MINDSET The New Psychology of Success

The author provides an instructive summary of how modern psychology looks at personal growth, learning, motivation, and performance. She clumps a variety of emotional and personality features into two types of people—those with fixed minds whose achievements are curtailed by low self-esteem and those who are more secure and welcome challenges, learning, and growth. She offers specific advice on how individuals and institutions can become more growth oriented. Dweck’s optimism and lucid writing keep her research summaries and case histories from sounding too academic. Marguerite Gavin’s performance hits all the marks and keeps the action moving with without any fussiness. Her warmth and connection with the author’s message are obvious enough, but quick pacing and strident-sounding enunciation make the performance less pleasant to hear than it could have been. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012]