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Grit

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    Argen
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“One form of perseverance is the daily discipline of trying to do things better than we did yesterday.”

- Angela Duckworth, 2023

I really liked "Grit" by Angela Duckworth, and honestly, I wasn't sure I would. At first, it seemed like many other books I've reviewed, but soon I found myself genuinely enjoying it. Duckworth's concept of grit—combining passion and perseverance—is fascinating, and she weaves stories and research together seamlessly. The book never felt too "researchy."

I like to read along with audiobooks, and Duckworth herself narrates the audiobook beautifully. Both versions are great, and I highly recommend them.

Key Takeaways from "Grit"

Interest: To have grit, you must develop a passion for what you do. You’ll perform better when you truly enjoy your work.

Practice: Grit means perseverance and constant improvement. Duckworth discusses "deliberate practice" (focused, goal-oriented practice) and "flow" (effortless performance). The goal is to get better every day.

Purpose: Your work should be interesting and contribute to others’ well-being. Motivation increases when you believe your work matters.

Hope: Hope keeps you going when things get tough. Duckworth connects this with Carol Dweck’s idea of a growth mindset—believing you can always improve.

Favorite Part

My favorite chapter is “A Culture of Grit.” Duckworth emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with gritty people. My favorite line: “If you want to be grittier, find a gritty culture and join it. If you’re a leader, create a gritty culture.”

Final Thoughts

At first, I thought many self-help books sound alike, but "Grit" made me realize they share overlapping themes. "Grit" references "Mindset" by Carol Dweck and ideas from "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. It's nice to see how these ideas fit together. This book ties in well with themes of happiness and emotional intelligence, making all the pieces fit together nicely.

If you want to understand the power of passion and perseverance, "Grit" is a must-read. Stay tuned for more insights in my future blog posts!