“Don’t write in, dog-ear, or otherwise deface a book!” As a lifelong book lover and former used bookstore owner, I’ve seen way too many books ruined by these habits.
Now, you’re not a bad person if you do- but I can’t- so, I use sticky note as I read. You can judge how much value I find in a book by the number of tabs sticking out.
Yep, Angela Duckworth’s first book, Grit- the Power of Passion and Perseverance, Scribner, 2016; was one of these books. I rank it #1 for my favorite book of 2017!
Analyzing why some people stick it out in the face of difficulty and others give up is fascinating. Is this inborn or learned behavior?
Plenty of books have examined this and offer interesting perspectives, but Grit has the most thorough and encouraging.
The author has a unique
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Part II helps the reader understand how passion and determination overlap and offers suggestions on defining interests that will truly motivate us. She also discusses the role of practice in achieving success and what counts when stating, “It takes 10,000 hours of practice to reach excellence.”
“In fact, there’s never a time in life when the brain is completely fixed. Instead, all our lives, our neurons retain the potential to grow new connections with one another and to strengthen the ones we already have.” she says, quoting Carol S. Dweck.
Despite common belief, even our I.Q. can increase. Ms. Duckworth discusses steps we can take to provide the necessary ingredients of Growth Mindset, Optimistic Self-talk, and Perseverance Over Adversity.
The last section of the book begins with her question, “What can I do to encourage grit in the people I care for?”
Every parent will relate to the dilemma of how to motivate your children. Her analysis of parenting styles, from Authoritarian to Permissive, is fascinating and