How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

Why do some children succeed while others fail? The story we usually tell about childhood and success is the one about intelligence: success comes to those who score highest on tests, from preschool admissions to SATs. In How Children Succeed, Paul Tough argues that success has more to do with character—a set of noncognitive skills that includes perseverance, curiosity, optimism, and self-control. In this groundbreaking study grounded in psychology and neuroscience, Tough introduces us to key researchers and educators, who, for the first time, are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. Through their stories—and the stories of the children they are trying to help—Tough reveals how developing character strengths like grit has the power to transform young people’s lives. This provocative and profoundly hopeful book will not only inspire and engage readers—it will also change our understanding of childhood itself.

Why is our modern focus on test scores and IQ failing so many children—and what does the science of child development say we should be focusing on instead?

• The Character Hypothesis: An exploration of why qualities like perseverance, curiosity, and self-control are more predictive of long-term success than IQ scores from preschool to the SATs.
• The Science of Stress: A look at the groundbreaking neuroscience revealing how childhood adversity shapes the developing brain, and how nurturing relationships can reverse the damage.
• How Character is Built: From the classrooms of innovative schools to the labs of leading psychologists, discover how traits like grit and self-discipline are not born, but made.
• Rethinking Education: A new roadmap for parents and educators that moves beyond the achievement gap and focuses on creating environments where all children can thrive.