★★☆☆☆ | Psychology | Print | Own | StoryGraph | Goodreads
Hidden Potential is about the importance of character, persistence, and passion in how we learn, Hidden Potential is about the importance of character, persistence, and passion in how we learn, grow, and ultimately reach our goals. The book is a self-help guide masquerading as business science, using a predictable format. A framework is introduced in a self-contained chapter, then elements of that framework are covered in detail with stories that mostly support the thesis, research studies are cited, and a conclusion is reached before moving on to the next chapter. I keep expecting more innovation from how these books are written, but almost every one I’ve read follows this same blueprint. I wouldn’t complain if the advice in this one weren’t so basic and uninspired. Examples:
- Make learning fun by turning study and practice into a game.
- Take breaks from work so you don’t burn out.
- You can improve if you have the passion for it.
- etc.
In 240 pages, I don’t think I picked up a single new idea. I kept wondering why this wasn’t a ten-minute TED Talk. Still, the book is well-written, almost breezy, and Grant weaves in his own success story along the way, which was interesting. Maybe this would be more useful for someone just starting out. I’m jaded from having read so many books like this over my career. This one was a miss for me.