How Children Succeed

A behavioral science writer with a gift for narrative imagery shows the character traits that impact learning and success and how they can be taught. The brain chemistry necessary for such traits to emerge begins with soothing parents and an early environment with manageable stress levels. This allows healthy traits like curiosity, impulse control, persistence, and resilience to develop. But even when parental inputs and neighborhood conditions are not optimal, the author says, teachers can help by providing support, security, targeted guidance, and challenging expectations. Dan John Miller's relaxed tone and sensitive phrasing capture every bit of this book's human pathos and intellectual ideas. His enthusiasm and engagement sound genuine, and he's especially fun to hear when he's delivering quotes. His measured optimism helps make this a paradigm-shifting audio for anyone involved in teaching or shaping educational policy. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine