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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Thrivers summary
Michele Borba
The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine
25 mins
Brief summary
Thrivers is a book by Michele Borba that highlights the habits and practices of resilient individuals. It provides practical steps to develop perseverance, courage, empathy, and a growth mindset to overcome challenges and thrive in life.
Table of Contents
Thrivers
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
We need to teach kids more than how to pass exams.
What is it like to be a kid today?
That’s exactly the question the author asked tweens and teens across the United States in a series of focus groups. Unfortunately, their answers paint a picture of a generation in crisis.
According to them, there’s no time for friends, hobbies, or just being a kid between schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and social media. They spend less time hanging out with one another and more time cultivating a picture-perfect version of themselves online. Expectations are sky-high and they’re worried about failing to meet them. In short, they’re lonely and stressed.
The key message in this blink is: We need to teach kids more than how to pass exams.
During one focus group, the author talked to middle-school students in Boston. A boy named Aiden listened thoughtfully as his classmates chatted about their lives. When he finally spoke, he pointed at a game lying on a nearby table with an incomplete wooden puzzle on its cover. “That puzzle is us,” he said: “We’re trying to fit into the world but can’t because we’re missing pieces.”
But, which pieces are missing?
Well, look at the situation from these kids’ point of view. They exist in a hyper-competitive environment where success is all about striving for more: better grades, greater accolades, more likes on social media. Whatever the achievement, it’s always linked to a struggle for recognition that pits children against their peers. No wonder kids are stressed!
Unsurprisingly, lots of adolescents feel the same way as Aiden – that kids are being raised to be “products” and the things that make us human just aren’t being taught. Things like how to be a person, or get along with others, handle mistakes, and cope with stress.
The missing piece, it turns out, is character – that bundle of qualities like self-confidence, perseverance, empathy, and creativity which allows us to navigate the setbacks and uncertainties of the adult world. If we’re only teaching our kids to strive and pass exams, we’re setting them up for a fall once they enter the world. That’s the last thing we want. The goal, after all, isn’t to create a generation of high-achievers who burn out before they’re even eligible to vote – it’s to foster healthy, happy people.
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What is Thrivers about?
Thrivers (2021) is a study of what it means to be a child in today’s fast-paced, ultra-competitive, and digital world. Kids are achieving more and more, but they’ve never felt so lonely and stressed. In our rush to prepare them for an uncertain future, we’ve taught them to strive for accolades but forgotten that there’s more to success – and happiness – than test scores and grades. What’s missing is an emphasis on helping them thrive.
Thrivers Review
Thrivers (2021) by Michele Borba is a book that explores the skills and mindset needed to help children thrive in today's complex world. Here's why this book is a must-read:
- It provides evidence-based strategies and practical tips for fostering resilience, empathy, and a growth mindset in children, empowering parents, teachers, and caregivers to support their development.
- Backed by extensive research and Borba's expertise as an educational psychologist, this book offers valuable insights into the challenges children face and offers actionable solutions.
- Through compelling stories and relatable examples, Thrivers brings the concepts to life, ensuring that readers stay engaged and inspired throughout their journey.
Best quote from Thrivers
Real self-confidence is an outcome of doing well, facing obstacles, creating solutions, and snapping back on your own.
—Michele Borba
Who should read Thrivers?
- Parents worried about their kids’ futures
- Teachers on the frontlines of our burnout-inducing education system
- Psychologists interested in child development
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Thrivers FAQs
What is the main message of Thrivers?
The main message of Thrivers is how resilience can be nurtured and developed in children.
How long does it take to read Thrivers?
The reading time for Thrivers varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Thrivers a good book? Is it worth reading?
Thrivers is a valuable read for parents and educators. It provides practical strategies for promoting resilience in children.
Who is the author of Thrivers?
The author of Thrivers is Michele Borba.
What to read after Thrivers?
If you're wondering what to read next after Thrivers, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Optimistic Child by Martin E.P. Seligman
- Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay
- The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber
- Raising a Secure Child by Kent Hoffman
- The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene
- Weekend Language by Andy Craig
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- Brag Better by Meredith Fineman
- Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday
- The AI-fication of Jobs by Huy Nguyen Trieu