Why do some children succeed and others fail?

Answers don’t come from the ACT, SAT, or other measures of intelligence, Paul Tough says. The author points to less calculable qualities such as perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, and self-control.

In a discussion of his best-selling book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, Tough introduces us to researchers and educators who are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. Through their experiences, he traces the links between childhood stress and achievement. He uncovers surprising ways in which parents prepare — and fail to prepare — children for adulthood. And he offers new insights into how to help youngsters growing up in poverty.

The findings could change how we raise our children, run our schools, and construct our social safety net.

Tough has written about education, parenting, and other issues as a contributor to The New York Times Magazine.

The event is the second in an education speaker series co-presented by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.