A child is confronted with a marshmallow and has a choice: eat it now or wait and enjoy two later. What will it do? What impact does this have on its behavior later in life? Walter Mischel's iconic marshmallow test demonstrated that the ability to delay gratification is crucial for a fulfilling life. In this fascinating book, he draws on decades of research to explore the nature of self-control.

A child is faced with a marshmallow and is given the choice: eat it now or wait and enjoy two later. And since Mischel argues that a life with too much self-control can be just as unfulfilling as one with too little, this book will also teach you when it's time to ring the bell and enjoy the marshmallow.