Reviews
"Empowering...Angela Duckworth compels attention with her idea that regular individuals who exercise self-control and perseverance can reach as high as those who are naturally talented--that your mindset is as important as your mind." -- Soledad O'Brien, Chairman of Starfish MediaGroup and former co-anchor of CNN's "American Morning", "This book will change your life. Fascinating, rigorous, and practical, Grit is destined to be a classic in the literature of success." -- Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick , Switch , and Decisive, "Fascinating. Angela Duckworth pulls together decades of psychological research, inspiring success stories from business and sports, and her own unique personal experience and distills it all into a set of practical strategies to make yourself and your children more motivated, more passionate, and more persistent at work and at school." - Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, "Engaging...With strong appeal for readers of Daniel H. Pink, Malcolm Gladwell, and Susan Cain, this is a must-have." -Booklist, " Grit is a persuasive and fascinating response to the cult of IQ fundamentalism. Duckworth reminds us that it is character and perseverance that set the successful apart." - Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers, "I kept wanting to read this book aloud--to my child, my husband, to everyone I care about. There are no shortcuts to greatness, it's true. But there is a roadmap, and you are holding it." -- Amanda Ripley, author of The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, "This book will change your life. Fascinating, rigorous, and practical, Grit is destined to be a classic in the literature of success." - Dan Heath, New York Times bestselling co-author of Made to Stick , Switch , and Decisive, "Readable, compelling and totally persuasive. The ideas in this book have the potential to transform education, management and the way its readers live. Angela Duckworth's Grit is a national treasure." -- Lawrence H. Summers, Former Secretary of the Treasury and President Emeritus at Harvard University, "Empowering…Angela Duckworth compels attention with her idea that regular individuals who exercise self-control and perseverance can reach as high as those who are naturally talented-that your mindset is as important as your mind." - Soledad O'Brien, Chairman of Starfish MediaGroup and former co-anchor of CNN's "American Morning", " Grit is a useful guide for parents or teachers looking for confirmation that passion and persistence matter, and for inspiring models of how to cultivate these important qualities." --The Washington Post, " Grit delivers! Angela Duckworth shares the stories, the science, and the positivity behind sustained success. In an engaging and relatable style, she reveals why grit matters and how to build it. This book is a must-read for anyone with big dreams. Don't simply follow your passion, read Grit and let your passion propel you forward." - Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0 and President of the International Positive Psychology Association, "A combination of rich science, compelling stories, crisp graceful prose, and appealingly personal examples...Without a doubt, this is the most transformative, eye-opening book I've read this year." -- Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor, University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness, "This book will change your life. Fascinating, rigorous, and practical, Grit is destined to be a classic in the literature of success." - Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick , Switch , and Decisive, " Grit is a persuasive and fascinating response to the cult of IQ fundamentalism. Duckworth reminds us that it is character and perseverance that set the successful apart." - Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Tipping Point , Blink , and Outliers, "This book gets into your head, which is where it belongs...For educators who want our kids to succeed, this is an indispensable read." -- Joel Klein, former Chancellor, New York City public schools, "A fascinating tour of the psychological research on success...A great service of Ms. Duckworth's book is her down-to-earth definition of passion. To be gritty, an individual doesn't need to have an obsessive infatuation with a goal. Rather, he needs to show 'consistency over time.' The grittiest people have developed long-term goals and are constantly working toward them." -The Wall Street Journal, "This book gets into your head, which is where it belongs. Duckworth shows that, to succeed, talent (giftedness) matters, but not nearly as much as grit (passion and persistence). She helps you figure out how much grit you have and how to develop a whole lot more of it. For educators who want our kids to succeed, this is an indispensable read." -Joel Klein, former Chancellor, New York City public schools, "A thoughtful and engaging exploration of what predicts success. Grit takes on widespread misconceptions and predictors of what makes us strive harder and push further...Duckworth's own story, wound throughout her research, ends up demonstrating her theory best; passion and perseverance make up grit." -- Tory Burch, Chairman, CEO and Designer of Tory Burch, "[Blends] anecdote and science, statistic and yarn...Not your grandpa's self-help book, but Duckworth's text is oddly encouraging, exhorting us to do better by trying harder, and a pleasure to read." -Kirkus Reviews, "Masterful… Grit offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose." - Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive, "I kept wanting to read this book aloud-to my child, my husband, to everyone I care about. There are no shortcuts to greatness, it's true. But there is a roadmap, and you are holding it." - Amanda Ripley, author of