What Will Power Won’t

For this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson interviews Angela Duckworth about her new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best. Her previous best-selling book, Grit, explored the idea that passion and perseverance drive success. This new book argues that grit is not enough to succeed. Yes, grit matters, but the real game-changer is your situation, that is, the objects within reach, the people around you, the physical and social environment that you inhabit. Duckworth reveals how the most successful people don’t just grind harder; they reshape their circumstances to make success feel automatic. The conversation with host John Dickerson ranges from the “three boxes model” of human behavior to the power of finding your tribe and mentors. Whether you’re struggling to be present, trying to build better habits, or wondering why willpower alone hasn’t delivered, this book offers a framework for understanding and changing the situation that shapes you every single day.

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Podcast production by Nina Porzucki.