The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

In The Power of Moments, brothers Chip Heath and Dan Heath explore an essential question: Why do certain defining moments influence us so strongly, becoming the most memorable and meaningful experiences in our lives? They offer insight into why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us—and how we can learn to create such extraordinary moments in our life and work.

The Heaths identify the four key principles that underlie meaningful, memorable moments—principles that can be used by parents and teachers, entrepreneurs and executives, service workers and caregivers. They are: 1) Elevation, being lifted out of the ordinary; 2) Insight, shaping the way we see the world; 3) Pride, capturing our best moments of achievement or courage; and 4) Connection, deepening our ties with others. The Heath brothers share fascinating insights about the human experience: Why our most cherished memories are clustered into a brief period during our youth. Why we tend to remember the best or worst moment of an experience, as well as the last moment, and forget the rest. Why we’re sometimes struck by the “crystallization of discontent”—a sudden realization that can change our lives in an instant.

The Heaths have written three New York Times bestselling books: Made to Stick, Switch, and Decisive. Made to Stick explained why certain ideas catch on while others die; Switch showed us how to make changes at work and in life; and Decisive explained how to make better choices. Their books have sold over two million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty-three languages.

Chip Heath is a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, teaching courses on strategy and organizations. He has helped over 450 startups hone their business strategy and messages. Dan Heath is a senior fellow at Duke University’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), which supports entrepreneurs fighting for social good.