In this instant New York Times bestseller, Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls grit. It is described as inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere.

The daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of genius, Angela Duckworth is now a celebrated researcher and professor. Her early experiences in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience led her to hypothesize what really drives success: not genius, but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.

In Grit, she takes us into the field to visit cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, teachers working in some of the toughest schools, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also draws fascinating insights from history and modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she's learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers, including prominent figures from various fields.

Duckworth's ideas about the cultivation of tenacity have clearly changed some lives for the better. Among Grit's most valuable insights are: any effort you make ultimately counts twice towards your goal, grit can be learned regardless of IQ or circumstances, when it comes to child-rearing, neither a warm embrace nor high standards will work by themselves, how to trigger lifelong interest, the magic of the Hard Thing Rule, and much more. Winningly personal, insightful, and even life-changing, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that—not talent or luck—makes all the difference. This is a fascinating tour of the psychological research on success.