80 pages • 2-hour read
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How did your understanding of "talent" versus "effort" evolve as you read this book? Have you read other works exploring similar themes, such as Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, with its discussion of the 10,000-hour rule?
2. What was your initial reaction to Duckworth's formula "talent × effort = skill; skill × effort = achievement"? Did this mathematical approach make the concept more or less compelling?
3. The book opens with Duckworth's father telling her that she is "no genius." How does this personal anecdote set the tone for the book's exploration of achievement?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Think about a time when you demonstrated grit in pursuing a goal. How did the four elements that Duckworth identifies (interest, practice, purpose, and hope) contribute to your experience?
2. Which of the book's many personal stories resonates most strongly for you? What aspects of that particular narrative connect with your own experiences?
3. How do you relate to Duckworth's discussion of "deliberate practice"? Have you experienced the difference between routine practice and the more focused, improvement-oriented practice that she describes?
4. Consider your own "Grit Score" based on the scale presented in the book. Were you surprised by where you fell on the spectrum? What factors do you think influenced your score?
5. The book discusses the concept of turning a job into a calling. Have you experienced this transformation in your own work life? What sparked that change?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How does Duckworth's research on grit challenge or reinforce current cultural attitudes about natural talent and success?
2. The book raises concerns about socioeconomic disparities in access to extracurricular activities. How might this issue affect the development of grit across different communities?
3. How might the current digital age, with its emphasis on instant gratification, impact the development of grit in younger generations?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. How does Duckworth balance academic research with personal anecdotes? What effect does this approach have on the book's persuasive power?
2. How does Duckworth employ metaphor and analogy to explain complex psychological concepts? Which examples of these rhetorical strategies were the most effective, and why?
3. How does the book's structure, which moves from defining grit to exploring its development, support Duckworth’s central argument?
4. Consider the role of counterarguments in the book. How effectively does Duckworth address potential criticism of her theory?
5. How does the author use case studies throughout the book? Do these examples strengthen or weaken her arguments?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If you were to write a "grit curriculum" for schools, what would be its key components? How would you balance supporting students while maintaining high standards?
2. Design your own version of the "Hard Thing Rule" that Duckworth describes for her family. What modifications would you make to suit different age groups or circumstances?
3. Imagine that you are creating a documentary about the concept of grit. Which of the book's stories would you choose to highlight, and why?
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