In GRIT, Angela Duckworth explores the science of why some people succeed and others fail, and why talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. She shows us that perseverance and passion matter at least as much as talent and intelligence. And rather than urge us to work harder for the sake of working harder, she posits that true success comes when we commit ourselves to endeavors that bring joy and purpose. From the campus of West Point to classrooms in San Francisco, from the National Spelling Bee stage to the practice facility of the NFL champion Seattle Seahawks, Angelatakes readers across the country to illuminate our fascination with achievement and spotlight those who are living gritty lives.
Angela is, herself, an example of how being gritty can help you succeed. As a child, her father told her repeatedly: “You’re no genius.” In third grade, she didn’t test high enough for the gifted and talented program. Yet, she’s been the recipient of the MacArthur “genius” grant because of the unique insights yielded by her trailblazing research. And today she’s a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania with degrees from Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to advising the White House and the World Bank, Angela recently co-founded the Character Lab, where her mission is to advance the science and practice of character development in children.
We all know gritty people, but GRIT teaches us how to cultivate grit in ourselves and others. While presenting the science and stories that illuminate that process, GRIT offers an inspiring message that is uniquely sewn into our country’s fabric.