Book excerpt: In 2014, simplicity expert Leo Babauta published his masterwork, Zen Habits: Mastering the Art of Change. Then, in 2015, he published a new, abridged version, Essential Zen Habits: Mastering the Art of Change Briefly, aimed at readers who didn't care about the underlying theory laid out in the first book but just wanted the basic steps needed to quit bad habits, deal with life struggles, and practice mindfulness-a compact series of instructions with no fluff whatsoever. The author explains: "This is a concise guide to changing habits and dealing with struggles. I made it intentionally brief so you don't have to dig for the 'tell me what to do' bits. It's meant to get to the point, quickly, with no stories and not many explanations-the 'just do this' book you've been wanting to help you take action." What does this book cover? Here are the key topics: - How to change a habit, using a six-week process. - How to troubleshoot changes if you're having difficulties. - How to change a bad habit (advanced topic). - How to deal with life struggles. - How to develop mindfulness in everyday life. The author writes: "I dive into some deeper topics than just the mechanics of habit change, but they're the most useful ideas I've ever come across in all my years of writing about habit change and mindfulness and happiness. I hope you find this useful! I've written it for you with love."