The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, "Invaluable…In a world where access to knowledge is unprecedented, this book describes the key trait of those who will optimally take advantage of it. Grit will inspire everyone who reads it to stick to something hard that they have a passion for." - Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, "Enlightening... Grit teaches that life's high peaks aren't necessarily conquered by the naturally nimble but, rather, by those willing to endure, wait out the storm, and try again." -- Ed Viesturs, Seven-Time Climber of Mount Everest and author of No Shortcuts to the Top, "I kept wanting to read this book aloud-to my child, my husband, to everyone I care about. There are no shortcuts to greatness, it's true. But there is a roadmap, and you are holding it." - Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestsellingauthor of The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, "I'm convinced there are no more important qualities in striving for excellence than those that create true grit...I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did." - Brad Stevens, Coach of the Boston Celtics, "This book gets into your head, which is where it belongs…For educators who want our kids to succeed, this is an indispensable read." - Joel Klein, former Chancellor, New York City public schools, "Impressively fresh and original… Grit scrubs away preconceptions about how far our potential can take us. And it solves the riddle of how those not likely to succeed in fact do. Buy this, send copies to your friends, and tell the world that there is, in fact, hope. We can all dazzle." - Susan Cain, New York Times bestselling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, "At a time when our collective notion of success has shrunk to the point of being unrecognizable, Angela Duckworth arrives to restore it. With a mix of masterful storytelling and the latest science, she shows that perseverance and passion matter at least as much as talent and intelligence. And far from simply urging us to work harder for the sake of working harder, Grit offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose." - Arianna Huffington, New York Times bestselling author of Thrive, "Enlightening… Grit teaches that life's high peaks aren't necessarily conquered by the naturally nimble but, rather, by those willing to endure, wait out the storm, and try again. The two essential pieces of equipment that Duckworth recommends we pack for our journey-passion and perseverance-are the ones that have made all the difference for me. Whether you're a parent looking to outfit your child with the right advice, or a lifelong learner trying to meet a difficult challenge, you'll find what you're looking for in Grit." - Ed Viesturs, Seven-Time Climber of Mount Everest and author of the national bestseller No Shortcuts to the Top, "A combination of rich science, compelling stories, crisp graceful prose, and appealingly personal examples. Angela Duckworth makes you feel that you're sitting right there with her, having an engrossing conversation. Without a doubt, this is themost transformative, eye-opening book I've read this year. It'll change the way you approach your life, starting tomorrow. Don't wait a day to begin." -Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor, University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness, "Impressively fresh and original… Grit scrubs away preconceptions about how far our potential can take us." - Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, "I love an idea that challenges our conventional wisdom and 'grit' does just that! Put aside what you think you know about getting ahead and outlasting your competition, even if they are more talented. Getting smarter won't help you-sticking with it, will!" - Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, "Invaluable...In a world where access to knowledge is unprecedented, this book describes the key trait of those who will optimally take advantage of it. Grit will inspire everyone who reads it to stick to something hard that they have a passion for." -- Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, "Utterly captivating, inspiring and original…Once you pick up Grit , you won't be able to tear yourself away." - Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of Presence, " Grit delivers! Angela Duckworth shares the stories, the science, and the positivity behind sustained success...A must-read." -- Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0 and President of the International Positive Psychology Association, "When I first saw Angela's TED Talk two years ago, I was hooked right away by the grit concept and how pursuing grit can lead to an optimistic, process-driven environment conducive to individual and team growth. As a coach, I'm convinced there are no more important qualities in striving for excellence than those that create true grit. Here, Angela does a great job describing those qualities. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did." -Brad Stevens, Coach of the Boston Celtics, "Enlightening… Grit teaches that life's high peaks aren't necessarily conquered by the naturally nimble but, rather, by those willing to endure, wait out the storm, and try again." - Ed Viesturs, Seven-Time Climber of Mount Everest and author of No Shortcuts to the Top, "Psychologists have spent decades searching for the secret of success, but Angela Duckworth is the one who found it. In this smart and lively book, she not only tells us what it is, but also how to get it." -- Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, "[Blends] anecdote and science, statistic and yarn...Not your grandpa's self-help book, but Duckworth's text is oddly encouraging, exhorting us to do better by trying harder, and a pleasure to read." --Kirkus Reviews, "Profoundly important. For eons, we've been trapped inside the myth of innate talent. Angela Duckworth shines a bright light into a truer understanding of how we achieve. We owe her a great debt." -David Shenk, author of The Genius in All of Us: New Insights into Genetics, Talent, and IQ, "Angela Duckworth [is] the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles...Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public." --Judith Shulevitz, The New York Times Book Review, "A combination of rich science, compelling stories, crisp graceful prose, and appealingly personal examples…Without a doubt, this is the most transformative, eye-opening book I've read this year." - Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor, University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness, " Grit delivers! Angela Duckworth shares the stories, the science, and the positivity behind sustained success…A must-read." - Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity and Love 2.0 and President of the International Positive Psychology Association, "An important book...In these pages, the leading scholarly expert on the power of grit (what my mom called 'stick-to-it-iveness') carries her message to a wider audience, using apt anecdotes and aphorisms to illustrate how we can usefully apply her insights to our own lives and those of our kids." -Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids, "Psychologists have spent decades searching for the secret of success, but Angela Duckworth is the one who found it. In this smart and lively book, she not only tells us what it is, but also how to get it." - Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, " Grit is a useful guide for parents or teachers looking for confirmation that passion and persistence matter, and for inspiring models of how to cultivate these important qualities." -The Washington Post, "When I first saw Angela's TED Talk two years ago, I was hooked right away by the grit concept and how pursuing grit can lead to an optimistic, process-driven environment conducive to individual and team growth. As a coach, I'm convinced there are no more important qualities in striving for excellence than those that create true grit. Here, Angela does a great job describing those qualities. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did." - Brad Stevens, Coach of the Boston Celtics, "It really isn't talent but practice-along with passion-that makes perfect, explains psychologist Duckworth in this illuminating book. Inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere." -People, "Utterly captivating, inspiring and original. For those of us who are not blessed with the easy confidence that comes from being a 'natural,' Duckworth offers the science showing how staying committed to a task will eventually persuade others we were born to it. Once you pick up Grit , you won't be able to tear yourself away. " - Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and New York Times bestselling author of Presence, "I love an idea that challenges our conventional wisdom and 'grit' does just that! Put aside what you think you know about getting ahead and outlasting your competition, even if they are more talented. Getting smarter won't help you--sticking with it, will!" -- Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, "Angela Duckworth [is] the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles...Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public." -Judith Shulevitz, The New York Times Book Review, "Incredibly important…There is deeply embodied grit, which is born of love, purpose, truth to one's core under ferocious heat, and a relentless passion for what can only be revealed on the razor's ed≥ and there is the cool, patient, disciplined cultivation and study of resilience that can teach us all how to get there. Angela Duckworth's masterpiece straddles both worlds, offering a level of nuance that I haven't read before." - Josh Waitzkin, International Chess Master, Tai Chi Push Hands World Champion, and author of The Art of Learning, "I kept wanting to read this book aloud-to my child, my husband, to everyone I care about. There are no shortcuts to greatness, it's true. But there is a roadmap, and you are holding it. " -Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, "A contemporary classic-a clarifying and deeply-researched book in the tradition of Stephen Covey and Carol Dweck. For anyone hoping to work smarter or live better, Grit is an essential-and perhaps life-changing-read." -Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is Human, "Duckworth is a scholar you have to take seriously...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public." -Judith Shulevitz, The New York Times Book Review, "At a time when our collective notion of success has shrunk to the point of being unrecognizable, Angela Duckworth arrives to restore it. With a mix of masterful storytelling and the latest science, she shows that perseverance and passion matter at least as much as talent and intelligence. And far from simply urging us to work harder for the sake of working harder, Grit offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose." -Arianna Huffington, New York Times bestselling author of Thrive, "Engaging...With strong appeal for readers of Daniel H. Pink, Malcolm Gladwell, and Susan Cain, this is a must-have." --Booklist, "It really isn't talent but practice--along with passion--that makes perfect, explains psychologist Duckworth in this illuminating book. Inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere." --People, " Grit is a persuasive and fascinating response to the cult of IQ fundamentalism. Duckworth reminds us that it is character and perseverance that set the successful apart." -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers, "Impressively fresh and original... Grit scrubs away preconceptions about how far our potential can take us." -- Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, "If you have recently bumped into that word, grit , Duckworth is the reason...In education and parenting circles, her research has provided a much needed antipode to hovering , by which children are systematically deprived of the opportunity to experience setbacks, much less overcome them...What sticks with you [in Grit ] are the testimonials, collected from sources as disparate as Will Smith, William James, and Jeff Bezos's mom, that relentlessly deflate the myth of the natural." --The Atlantic, "Angela Duckworth [is] the psychologist who has made 'grit' the reigning buzzword in education-policy circles...Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better...In this book, Duckworth, whose TED talk has been viewed more than eight million times, brings her lessons to the reading public." -The New York Times, "Readable, compelling and totally persuasive. The ideas in this book have the potential to transform education, management and the way its readers live. Angela Duckworth's Grit is a national treasure." - Lawrence H. Summers, Former Secretary of the Treasury and President Emeritus at Harvard University, "Utterly captivating, inspiring and original...Once you pick up Grit , you won't be able to tear yourself away." -- Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of Presence, "Masterful... Grit offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose." -- Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive, "I'm convinced there are no more important qualities in striving for excellence than those that create true grit...I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did." -- Brad Stevens, Coach of the Boston Celtics, "Fascinating. Angela Duckworth pulls together decades of psychological research, inspiring success stories from business and sports, and her own unique personal experience and distills it all into a set of practical strategies to make yourself and your children more motivated, more passionate, and more persistent at work and at school." -- Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, "An important book...In these pages, the leading scholarly expert on the power of grit (what my mom called "stick-to-it-iveness") carries her message to a wider audience, using apt anecdotes and aphorisms to illustrate how we can usefully apply her insights to our own lives and those of our kids." - Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids, "If you have recently bumped into that word, grit , Duckworth is the reason...In education and parenting circles, her research has provided a much needed antipode to hovering , by which children are systematically deprived of the opportunity to experience setbacks, much less overcome them...What sticks with you [in Grit ] are the testimonials, collected from sources as disparate as Will Smith, William James, and Jeff Bezos's mom, that relentlessly deflate the myth of the natural." -The Atlantic, "An important book...In these pages, the leading scholarly expert on the power of grit (what my mom called 'stick-to-it-iveness') carries her message to a wider audience, using apt anecdotes and aphorisms to illustrate how we can usefully apply her insights to our own lives and those of our kids." --Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids, "Profoundly important. For eons, we've been trapped inside the myth of innate talent. Angela Duckworth shines a bright light into a truer understanding of how we achieve. We owe her a great debt." --David Shenk, author of The Genius in All of Us: New Insights into Genetics, Talent, and IQ, "Incredibly important...There is deeply embodied grit, which is born of love, purpose, truth to one's core under ferocious heat, and a relentless passion for what can only be revealed on the razor's edge; and there is the cool, patient, disciplined cultivation and study of resilience that can teach us all how to get there. Angela Duckworth's masterpiece straddles both worlds, offering a level of nuance that I haven't read before." -- Josh Waitzkin, International Chess Master, Tai Chi Push Hands World Champion, and author of The Art of Learning, "A fascinating tour of the psychological research on success...A great service of Ms. Duckworth's book is her down-to-earth definition of passion. To be gritty, an individual doesn't need to have an obsessive infatuation with a goal. Rather, he needs to show 'consistency over time.' The grittiest people have developed long-term goals and are constantly working toward them." --The Wall Street Journal, "A thoughtful and engaging exploration of what predicts success. Grit takes on widespread misconceptions and predictors of what makes us strive harder and push further…Duckworth's own story, wound throughout her research, ends up demonstrating her theory best; passion and perseverance make up grit." - Tory Burch, Chairman, CEO and Designer of Tory Burch, "Angela Duckworth has written a contemporary classic-a clarifying and deeply-researched book in the tradition of Stephen Covey and Carol Dweck. For anyone hoping to work smarter or live better, Grit is an essential-and perhaps life-changing-read." - Daniel H. Pink, NewYork Times bestselling author of Drive and To Sell Is Human, "I kept wanting to read this book aloud-to my child, my husband, to everyone I care about. There are no shortcuts to greatness, it's true. But there is a roadmap, and you are holding it." - Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, "Profoundly important. For eons, we've been trapped inside the myth of innate talent. Angela Duckworth shines a bright light into a truer understanding of how we achieve. We owe her a great debt." - David Shenk, author The Genius in All of Us: New Insights into Genetics, Talent, and IQ
