Psychologists have spent years researching why some people succeed and others fail. In her book GRIT Angela Duckworth shares new insight from her landmark research on grit (focused persistence) and explains why talent is hardly a guarantor of success and why other factors can be even more crucial, such as identifying our passions and following through on our commitments.
She takes readers into the field to visit teachers working in some of the toughest schools, cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she learnt from interviewing dozens of high achievers, from the CEO of JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon, to the cartoon editor of The New Yorker, Bob Mankoff.
What makes this book different from most leading research books is its practical tone. For example: in chapter 4 you will find a quick assessment to determine how Gritty you are, and chapter 10 is all about parenting for Grit.
I highly recommend this book if success and high performance are a priority to you. In fact, even if they’re not it’s a great read!