Grit

An instant fixture on the New York Times bestseller list, Angela Duckworth’s breakout hit—praised in People as “inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere”—shows anyone striving to succeed that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit”

The daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Angela Duckworth is now a celebrated researcher and professor. It was her early, eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting and neuroscience that led to her hypothesis about what really drives success: not genius, but a unique combination of desire and long-term perseverance.

In Grit, she takes us into the field to visit cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, teachers working in some of the toughest schools in the United States and young finalists in the Scripps 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’s learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers—from JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff to Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

The New York Times Book Review asserts: “Duckworth’s ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better.” Among Grit’s most valuable insights: that any effort you make ultimately counts twice toward your goal; that grit can be learned, regardless of IQ or circumstances; whether a warm embrace or high standards are better for your child; how to trigger lifelong interest; and the magic of the Hard Thing Rule. Winningly personal, uniquely perceptive and even life-changing, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that—not talent or luck—makes all the difference. Read it and discover what Glamour calls one of “The Year’s Best Life Hacks.”