This look at people's most common habits and their meanings argues that unconscious behavior is often the physical manifestation of an emotional state of mind. Habits that seem to ease tension in the short term—such as nailbiting, and cigarette smoking—may actually be detrimental to a person's health or relationships, and understanding the issues behind such familiar habits is the first step toward changing these behaviors.

A catalog of 70 common habits includes relevant case studies and concrete ways that have worked to overcome each specific negative behavior pattern.