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jennyjjs's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to it on audible, but I think I'm going to get the book and read it again. I really liked her insights.
monique269's review against another edition
3.0
Overall a good book with a lot of insights into work ethic and what makes people successful. I found it a little bit too bogged down in anecdotes, clouding the messages she was trying to get across. I feel like some more clarity and succinct points are needed as it gets a little waffly and you forget the point she is trying to make. A little hard to get through towards the end but overall very insightful and incredibly well researched. Recommend highly if you are interesting in learning what working hard actually means and the different facets that affect it.
zbmorgan's review against another edition
4.0
If you've never read any pop psychology or self help books, start here. This is a brilliantly basic introduction to one aspect of success. Call it follow through, sticking with it, or grit, the ability to endure challenges (and these include hobbies, classes, jobs, any pursuit, really) is what separates the successful and the happy, surprisingly, from the rest of us. Duckworth defines grit, tells you how to determine how much grit you have, and then explains how you can 'grow grit'. Yes, even if you're a person who puts down a project at the first hint of difficulty, you, too, can change that. She looks at people who overcome poverty, adversity, and physical disability, trying to figure out what makes successful people tick, whether they were top-tier in the Scripps National Spelling Bee or winning the Superbowl. Her explanation of a growth mindset means you don't have to be a psychology major to realize everyone has potential.
lostinfrance's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of book I wish I read in high school....and I think if I was still in a high school classroom, I would introduce the concepts to students. I think having Grit is important--- and realizing you don't just become famous. I think this sort of thing was never explained....I just always though I had no talent. Big face palm.
This book was full of a lot of smart things--- and now 2 months later, I can't quote any of it....but it was worth the read and an interesting read.
Read if you need to understand the world a little more.
This book was full of a lot of smart things--- and now 2 months later, I can't quote any of it....but it was worth the read and an interesting read.
Read if you need to understand the world a little more.
alisarae's review against another edition
I watched the TED Talk and got a whole lot more curious. I love reading about endurance, perseverance, and greatness. I am completely on board with the idea that if you stick with something long enough, you will end up being better at it than someone who is naturally more talented than you (but didn't put in the work).
The first half of this book is super motivating and has guidance for doing some self-coaching about identifying your goals and how all your activities fit into your goal pyramid, aka your life. I also liked the sports anecdotes (I saved this book to only listen to while I ran, and hearing about the dedication elite athletes have made me be able to keep going and finish strong on some long runs). The author's personal examples were also a nice touch.
After the first half though, it got pretty repetitive. Like ok, focus on your top goals, cut the crap, and get to work even if you are bored or discouraged. How many different ways can you say that? Sometimes anecdotes came off as a bit flippant: if you just focused and worked hard enough, you would have a nobel prize already. That kind of thinking can lead to a breakdown a la Steve Carrel's character in Little Miss Sunshine, I think. The very end of the book brings up the question, "Should you practice piano even if you will never be Mozart?" With the answer of (paraphrasing here), "Yes, because you will find some sort of fulfilment if you stick with an interest long enough." But the implication of, "if you practice enough, perhaps you will be THIS generation's Mozart."
I guess one important takeaway for me was that interests are mostly learned, not inherent. So the idea of finding your dream job, as if it is somehow separate from you in the world, is false. Interest deepens and strengthens over time and with experience, so your dream job is developed, not found. I think ditto can be said of romantic partners and friends.
Audiobook was narrated by the author, and I liked hearing her read.
The first half of this book is super motivating and has guidance for doing some self-coaching about identifying your goals and how all your activities fit into your goal pyramid, aka your life. I also liked the sports anecdotes (I saved this book to only listen to while I ran, and hearing about the dedication elite athletes have made me be able to keep going and finish strong on some long runs). The author's personal examples were also a nice touch.
After the first half though, it got pretty repetitive. Like ok, focus on your top goals, cut the crap, and get to work even if you are bored or discouraged. How many different ways can you say that? Sometimes anecdotes came off as a bit flippant: if you just focused and worked hard enough, you would have a nobel prize already. That kind of thinking can lead to a breakdown a la Steve Carrel's character in Little Miss Sunshine, I think. The very end of the book brings up the question, "Should you practice piano even if you will never be Mozart?" With the answer of (paraphrasing here), "Yes, because you will find some sort of fulfilment if you stick with an interest long enough." But the implication of, "if you practice enough, perhaps you will be THIS generation's Mozart."
I guess one important takeaway for me was that interests are mostly learned, not inherent. So the idea of finding your dream job, as if it is somehow separate from you in the world, is false. Interest deepens and strengthens over time and with experience, so your dream job is developed, not found. I think ditto can be said of romantic partners and friends.
Audiobook was narrated by the author, and I liked hearing her read.
amyapple's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the ideas of deliberate effort and goal making, and the “hard thing” application for parenting tips is a great idea.
Nice easy insightful read.
Nice easy insightful read.
graciegrace1178's review against another edition
4.0
The final 14 minutes of this were the most important. Achievement is not the only thing worth chasing.
elizabeth717's review against another edition
3.5
"Our vanity, our self-love, promotes the cult of the genius .... For if we think of genius as something magical, we are not obliged to compare ourselves and find ourselves lacking.... To call someone 'divine' means: 'here there is no need to compete."
sarkynir's review against another edition
3.5
Important topic on perseverance. Interesting study and findings, but not as thorough on process as I would like.