Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-222) and index

How to fail (and how not to) -- How to build character -- How to think -- How to succeed -- A better path

Why do some children succeed while others fail? The story we usually tell about childhood and success is the one about intelligence : success comes to those who score highest on tests, from preschool admissions to SATs. But in this book, Paul Tough argues that the qualities that matter more have to do with character : skills like perseverance, curiosity, optimism, and self-control

How Children Succeed introduces us to a new generation of researchers and educators who, for the first time, are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. Through their stories -- and the stories of the children they are trying to help -- Tough reveals how this new knowledge can transform young people's lives. He uncovers surprising ways in which parents do -- and do not -- prepare their children for adulthood. And he provides us with new insights into how to improve the lives of children growing up in poverty. -- From back cover