Book Review: Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence

| By: Committee for Children

By Daniel Goleman

Reading Level: adult

In Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, world-renowned psychologist, journalist, and author of Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman investigates the science behind focus, demonstrating why high performers in any area – business, education, arts, sports – need to apply this mental muscle. Focus is a slippery topic, as likely to go broad as it is to go tight. Over seven sections, Goleman describes three types of focus: inner, other, and outer. Inner focus is about paying attention to our intuition and guiding values. Other focus allows us to connect with the people in our lives. Outer focus enables us to navigate the larger world. The benefits of using all three kinds of attention are evident for people of all ages, in all walks of life, Goleman believes, allowing people to be both productive and happy.

Although the information in the book is relevant for all people, some of Goleman's thoughts on children are most compelling. He points out that, for children, executive control is the most important mental skill for life success. “Kids who can ignore impulse, filter out what's irrelevant, and stay focused on a goal fare best in life,” he says. Social-emotional learning is, according to Goleman, key to acquiring this skill. He explores a wide range of techniques for young people, from emotional-intelligence lessons to cognitive skill-enhancing gaming to mindfulness and similar attention-training methods.

Combining decades of research findings with practical applications, Goleman has produced a book that offers something for everyone. Teachers of the Second Step program will see the benefits of the skills they impart to their students reinforced in every page of Goleman's book. Educators will not be at all surprised at the revelations within Focus: anyone working with children would be able to predict that the multiple studies Goleman references would have the results he shares. But all readers can appreciate the depth and…focus…the author applies to the subject, as well as the fascinating and occasionally amusing examples and case studies.