Isa George

In this New York Times best seller, psychologist Angela Duckworth shares her insight on the ability to achieve. Showing us that it is not talent or gifting that gets us the places we want to be, but our own will power and desire to succeed. In fact, those who have “natural” skills end up giving up or quitting far faster than someone who has a deep passion for what they are doing. In other words, someone who has grit. Throughout the book she calls out our society, parents, students, and teachers for labeling achievement as “talent”. Duckworth shows us how the best of the best are not “talented”. Many of those who succeed in what they do are those who actually struggled in their business, skill, etc. In walking the reader through this, she shares the power of persevering and the power of being passionate about the project or skill one is working on. In Duckworth’s “formula” she says “Talent x effort = skill and Skill x effort = achievement.” In reading, one is forced to acknowledge that we easily label the achiever as someone with “extraordinary talent” when really one is downsizing the effort needed to get him or her to achieve in the first place. This book is a must read for anyone and everyone. It shifts our societal way of viewing those who achieve and succeed and shifts our eyes on the way of viewing our own jobs, hobbies, and skills. It not only shifts point of view but forces one to reflect on ways that they could be more passionate about what they do. In the book her modified Grit Scale is a gift. One of the great things about it is that it’s always something to improve on and reflect about. I recommend this book for anyone in middle school, High School, and anyone struggling to find what they want to do in life. Duckworth’s writing is easily understandable, beautiful and eye-opening.