The marshmallowtest is a famous social science experiment that began at Stanford University in 1972. In the experiment, children were placed in a room and each was given a marshmallow. They were told that if they could wait 15 minutes before eating it, they would get a second one. Of course, about two-thirds of the children ate the marshmallow before the time was up. After the experiment, the researchers studied all the children over several years. In the end, they found that the children who were able to wait proved to be more successfulat all kinds of activities.
Don ’t Eat the Marshmallow...Yet! is a book by Joachim de Posada and Ellen Singer that explains this idea in the form of a story. The book follows a young man named Arthur who works as a personaldriver for a powerful CEO, Mr. Jonathan Patient. Mr. Patient coachesArthur in the practice of self-control, and soon, Arthur begins to make small changes in his life that have positive effects.
The book aims to teach readers a useful lesson while also providing them witha wonderful story. Inspiredby the famous Stanford experiment, the phrase “eating the marshmallow” is used to mean acting too hastily.
