Summary of Helping Children Succeed

Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why by Paul Tough provides an in-depth analysis of how to help disadvantaged children become successful in life. Through a combination of interviews, research, and personal observation, Tough examines what drives children's success in school and in life. He then looks at how lives can be improved by focusing on character traits such as resilience, curiosity, and self-efficacy. Tough draws from successful programs and organizations from around the world to illustrate how these traits can be developed in children. He also looks at how parenting and adult guidance can be utilized to help create a positive environment for children. Finally, Tough makes suggestions for ways policymakers can help create a stronger system of opportunity for all children.