How a Little Becomes a Lot
BY ERIC ZIMMER
The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life
All Materials © 2025 One You Feed | Terms | Privacy Policy
COMING MARCH 31, 2026
In a culture obsessed with breakthroughs, Eric Zimmer reminds us that the smallest, most honest choices are the ones that last.
Weaving together behavioral science with timeless wisdom, Eric Zimmer reveals how to stop fighting yourself and start moving forward.
More than 30 years ago, Eric Zimmer faced a life-altering battle with heroin addiction that left him homeless and facing prison—a turning point that sparked his search to understand how profound change happens, and how we can chart sustainable paths forward while honoring both who we are and who we hope to become.
How a Little Becomes a Lot starts with a radical premise: your mind has a mind of its own. Each day, it pulls you in countless directions—toward what you value most, what you desire now, away from what you fear, and toward what feels comfortable. Real, lasting change happens when you stop trying to strong-arm this complexity and instead learn to work with it, one small choice at a time.
Atomic Habits meets Think Like a Monk in this profound guide to lasting change from behavior coach and host of the hit podcast The One You Feed.
Exclusives Bonuses When You Order Today!
Dr. Nicole LePera
Author of the #1 NY Times Bestsellers How to Do the Work and How to Be the Love You Seek
“How a Little Becomes a Lot is a powerful reminder that real change happens in small, consistent steps. Eric Zimmer shows us how tiny daily actions can rewire patterns, rebuild trust in ourselves, and create lasting transformation. Practical, encouraging, and deeply human—this is a guide for anyone ready to create the life they deserve.”
Here's How To Get Your Bonuses
Pre-Order From your favorite bookstore
Complete the Steps Below
By submitting your information, you consent to subscribe to The One You Feed email list so that we may send you relevant content from time to time. Please see our Privacy Policy.
Enter your info to get your FREE Bonus Gifts!
Download Your Free Bonuses
You will instantly receive an email with a link to download your Still Points PDF, as well as instructions for how to download the Still Points App, and an invitation to the private One You Feed online community.
Actor, comedian, three-time Emmy nominee, host of the Soul Boom podcast, and star of The Office
Rainn Wilson
“Eric Zimmer is a very wise and accessible writer who has a great deal to share. This book is both profoundly uplifting and imminently practical in its application. Dig into Zimmer's soul-filled plan!”
Bestselling author of Four Thousand Week and Meditations for Mortals Cain
Oliver Burkeman
"A remarkable manual for discovering what really matters, then building a life around the answer, How a Little Becomes a Lot is loaded with practical advice for what to do next—but it’s also one of those uncommon books that leaves you more deeply engaged with the world just by reading it.”
Author of Let Your Life Speak, A Hidden Wholeness, and On the Brink of Everything
Parker J. Palmer
"Eric Zimmer has written a book I wish I'd had decades ago—one that understands the quiet alchemy of transformation. In How a Little Becomes a Lot, he doesn't point us toward some distant summit. Instead, he walks beside us, showing how the smallest gestures of attention and care accumulate into lives of genuine meaning. This is a book that trusts the reader, trusts the process, and trusts that we each carry within us what we need for the journey. Eric's gentle, insistent voice reminds us that we don't need to be fixed; we need to be faithful. I found myself returning to its pages not for answers, but for companionship, and that may be the greatest gift a book can offer."
New York Times Bestselling author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention and Lost Connections: Uncovering The Real Causes of Depression—and the Unexpected Solutions
Johann Hari
“Eric Zimmer has traveled an extraordinary distance—from the chaos of addiction to a decade of intimate conversations with psychologists, philosophers, and spiritual teachers. In this book, he brings that journey together movingly. It’s wise, compassionate, and will help lots of people.”
Author of Brave New You
Cory Allen
"Finally. A book about change that's honest. Eric doesn't promise you can transform your life overnight. That's because he actually wants you to succeed. With kindness, patience, and invaluable lived experience, How a Little Becomes a Lot doesn’t just show you how to make meaningful change. It redefines your relationship with change itself."
Psychologist, author of Wired to Create and Transcend, and host of The Psychology Podcast
Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD.
