Advice Goddess Radio: Amy Alkon/Paul Tough, how kids succeed

Amy Alkon's Advice Goddess Radio: "Nerd Your Way To A Better Life!" with the best brains in science.

This week's guest is journalist Paul Tough, author of the terrific book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. It turns out that we (and educators) have clung to numerous myths about how intelligence and success and how to develop successful, hardworking, and ultimately happy kids who will carry those qualities into adulthood. 

I don’t usually have journalists on my show, but this is a meticulously reported and exhaustively researched book that shows that the qualities that matter most in flourishing in school and life are things like "grit," curiosity, and character -- which breaks down into life skills like perseverence, conscientiousness, and self-control. 

Tough will talk about the techniques that researchers, doctors, teachers and school administrators have learned fail kids and what it takes to help kids build the character it takes to succeed.

This is a not-to-be-missed show for anyone who has kids or who is interested in the latest research in intelligence, creativity and success.