Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Help readers relate the book’s lessons to their own life experiences.

1. Growing up, what types of messages did you receive about talent, intelligence, or success? How have those early beliefs influenced the way you respond to feedback or failure today?

2. Dweck describes how fear of failure can prevent people from taking risks. Can you recall a time when you avoided a challenge for that reason? How might a growth mindset have changed your response?

3. In relationships, Dweck suggests that conflict can be a growth opportunity. Have you experienced a time when a difficult moment in a personal or professional relationship helped you grow?

4. How do you typically handle constructive criticism? Do you see it as helpful input or as a threat to your competence—and what contributes to that reaction?

5. The comparison trap is part of fixed mindset thinking. When do you find yourself comparing your progress or abilities to others, and what helps you refocus on your own growth instead?

6. Dweck introduces the idea of a “false growth mindset” (214)—when people talk the talk but don’t back it up with effort or strategy. Where in your life might you be showing signs of that kind of disconnect?

Encourage readers to think about the book’s role in current social, cultural, or professional conversations.

1. How does mindset theory inform current debates in education, such as the push for social-emotional learning, standardized testing reform, or rethinking grading systems?

2. Dweck links fixed-mindset business cultures to unethical or short-sighted decision-making. Can you think of recent examples (in news or personal experience) where this dynamic might have contributed to failure or scandal?

3. The book connects mindset to systemic issues like bullying and school violence. How might policy or community leaders incorporate mindset training into their efforts to support youth mental health and resilience?