found this helpful