Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth (2016)
“A psychologist who studied West Point cadets, National Spelling Bee champions, and rookie teachers in tough neighborhoods discovers that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls 'grit.'”
At a Glance
Angela Duckworth argues that the secret ingredient of outstanding achievement is not talent, IQ, or luck, but a combination of sustained passion and perseverance she calls 'grit.' Drawing on research with West Point cadets, National Spelling Bee contestants, corporate salespeople, and Chicago public school students, she demonstrates that grit predicts success more reliably than talent or intelligence, and she provides a framework — built on interest, practice, purpose, and hope — for developing grit in yourself and others.
Read full summary →Why This Book Matters
Grit introduced a measurable construct — the combination of passion and perseverance — that reframed the conversation about achievement from talent identification to effort cultivation. The concept has been adopted by schools, military programs, athletic organizations, and corporations worldwide, and has become one of the most discussed and debated ideas in contemporary psychology.
Diction Profile
Moderately informal. Duckworth uses first-person narrative extensively, shares personal anecdotes, and addresses the reader conversationally. But she maintains scientific rigor through precise citation of research, careful distinction between correlation and causation, and honest acknowledgment of her framework's limitations. The informality creates rapport; the rigor creates trust.
Moderate. Duckworth uses metaphors strategically