A groundbreaking exploration of failure on our lives—and how to successfully face it and transform it.

For most of us, failure is not something we can easily move past. Many books have explored failure, and pioneering works like Mindset and Grit have helped popularize the importance of perseverance and growth-oriented thinking. But research has shown that interventions designed to foster these qualities produce results that are sometimes less powerful and effective than expected.

Dr. Lin-Siegler’s book takes a fresh approach and moves beyond broad encouragement. She lays out six powerful, teachable practices that can be adopted by anyone to turn failure into success. They are concrete, action-oriented, and research-backed strategies used by individuals at the highest levels of achievement across many disciplines. More importantly, they are accessible and available to everyone in everyday life, striving to navigate disappointment and self-doubt.

This book draws on over 30 years of research, as well as Dr. Lin-Siegler’s in-depth interviews with Nobel Prize winners, elite athletes, and everyday individuals who have turned failure into growth. Their candor in talking about the pain of failure, as well as their detailed reflections on how they adapted and evolved, provide some of the color and specifics that will form the foundation for this book.

Meanwhile, it also draws on the author’s own personal experiences. Born and raised in China, she immigrated to the United States in 1987 with limited English proficiency and $42 in her pocket. Her personal struggles shaped her view of failure—not as a barrier, but as an opportunity to confront, reinterpret, and grow from. With firsthand experience of its emotional, cognitive, and motivational toll, she brings a uniquely personal and scientific perspective to her work.

Dr. Lin-Siegler’s research shows that failure is not an endpoint, but unfinished business—an open agenda that, when met with purpose, drives learning, adaptation, and achievement.

Xiaodong Lin-Siegler has spent over 30 years uncovering the psychological and cognitive mechanisms that drive not just perseverance, but strategic adaptation, innovation, and breakthrough achievement. She is Cleveland E. Dodge Chair Professor of Motivational Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University and she directs both the Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC) and the Institute of Learning Technologies (ILT). Her work has been published in leading scientific journals and featured in major publications such as Scientific American, NPR’s Morning Edition, and BBC World News. She is also a sought-after speaker, having delivered over 200 keynote addresses at the world’s most influential institutions; and the 2025 Leadership Summit by the National Consortium of Secondary STEM school principals.