"A remarkable manual for discovering what really matters, then building a life around the answer, How a Little Becomes a Lot is loaded with practical advice for what to do next—but it’s also one of those uncommon books that leaves you more deeply engaged with the world just by reading it.”
Robert Waldinger, MD, psychiatrist, author of The Good Life, speaker, and Zen priest
Robert Waldinger MD
“Eric Zimmer went from homeless heroin addict to one of today’s most inspiring voices on change. In How a Little Becomes a Lot, he shares the science and soul behind transformation—showing us that real progress isn’t about willpower or miracles, but small, wise actions repeated every day.”
Bestselling author of On My Own Side: Transform Self-Criticism and Doubt into Permanent Self-Worth and Confidence
Dr. Aziz Gazipura
“This book is a rare blend of behavioral science, heartfelt storytelling, and genuine spiritual wisdom. Eric shows how small shifts in action and attitude accumulate into profound inner freedom. If you’ve ever felt frustrated with yourself, read this.”
NY Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically and The Know-It-All.
A.J. Jacobs
"Here’s a small thing you can do that I’m confident will have a huge positive impact on your life: Read this book. Or else, just pledge to read the first page. Because once you do that, you’ll keep turning the pages, and you’ll start implementing the many wise, concrete, delightfully effective practices that Eric Zimmer has written about here. This book has helped me in all sorts of ways: increasing productivity, stress control, injecting more meaning into my life, and much more. It’s no wonder Eric is beloved by his millions of podcast listeners, including me."
International Bestselling Author of Shift and Chatter
Ethan Kross
“How a Little Becomes a Lot is one of those rare books that seamlessly blends gripping stories, cutting-edge science and century-old philosophical wisdom to provide readers with a blueprint for navigating their lives more effectively. Eric Zimmer is a special person and this is a very special book. Required reading for anyone ready to make change in their lives.
National Book Award–winning author of The Noonday Demon and Far From the Tree.
Andrew Solomon
“In How A Little Becomes a Lot, Eric Zimmer blends the insight extracted from his own experience, that of the remarkable range of others with whom he has had occasion to speak, and a close reading of social psychology to arrive at a narrative that is uplifting without being falsely reassuring. Zimmer is unafraid of difficulty and champions the many glories that may lie on its far side, but he never undersells its inherent pain.
In striking this balance, he has produced a volume of authentic wisdom. His prose rings with humility and gratitude, and so unlike much inspirational literature, his will inspire others, showing the path through anguish to fulfillment, meaning, and purpose.”
Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy series.
Catherine Gray
"Chock-full of wit and wisdom, I finished this and instantly started it all over again, highlighter in hand. It's already brought me closer to the person I want to be. Eric Zimmer is the host of my favourite podcast, and it is my favourite because of his unquenchable curiosity and desire to appraise every angle. I'm about as spiritual as a Happy Meal toy, but I loved his Buddhist lens on behavioural change, along with the evolutionary and neuroscientific perspectives. Everyone should read this book."
Bestselling author of The Multi-Hyphen Method, writer, and host of the Ctrl Alt Delete podcast
Emma Gannon
“We can all learn something from time spent with Eric Zimmer. His well-trodden path, gift for asking great questions, and eye-opening curiosity make this book well worth reading.”
meets
in this profound guide to lasting change from behavior coach and host of the hit podcast The One You Feed.
Atomic Habits
Think Like a Monk
Pre-Order Today!
Acclaim from Authors & Critics
“If you’ve listened to his podcast, you know that Eric Zimmer is a deeply authentic and profound person. So it’s no surprise that now he has given us this deeply authentic and profound book.
How a Little Becomes a Lot will teach you manageable ways to make meaningful changes in your life. And along the way, it will give you new understandings of the world – and of your very own self.”
Susan Cain
#1 NY Times bestselling author of Quiet and Bittersweet and host of The Quiest Life Substack
How a Little Becomes a Lot is a compassionate and practical guide to meaningful change. Zimmer shows how real transformation doesn’t come from willpower or grand gestures—but from small, intentional choices made consistently over time. Drawing on his own powerful story of recovery, Zimmer introduces a framework for aligning your actions and values, building momentum, and cultivating self-compassion.
Charles Duhigg
Bestselling author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit
"If you’ve ever wondered how to create a more meaningful life without overhauling everything at once, How a Little Becomes a Lot is your answer. I’ve admired Eric’s work for years, and it captures everything that makes his voice so special—clarity, compassion, and a grounded understanding of what it means to grow. This book is a true companion for anyone seeking lasting change.”
Yung Pueblo
Yung Pueblo, poet, author of Lighter, Inward and Clarity & Connection
Pre-Order bonuses
Order Today And Get Special Bonuses
Still Points Implementation Guide
Still Points are a method for training embedded thought patterns. A still point is a moment of reflection or practice we intentionally build into our day. You can think of them as the fundamental building blocks of a new way of thinking: tiny disruptions that pave the way toward new horizons. The guide is an excerpt from the book, How a Little Becomes a Lot, that teaches you a simple, practical way to get started today.
3 Months Free Access to Minder "Still Points" App
Enjoy three months of full access to the best still point app, Minder: Mindful Random Reminders—customized specially for The One You Feed! Get gentle, random reminders that help you build habits, stay mindful, and track your progress in a simple, distraction-free app. A unique access link and code will be provided after purchase.
Live 60-Minute Zoom Workshop with Eric Zimmer
A 60-minute live, interactive workshop designed to deepen and apply the core ideas of the book. Registration will be required after purchase so we can anticipate attendance and send reminders.
3 Months FREE of The One You Feed Private Online Community
Pre-order customers receive full access to our private online community for 90 days at no cost. This includes participation in the monthly live community calls (1-hour Q&A/discussion), as well as ongoing support, integration, and connection. Access will begin April 2nd, 2026.
How a Little Becomes A Lot is a beautifully grounded guide to meaningful change. Eric Zimmer reminds us that transformation comes from the small, steady choices we make again and again — especially after our initial burst of motivation has faded. By combining values-based intention, mindful awareness, and self-compassion, this book helps readers build an inner relationship that supports growth over the long haul."
Kristin Neff
Author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, and Fierce Self-Compassion
"How a Little Becomes a Lot is a powerful reminder that real change happens in small, consistent steps. Eric Zimmer shows us how tiny daily actions can rewire patterns, rebuild trust in ourselves, and create lasting transformation. Practical, encouraging, and deeply human—this is a guide for anyone ready to create the life they deserve."
Dr. Nicole LePera
Author of the #1 NY Times Bestsellers How to Do the Work and How to Be the Love You Seek
“Eric Zimmer is a very wise and accessible writer who has a great deal to share. This book is both profoundly uplifting and imminently practical in its application. Dig into Zimmer's soul-filled plan!”
Rainn Wilson
Actor, comedian, three-time Emmy nominee, host of the Soul Boom podcast, author of Soul Boom, and star of The Office
little by little, a little becomes a lot.
Personal transformation isn't about superhuman willpower or heroic feats of character. It's not a watershed or an epiphany; it's the result of the little decisions to do A instead of B, to say yes instead of no. These tiny shifts create powerful momentum.
Drawing on sources from Zen Buddhism to modern psychology, Zimmer offers practical wisdom you can use today:
A path to align your daily actions with your core values.
Tools that quiet self-criticism and build the kind of self-compassion that actually works.
Small, achievable practices that create momentum when you feel stuck.
Ways to find balance in a world that pushes extremes.
These “Wise Habits” blend outer behaviors that improve health and well-being with inner attitudes that bring more peace and clarity to everyday life.
And Get Special Bonuses
When you purchase two copies of How a Little Becomes a Lot from Eric's local bookstore, Gramercy Books, we ship you a book and donate a book to Maryhaven, the recovery center where the opening scene of Eric's book takes place.
Buy This Book,
Change a Life!
Get a signed copy when you purchase from Gramercy!
When you purchase two copies of How a Little Becomes a Lot from Eric's local bookstore, Gramercy Books, we ship you a book and donate a book to Maryhaven, the recovery center where the opening scene of Eric's book takes place.
Buy This Book,
Change a Life!
Get a signed copy when you purchase from Gramercy!
When you purchase two copies of How a Little Becomes a Lot from Eric's local bookstore, Gramercy Books, we ship you a book and donate a book to Maryhaven, the recovery center where the opening scene of Eric's book takes place.
Buy This Book,
Change a Life!
Get a signed copy when you purchase from Gramercy!