You can’t teach an old dog new tricks: or can you?

In the early 30s, the vast majority of Americans never brushed their teeth. In fact, their mouths were so rotten that poor dental hygiene was turning into a national security risk, according to journalist Charles Duhigg. Today, new moms scrub their infants’ gums as soon as they plop out of the womb and floss and mouthwash spill over car seats as we automatically reach for them on our way to work.

So, what turned oral care into a national pastime? And how do retailers manipulate our buying habits to get us into their stores? Why does Starbucks thrive, while leading medical institutions cannot get their act together to perform routine hospital procedures? What do Olympic athletes and gambling addicts have in common? And how did a Baptist pastor with less than $200 in his bank account build one of the largest ministries in the world? It’s all in “The Power of Habit”, where Duhigg unveils “why we do what we do in life and business” and how you can change your habits to control your behaviours.

Worried about that calorie-carb bomb ticking off on Cinquo di Mayo? Follow Duhigg’s advice to curb your nachos cravings and switch to steamed red snapper fillet and salsa fresca with wholesome strawberries and dry Riesling to cleanse your palate.