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

A foremost "New Yorker" and "New York Times" journalist reverses three decades of thinking about what creates successful children, solving the mysteries of why some succeed and others fail -- and of how to move individual children toward their full potential for success.

Like his previous book, Whatever it Takes, this one is great. I especially appreciated his exploration of the relevance of (and challenges to developing ) grit and other character traits among both affluent and impoverished kids. An extended section on teaching and playing chess was so long and detailed almost to seem tangential, but it was actually my favorite part of the book. The Brooklyn chess teacher Elizabeth Spiegel's methods and experiences make an engaging read.

According to this book the most important indicator of success is how a child is treated as an infant. A scary thought. Much of character - which the author cites evidence as the most important factor that will get someone to a college graduation- is developed in infancy, by parents who treat their children with love and care.

For students who do not develop character through the proper nurture, it can be taught and learned. This is the main message of the book - our thoughts on education reform should focus on how we can provide children with the character to persevere through failure and to exhibit the hard work necessary for success.