Nurture Shock

Its funny how you learn the same lesson at the same time from a number of different sources. I just started reading Nurture Shock and the first section is about how inappropriate praise can subvert a child's motivation. The main lesson is that parents need to be careful about the way they praise their children and the extent of that praise. Specifically, praise should provide guidance (as should criticism) so that children are motivated to continue a good behavior or end a bad one. Non-specific praise can teach kids that they have no control. For example, "you're so smart" teaches kids that their success relies on their innate ability. The book runs through several examples of motivating praise and demonstrates how such motivation can encourage kids to work hard and persevere. The same theme of hard work and perseverence runs through outliers.

I've just started reading the chapter on lack of sleep. Interesting so far ...