Mindset
The New Psychology of Success
by Carol S. Dweck
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Co-founder of Twitter and Medium
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Recommended by 12 notable people, including Bill Gates and Derek Sivers
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Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Carol Dweck unpacks the distinction between fixed and growth mindsets, illustrating how beliefs about ability can shape learning, resilience, and achievement. The core idea is instantly applicable—shifting from 'I'm not good at this' to 'I'm not good at this yet'—and Dweck supports it with vivid schoolroom, sports, and boardroom stories. That same accessibility also becomes the book's friction point: the concept gets padded with repetitive case studies, and some readers will chafe at its relentless optimism and reliance on anecdotal evidence.
Read this if...
- •A middle school teacher noticing that students who struggle with a new concept shut down rather than ask for help, and wanting a low-prep way to normalize mistakes in the classroom.
- •A new manager who's just realized she avoids assigning stretch tasks to someone because she thinks they 'just aren't a numbers person,' and she's uneasy about that instinct.
- •A working artist stuck in a perfectionist loop who hasn't shown a new piece in two years because nothing feels finished enough to survive judgment.
Skip this if...
- •You’ll likely put it down when the same headline is restated through yet another celebrity success story and you’re craving a how-to.
- •The book is annoying if you prefer evidence-backed nuance over a big charismatic idea.
- •You’ll lose interest if you’re already familiar with the growth-mindset concept and need deeper implementation strategies beyond 'praise effort not talent.'
From the renowned psychologist who introduced the world to “growth mindset” comes this updated edition of the million-copy bestseller—featuring transformative insights into redefining success, building lifelong resilience, and supercharging self-improvement. “Through clever research studies and engaging writing, Dweck illuminates how our beliefs about our capabilities exert tremendous influence on how we learn and which paths we take in life.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes “It’s not always the people who start out the smartest who end up the smartest.” After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the…
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:medium
Length:290 pages (Medium)
Audience Fit
- A middle school teacher noticing that students who struggle with a new concept shut down rather than ask for help, and wanting a low-prep way to normalize mistakes in the classroom.
- A new manager who's just realized she avoids assigning stretch tasks to someone because she thinks they 'just aren't a numbers person,' and she's uneasy about that instinct.
- A working artist stuck in a perfectionist loop who hasn't shown a new piece in two years because nothing feels finished enough to survive judgment.
- You’ll likely put it down when the same headline is restated through yet another celebrity success story and you’re craving a how-to.
- The book is annoying if you prefer evidence-backed nuance over a big charismatic idea.
- You’ll lose interest if you’re already familiar with the growth-mindset concept and need deeper implementation strategies beyond 'praise effort not talent.'
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
View available editions on AmazonKey themes
Why recommended
Recommended by 34 sources and appears in Mindset, Studying, and Habit.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Ready to read Mindset?
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Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Good to Great by Jim Collins. Recommended by 32 sources.
“The book walks you through a multi-year research project, contrasting spectacular performers with mere survivors. The core insight—that sustained greatness hinges on disciplined people, thought, and action—feels sturdy and actionable. But the book’s arguments rely on retrospective selection of companies, and some of its darlings later faltered. You’ll find a methodical, almost monastic tone that rewards patience but may irritate if you want contemporary, tech-savvy lessons.”
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How recommendation signals are reviewed
Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.