Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Preface-Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. One fifth (Part 1, Chapter 1)

2. Perseverance (Part 1, Chapter 1)

3. The natural (Part 1, Chapter 2)

4. “Rank-and-yank” (Part 1, Chapter 2)

5. Effort (Part 1, Chapter 2)

6. Skill x effort = achievement (Part 1, Chapter 3)

7. Struggles with dyslexia, low test scores, mediocre grades (Part 1, Chapter 3)

8. Passion and perseverance (Part 1, Chapter 4)

9. Top-level goals (Part 1, Chapter 4)

10. 37% (Part 1, Chapter 5)

11. The Flynn Effect (Part 1, Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. The author indicates that though people may have great potential, what they do with that potential is determined by their grit. (Part 1, Chapter 1)

2. Duckworth believes that students who worked harder to achieve something performed better than those who were naturally talented. (Part 1, Chapter 2)

3. He believes people want to attribute their successes to talent rather than to acknowledge the effort put into developing skills. (Part 1, Chapter 3)

4. She identified that the greatest historical figures worked toward a distant goal, did not seek novel distractions, had perseverance, and overcame obstacles. (Part 1, Chapter 4)

Part 2, Chapters 6-9

Reading Check

1. Two thirds (Part 2, Chapter 6)

2. Their passions (Part 2, Chapter 6)

3. Continuous improvement (Part 2, Chapter 7)

4. 10,000 hours (Part 2, Chapter 7)

5. Stretch goals (Part 2, Chapter 7)

6. A maximum of 5 hours (Part 2, Chapter 7)

7. A calling (Part 2, Chapter 8)

8. With fixed mindsets (Part 2, Chapter 9)

9. By their effort (Part 2, Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Create a list of the things you love and the things you hate, and then try things related to your interests. Find mentors and continually ask questions about your interests. (Part 2, Chapter 6)

2. Purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves. (Part 2, Chapter 8)

3. Most people learn to enjoy things first with a self-oriented purpose, then with self-discipline, and later extend their approach to an other-centered purpose. (Part 2, Chapter 8)

4. People who generally see problems as short term and solvable tend to succeed and do better than people who are pessimists. (Part 2, Chapter 9)

Part 3, Chapter 10-Afterword

Reading Check

1. Supportive and demanding (Part 3, Chapter 10)

2. Extracurricular activities (Part 3, Chapter 11)

3. The corresponsive principle (Part 3, Chapter 11)

4. They won Super Bowl LVIII (Part 3, Chapter 12)

5. A culture (Part 3, Chapter 12)

6. Sisu (Part 3, Chapter 12)

7. Fortitude (Part 3, Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Students who engage in after-school activities are more likely to do better in school, get into trouble less often, and have improved self-esteem. (Part 3, Chapter 11)

2. According to Duckworth, most people do not feel as though they are too gritty. Through her research, she has determined that people who have more grit are more likely to have a healthy emotional life, but she does believe there are times to abandon a pursuit if it is no longer worth doing. (Part 3, Chapter 13)

3. Duckworth does indicate that being gritty requires a lot of time, from 70-80 hours a week, but that people should set an overriding goal such as “create and relate” to clarify efforts. (Afterward)