The Smartest Kids In The World: And How They Got That Way

Amanda Ripley is an investigative journalist and author known for her ability to translate complex systems, such as disasters, public policy, and education, into compelling narratives for a wide audience. Prior to writing The Smartest Kids in the World, Ripley had a long-time career at publications like Time and The Atlantic. Her initial skepticism about the subject of education adds a layer of objectivity to her work, positioning her as someone who came to the topic with a critical, analytical perspective.

Ripley’s motivation to write this book came from observing stagnation in US education outcomes, particularly in international terms. Rather than focusing on traditional metrics like graduation rates or spending, she turned her attention to the PISA and the cross-national data it generated. Her decision to follow three American exchange students in high-performing countries allowed her to blend investigative reporting with narrative storytelling. Ripley’s background in policy reporting led her to identify the systemic patterns that often get lost in anecdotal accounts. Some critics note that The Smartest Kids in the World lacks the usual rigor of studies on US education, but others considered it a fresh addition to a dry, scholarly field (Matthews, Jay.