Life and Habit

"Life and Habit" by Samuel Butler is an investigation into how habits form and how conscious actions can become unconscious over time. Butler uses everyday examples like playing music and speaking to show how things we learn become automatic with practice. He connects this idea to evolution, suggesting that even instincts might be habits passed down through generations. The book starts by making readers think about how knowledge, consciousness, and actions are linked, arguing that real skill comes from doing things without having to think about them.