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  • Grit

  • The Power of Passion and Perseverance
  • Written by: Angela Duckworth
  • Narrated by: Angela Duckworth
  • Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (853 ratings)

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Grit

Written by: Angela Duckworth
Narrated by: Angela Duckworth
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Publisher's Summary

In this must-listen book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, students, and businesspeople - both seasoned and new - that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called "grit".

Why do some people succeed and others fail? Sharing new insights from her landmark research on grit, MacArthur "genius" Angela Duckworth explains why talent is hardly a guarantor of success. Rather, other factors can be even more crucial, such as identifying our passions and following through on our commitments.

Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently bemoaned her lack of smarts, Duckworth describes her winding path through teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not genius but a special blend of passion and long-term perseverance. As a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Duckworth created her own "character lab" and set out to test her theory.

Here, she takes listeners into the field to visit teachers working in some of the toughest schools, cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, and young finalists in the National Spelling Bee. She also mines fascinating insights from history and shows what can be gleaned from modern experiments in peak performance. Finally, she shares what she's learned from interviewing dozens of high achievers - from J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon to the cartoon editor of The New Yorker to Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Angela Duckworth. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

What the critics say

"Psychologist Angela Duckworth's winning performance is a nice blend of confidence in her scientific findings and humility about her personal and professional journey. Her accessible writing and speaking charm help her research on character reveal much about why people with the same abilities get vastly different results." ( AudioFile)

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What listeners say about Grit

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Truly inspiring

This is one of the rare books that help someone improve their lives, the lives of there children or the people around them.

I know I will listen again to squeeze more to help invest in me.

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Rare

The book seems to resonate with what seems true but also seems to be in short supply around us today. The fostering of grit in an individual therefore can be the means by which we can stand out from the crowd. A good balance between stories and some scientific inquiry is appealing and make this book worth the listen.

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Worth it the first time and I’m sure, many more.

Grit was recommended by a friend and I will be recommending it to many more. I look forward to contacting the author to explore some ideas in detail.

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Amazing book!

The information in this book was great, the voice for the book was easy to follow. I would highly suggest this book

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Amazed... and it's only the second chapter!

Narration is clear, fluid and enthusiastic. The storyline is heartfelt and compelling. I am genuinely looking forward to learning and applying what I learn from GRIT.

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Must Read for anybody trying to find their way

Grit was a book I heard a lot about in different places, and now I know why. We as people tend to believe that our goals, passions and fulfillment will fall from the sky and everything will click into place. Angela offers a very different perspective. Passion and fulfillment are developed overtime through effort. This flies in the face of convention, and it's wonderful. This relieves all the pressure to figure out what your about right now, and why can't figure out what your passionate about, because it's something that is developed. It starts with a spark and is then developed through hardwork. Talent is often overrated and this book provides a good amount of evidence to support this claim.

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#audible1

great book with a lot of insights regarding grit and perseverance. I would recommend this book

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strive for more

I started this book a couple years ago, knowing it was and expecting it to be a personally challenging, yet also insightful and meaningful, read. I didn't complete it -- until today. Part of my motivation to finish came from a coworker's remark when, after I had observed that I was at the time part-way into in excess of 10 books that I intended someday to complete, he stated I probably struggle with completing tasks.

So, my small act of Grit, a step near the beginning of my journey, is to have completed this book. And it was everything and more than I expected. I do not yet live in the manner of a Grit paragon, so my personal challenge is to ensure each day is a non-zero day; to live every day striving to be more/better, even if only by degrees, than I am/was the day before.

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life-changing

I think grit is probably my weakest area. Excited to start growing it with the useful insights Angela provides!

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Heavy, but worth the GRIT needed to finish!

So interesting and inspiring! A bit heavy at times, but totally worth pushing through it! I will go back to the beginning and read it again!

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