New Jersey SEEDS and The Pingry School to Host Best Selling Author Paul Tough

Newark, NJ—November 7, 2012—New Jersey SEEDS and The Pingry School are pleased to announce a Luncheon, Lecture and Book Signing with Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. During his talk, Mr. Tough will examine why some children succeed, while others fail. Special attention will be paid to how to help children growing up in poverty.

Rated four and a half stars by both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, How Children Succeed was also reviewed by the New York Times. In discussing innate intelligence, reviewer Annie Murphy Paul wrote, “Tough sets out to replace this assumption with what might be called the character hypothesis: the notion that noncognitive skills, like persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit and self-confidence, are more crucial than sheer brainpower to achieving success.”

Lunch will be held on The Pingry School campus in Martinsville, NJ on Monday, November 12, 2012, beginning at 12:30 p.m.; Mr. Tough’s talk will begin immediately following. Copies of Mr. Tough’s book will be available for purchase and signing.

“At a time when improving education is on the agenda at every level of government, Paul Tough’s research raises critical issues that have not yet been part of the public discussion,” says SEEDS President Ronni Denes. “He explores educational outcomes in the context of child development, character building and the influence of income, factors every parent should understand.”

Mr. Tough served as an editor at the New York Times Magazine and Harper’s Magazine, as well as a reporter and producer for “This American Life.” He was founding editor of Open Letters. Mr. Tough has contributed pieces to New Yorker, Slate, GQ, Esquire, Geist and The New York Times. Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America, Mr. Tough’s first book, was published in 2008.

To RSVP for the event, please contact Sarah Cassidy at New Jersey SEEDS. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 973.642.6422, ext. 241.

About New Jersey SEEDS
Since its inception 20 years ago, NJ SEEDS has provided educational access to highly-motivated, low-income students and created a viable path for them to achieve their full potential. SEEDS strives for a world in which young people’s initiative, creativity and intellect can flourish without regard to socioeconomic status. For more information, visit www.seedsaccess.org.