Paul Tough Quotes

A collection of quotes by Paul Tough.

Paul Tough is an American author and journalist known for his writings on education, poverty, and child development. Born on December 28, 1967, in Canada, he later moved to the United States and graduated from Brown University with a degree in history.

Tough began his writing career as an editor at The New York Times Magazine, where he covered a wide range of topics including politics, culture, and education. He gained widespread recognition for his in-depth reporting and insightful analysis.

In 2008, he published his first book, "Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America," which chronicled the efforts of educator Geoffrey Canada to reform the education system in the poverty-stricken neighborhood of Harlem. The book received critical acclaim and further established Tough as an expert on education reform.

His subsequent works include "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character" (2012) and "Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why" (2016). These books delve into the factors that contribute to children's success, exploring the significance of character strengths such as resilience, perseverance, and curiosity.

Through his thought-provoking and insightful writings, Paul Tough has contributed significantly to the discourse on education and child development. He continues to inspire educators, policymakers, and parents with his research and ideas aimed at creating better opportunities and outcomes for children growing up in disadvantaged circumstances.

The part of the brain most affected by early stress is the prefrontal cortex, which is critical in self-regulatory activities of all kinds, both emotional and cognitive. As a result, children who grow up in stressful environments generally find it harder to concentrate, harder to sit still, harder to rebound from disappointments, and harder to follow directions. And that has a direct effect on their performance in school.

Paul Tough