Paul Tough, HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED: GRIT, CURIOSITY, AND THE HIDDEN POWER OF CHARACTER

I think this is an important book--and I found it very engaging, not at all dry. Drawing on all kinds of studies--from sociological to biological to microbiological--Tough explains why warm, responsive parenting (and teaching) pretty much trumps all other influences (poverty, etc.) in creating a calm, resilient child who grows up into a successful adult; and that a student's GPA, not their IQ, is by far a better predictor of success in college and beyond. It's a child's ability to persevere that matters. I would recommend this for anyone interested in what makes our kids tick and what makes our schools work (or not).