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Do Hard Things

Do Hard Things

By Steve Magness

Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness. HarperOne, 2022.

19 min read33 min listen16 chapters

Summary of Do Hard Things book by Steve Magness

A revelatory approach to physical and mental performance that strips away illusions of “toughness” and teaches how to develop real, meaningful approaches to all of life’s challenges.

Chapters in Do Hard Things book summary

Free Sample
1

What do you get from this book? The myths surrounding “toughness” and how to develop real strength

2

Modern society focuses too much on external, masculine strength without giving any thought to inner toughness

3

Parents and coaches train kids to overcome physical obstacles, but ignore mental preparation

4

Our perception of reality shapes the way we experience challenges and threats

5

Self-worth and confidence are crucial to performance, but difficult to cultivate in a world dedicated to extrinsic rewards

6

When people lose autonomy they easily give up, but there are small measures they can take to reclaim control

7

Our emotions drive our actions, which means understanding them is key

8

Your brain can pull you in two different directions, but your inner voices only want to help you

9

When the amygdala sounds an alarm, we react without thinking and make situations worse than they really are

10

By spending time alone with yourself, you can gain mental clarity and develop resilience

11

Getting locked into one state of mind limits our ability to respond appropriately to situations

12

When we focus on intrinsic motivators, we’re able to reframe our goals and achieve success

13

Even under the worst of circumstances, we can still find purpose and meaning in life

14

Summary of the key insights

15

Selected critiques in brief

16

Final word

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Who should read Do Hard Things book

  • ambitious students
  • anyone who is preparing for difficult tasks

About the author of Do Hard Things

Steve Magness

Steve Magness

Steve Magness is a prominent performance coach and bestselling author. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Runner’s World, and The New York Times. Magness is the co-founder of The Growth Equation, an organization dedicated to improving mental and physical health through exercise, mindfulness, and stress-reduction techniques.

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