jill's review
4.0
This book helps dismantle, if not dispel, the idea that high IQ is the key predictor to a child's future success. "Character"- or the intangible qualities such as grit, perseverance, and integrity- turn out to be much more predictive, and the good news is, these qualities can be learned/taught. I'm already parenting differently as a result of reading this book, and it will also change my approach to early childhood education philanthropy. I put this among a parent's "must-read" books.
in2reading's review
4.0
My interest in this topic was sparked by volunteering one morning a week with a K-5 class this past school year. The author synthesizes many of the theories that have guided education for the last 20 years. Studies have found that although a test score can measure the knowledge gained in one's education, it does not necessarily predict success in life. The author cites research and real world examples and comes to this conclusion about the biggest obstacles that very poor children face: "a home and a community that create high levels of stress, and the absence of a secure relationship with a caregiver that would allow a child to manage that stress." (p. 195) I found the book very interesting and I would recommend it to anyone interested in how to improve educational outcomes.
ancequay's review
3.0
This was less of a parenting book and more of a social commentary than I was expecting. Lots of interesting information about how class and parenting and government policy interact and their effects on young children. That said it was put-down-able and one of those books where I frequently checked my progress to see how close I was to being done. I was hoping for another Opposite of Spoiled, but this wasn't it unfortunately.
krismarley's review
3.0
Surprisingly quick read but probably because it followed a rhythm and pace that matches most narrative writing on Education. or maybe because most of the themes and stories seemed vaguely familiar from some other article or book I've read? If you get yours hands on this title, I'd skip to the 5th and final chapter, A Better Path, for a great commentary on how the poverty debate has essentially merged with the education debate in America. If you're a Teacher and tired of education reform talk, I say skip it. If you're non-teacher with an interest in Education Reform, go for it.
katrinadreamer's review
5.0
I read this to help me become a more effective tutor and academic coach. I appreciated Tough's research, which pulls together findings on attachment, neuropsychology, trauma, executive functioning, and non-cognitive skills and combines this with interviews with educators from various backgrounds into an excellent volume on the current educational landscape and the ways we all can better help students succeed.
For myself, I appreciated seeing all of this research, much of which I was already familiar with, pulled together. It helped me better understand how it is all connected. And it reinforced my instinct to help students develop their character as a vital part of my work with them.
For myself, I appreciated seeing all of this research, much of which I was already familiar with, pulled together. It helped me better understand how it is all connected. And it reinforced my instinct to help students develop their character as a vital part of my work with them.
kristianspring's review
4.0
Very interesting both from a parenting and an educational perspective. A lot of well-researched science summarized into a digestable format with some clear takeaways.
carrie562's review
3.0
I found this book engaging and full of interesting research, presented well. Someone embarking on a career in teaching kids who live in poverty might rate it 5 stars--it's well written. I found two shortcomings, personally. First, reading it in the context of a parent reading group, I kept looking for ways to apply the information to my own kids' education, and I didn't really find any. Most of the thrust was to how education can be restructured to better serve kids from poor and unstable homes. Second, in sections where the information was more generalizable, I felt that he just presented "new" ideas that I already agreed with, without any insight into how to apply them to raising my kids. For instance, he'd describe research to back up the idea that traits like perseverance or self-control are better tools for success than academic talent or IQ -- an idea I'm already on board with, though it was interesting to read about the research studies -- but I came away with no better idea how to strengthen these qualities in my children.
hanbaga's review
4.0
According to this book the most important indicator of success is how a child is treated as an infant. A scary thought. Much of character - which the author cites evidence as the most important factor that will get someone to a college graduation- is developed in infancy, by parents who treat their children with love and care.
For students who do not develop character through the proper nurture, it can be taught and learned. This is the main message of the book - our thoughts on education reform should focus on how we can provide children with the character to persevere through failure and to exhibit the hard work necessary for success.
For students who do not develop character through the proper nurture, it can be taught and learned. This is the main message of the book - our thoughts on education reform should focus on how we can provide children with the character to persevere through failure and to exhibit the hard work necessary for success.
rancuceanu's review
3.0
The book is written by a journalist in the quest of finding the secret to the title question. Therefore the book contains several interesting stories, but less scientific evidence critically examined, as I would have expected. There is something to learn from this book, for instance that the efforts of teachers are much less relevant for the success of the kids than is poverty or richness of the parents. However, I am not sure that after reading it I was clear in my mind about how children succeed.