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A review by carrerabooks
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
3.0
My dad is the one who suggested I read this. I’m glad to have read it, though being non-fiction I wasn’t necessarily always “captivated” while reading it.
Angela Duckworth’s passion for understanding ‘grit’ certainly shines through all of it. She’s impressive and well-qualified to talk about the subject, especially given the academic rigor she’s thrown at the topic. I appreciate that this is meant to be inspiring but in a less than typical “self-help book style” format.
Sometimes, the book glosses over what interests me most, and that can be frustrating. Given the constant linking to new people and events to further her points, I think readers looking to get the most out of this book could benefit from annotating the book as you go along.
Something I wish was explored more happened around page 190 for me, and this is the note I took: “‘I worry a lot about kids in poverty’ (-other scientist)… scientific research is very clear that experiencing trauma without control can be debilitating. but I also worry about people who cruise through life” — I would love to revisit how these ‘learned helplessness’ or traumatized people can learn to be gritty again, without just becoming burnt out ; the answer: ‘trust the science, brains can learn and get stronger with practice. go to therapy if you’re too pessimistic, have positive self talk. ask for help.’, which is not bad advice, but not always enough it feels.
^ She gives a lot of good advice, but I feel she’s also acknowledged just slightly that some trauma and difficulties can’t just be ignored and pushed through by sheer grit. I greatly appreciate that she somewhat circles back in my favorite section - “Seven Questions I’m Asked About Grit”.
I loved the extra questions. I wanted to ask almost all of them myself by the end of this book, so it was very satisfying.
Overall, it’s not a bad book, just simply not my favorite read, and that’s okay.
Angela Duckworth’s passion for understanding ‘grit’ certainly shines through all of it. She’s impressive and well-qualified to talk about the subject, especially given the academic rigor she’s thrown at the topic. I appreciate that this is meant to be inspiring but in a less than typical “self-help book style” format.
Sometimes, the book glosses over what interests me most, and that can be frustrating. Given the constant linking to new people and events to further her points, I think readers looking to get the most out of this book could benefit from annotating the book as you go along.
Something I wish was explored more happened around page 190 for me, and this is the note I took: “‘I worry a lot about kids in poverty’ (-other scientist)… scientific research is very clear that experiencing trauma without control can be debilitating. but I also worry about people who cruise through life” — I would love to revisit how these ‘learned helplessness’ or traumatized people can learn to be gritty again, without just becoming burnt out ; the answer: ‘trust the science, brains can learn and get stronger with practice. go to therapy if you’re too pessimistic, have positive self talk. ask for help.’, which is not bad advice, but not always enough it feels.
^ She gives a lot of good advice, but I feel she’s also acknowledged just slightly that some trauma and difficulties can’t just be ignored and pushed through by sheer grit. I greatly appreciate that she somewhat circles back in my favorite section - “Seven Questions I’m Asked About Grit”.
I loved the extra questions. I wanted to ask almost all of them myself by the end of this book, so it was very satisfying.
Overall, it’s not a bad book, just simply not my favorite read, and that’s okay.