Grit by Angela Duckworth

Ever wonder what really separates the high achievers from the rest of us? Turns out, it isn’t raw talent. In this instant New York Times bestseller, celebrated researcher and psychologist Angela Duckworth reveals the secret ingredient: a special blend of passion and persistence she calls grit. As People magazine put it, this is “inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere.”

The daughter of a scientist who often reminded her she was no genius, Duckworth grew up to become a groundbreaking professor. Her early years teaching, consulting, and studying neuroscience led her to a bold hypothesis: success isn’t about being the smartest in the room. It’s about showing up, again and again, for the things you love.

She takes us right into the thick of it. Cadets sweating through their first grueling days at West Point. Teachers in the toughest schools. Young finalists sounding out words at the National Spelling Bee. Along the way, she shares wisdom gathered from interviews with remarkable people, and offers up tools you can actually use:

• Why effort counts twice toward your goals
• How grit can be learned, no matter your IQ or background
• The surprising magic of the “Hard Thing Rule”
• How to spark a lifelong interest

The Wall Street Journal called it “a fascinating tour of the psychological research on success,” and The New York Times Book Review noted Duckworth’s ideas “have clearly changed some lives for the better.”

Pour yourself a warm cup of tea, settle into a cozy chair, and let this one work its quiet magic. A perfect companion for a salty, rainy afternoon here in the cove.

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