One of the only things I like about winter is that I feel I have more time to read.

This year I have been focusing my reading on the growing body of research that helps us understand how we develop, grow and succeed.  I especially like books that challenge the way I think about things. According to the groundhog, we still have another month left before spring’s arrival. So here is a list of four books that relate to learning, growth and resiliency:

• Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.:  Stanford researcher Carol Dweck shares her findings about growth mindsets in a relatable way. Spoiler Alert: Intelligence is not a fixed trait as we once believed.  Furthermore, just believing that effort and even failure can lead to increased abilities, improves the chances of achieving our goals.

• Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why by Paul Tough:  In his book, How Children Succeed, education journalist Paul Tough reviews the research on the link between adult success and childhood character development. In this follow-up book, he examines programs and intervention strategies that have proven to be effective in cultivating the skills necessary for success.

• Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell:  Journalist Malcolm Gladwell shares both anecdotal and research based accounts of what makes some people achieve more than others. Gladwell’s engaging storytelling style reveals that success is a lot more than just natural talent and abilities.

• The Whole Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.:  This collaborative effort bridges what science is learning about the brain and neurodevelopment with practical approaches that any parent, educator or social service provider will find valuable.