Grit : Angela Duckworth Book Report

     The book "Grit" by Angela Duckworth stood out to me the most as I was reading the list of options from which we might select the subject of our book reports. The main takeaway from the entire book is that grit is an indicator of effort above talent.  A person who scores well on the grit scale probably puts in twice as much effort as someone who relies solely on talent.  People with a lot of grit will frequently be more successful than those who only rely on talent.  The author spent much time attempting to compare the grit of top achievers to intelligence, intrinsic talent, or physical anomalies. The author of this book, Angela Duckworth, claims that it "shows parents, educators, students, and business people, both seasoned and new, that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but instead a focused persistence known as Grit. "Angela Duckworth is the foremost authority on "Grit," the much debated component of human accomplishment. "Grit," according to Angela Duckworth's definition, is "a passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement, with no particular concern for rewards or recognition along the way." According to Angela, grit consists of five qualities: courage, conscientiousness (being goal-oriented rather than dependable), long-term objectives and perseverance, resilience (being upbeat, confident, and creative), and excellence rather than perfection. Grit may help you succeed at everything, whether it's playing sports, getting good grades in school, getting your ideal career, etc. It is really vital to never give up on something you truly love. Give it your all no matter what you're doing, redo it if required, don't give up because that's never the solution to anything, and take your time to do it right. 

My favorite part of the book is where she makes the case that striving for greatness requires both talent and hard work because most people who put in the effort can achieve the same results. For instance, Scott Barry Kaufman's admission that he had a learning disability and a history of recurrent ear infections as a child was the aspect of his past that I thought to be the most fascinating. But as he grew older, he took up the cello and became obsessed with improving. He excelled in his honors courses and was accepted into the high school orchestra as a result. He went in for an audition because the opera program didn't give test scores much weight. He selected psychology as his minor and took a psychology course as an option. After switching from opera to psychology, he earned a Phi Beta Kappa degree (Duckworth, 2016, p. 31–34). This section of the book is one of my favorites because it cautions the reader against emphasizing talent to the point that we lose sight of other crucial factors. I experience some learning challenges, which makes it tough for me to learn new things.  I used strategies like contacting a tutor to check my papers for comments, bombarding my lecturers with questions when I didn't understand the material, completing my assignments in order of their due dates, and working out to help me feel less overwhelmed.  My parents give me a lot of support, I pursue my interests, and I want to graduate even though I don't have a lot of talent but I have grit. 

As stated by Duckworth, "Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them" (Duckworth, 183). Therefore, leaders and parents must demonstrate optimism by their behaviors. In her book "Grit," Angela Duckworth contends that while having doubts during trying circumstances is normal, how you handle those doubts demonstrates how tenacious you are. Shackleton is not just a remarkable leader, but also a shining example of grit for his ability to persevere in trying circumstances in pursuit of his crew's survival, as well as his capacity to uplift others through his acts. I found Angela Duckworth's book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" to be inspiring and enjoyable, and it changed the way I thought about my own capacity for success. In a warm, relatable style that gives the reader the confidence to be open and vulnerable with their own concerns, Duckworth discusses her personal experience of understanding that illusions about knowledge were holding her back. My favorite part of the book was how Duckworth used the "How Gritty Are You" questionnaire to directly address the reader's negative emotions because it had such a profound effect on my perspective. The book offers a few examples of how students might comprehend that success does not require talent. They should instead put their energies into something they love, work hard, and seek assistance.  For college students having difficulty in their academics, the book may offer a fresh perspective. I learned from the book that I'm not alone in my struggles with school and life in general. 

https://angeladuckworth.com/research/ (GRIT Scale)

This ted talk serves as a reminder that success can be achieved with perseverance, determination, and a willingness to learn, regardless of what your parents or anybody else wishes for you.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJb5u1U_JPY