Classic bookEvidence: Expert opinionAges 3–18
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Author or publisher Carol S. Dweck Published 2006 Reviewed by Edustack editors Last checked 13 Nov 2026
Evidence: Later meta-analyses found growth-mindset effects on school results are smaller than the book suggests (see the research below).
1What parents should know
Introduces the idea of a growth mindset and why praising effort and strategy differs from praising ability.
2Source and checks
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/44330/mindset-by-carol-s-dweck-phd/ Carol S. Dweck. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. 2006. Ballantine Books (2007 updated edition). ISBN 9780345472328 Link working · 13 Nov 2026 · checked automatically every month
The research behind it
What each study found comes first, then the kind of study and where it was published. We prefer systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and check for new research every month.Across hundreds of studies, a growth mindset was only weakly linked to school results, and mindset programmes had small average effects. Students from low-income families or who were struggling at school may benefit more.