Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister, John Tierney Willpower. Itâ??s ESSENTIAL to optimizing our lives. In fact, in their great book, Willpower, Roy Baumeister (one of the worldâ??s leading scientific researchers on self-control) and John Tierney (science writer for the New York Times) tell us that â??Improving willpower is the surest way to a better life.â?? In this Note, weâ??ll learn how to eat our way to willpower (seriously), how to exercise our self-control muscles, why â??precommitmentâ?? is so important and how to win the willpower game with bright lines and a great offense.