How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

“Droptheflashcards—grit,character,andcuriositymatterevenmorethancognitiveskills.Apersuasivewake-upcall.”—PeopleWhydosomechildrensucceedwhileothersfail?Thestoryweusuallytellaboutchildhoodandsuccessistheoneaboutintelligence:successcomestothosewhoscorehighestontests,frompreschooladmissionstoSATs.ButinHowChildrenSucceed,PaulTougharguesthatthequalitiesthatmattermorehavetodowithcharacter:skillslikeperseverance,curiosity,optimism,andself-control.HowChildrenSucceedintroducesustoanewgenerationofresearchersandeducators,who,forthefirsttime,areusingthetoolsofsciencetopeelbackthemysteriesofcharacter.Throughtheirstories—andthestoriesofthechildrentheyaretryingtohelp—Toughrevealshowthisnewknowledgecantransformyoungpeople’slives.Heuncoversthesurprisingwaysinwhichparentsdo—anddonot—preparetheirchildrenforadulthood.Andheprovidesuswithnewinsightsintohowtoimprovethelivesofchildrengrowingupinpoverty.Thisprovocativeandprofoundlyhopefulbookwillnotonlyinspireandengagereaders,itwillalsochangeourunderstandingofchildhooditself.“IlluminatestheextremesofAmericanchildhood:forrichkids,asafetynetdrawnsotightit’saharness;forpoorkids,almostnothingtobreaktheirfall.”—NewYorkTimes“IlearnedsomuchreadingthisbookandIcameawayfullofhopeabouthowwecanmakelifebetterforallkindsofkids.”—Slate