Book · 2006
Mindset
by Carol S. Dweck
A Stanford psychologist argues that believing your abilities can grow is itself the ability that determines whether they do.
What does Reddit think of Mindset?
Mindset has 31 mentions across three subreddits, with r/getdisciplined and r/selfimprovement tied at 14 each, r/productivity adding 3. Thirty-one unique commenters means almost no one is talking to themselves here. The yearly distribution — peaking in 2021 at 7, holding at 4 through 2023 and 2024 — shows it never spiked and never collapsed. r/getdisciplined's highest-upvoted reference (↑340) uses Dweck's growth mindset framework to push back on a commenter being told they're not smart enough to succeed. That's the book working exactly as intended. r/selfimprovement pairs it with Atomic Habits repeatedly in the same comment — the ↑234 and ↑142 scores both appear in that pairing. The mild criticism comes from the same sub: one commenter (↑86) found the book's ideas were mostly things they'd already absorbed from other sources, which is a common complaint about foundational texts that have been widely popularized. One r/getdisciplined thread flags the school-adoption angle — Dweck's framework is now taught in classrooms, which some older students find condescending.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Fixed vs. growth mindset
- · Belief about ability as a predictor of outcome
- · How praise shapes children's relationship with failure
- · Effort as a process, not a character trait
Common praise
- + The ↑340 r/getdisciplined comment uses it directly to counter the 'you're just not smart enough' narrative, which is the book's stated purpose.
- + r/selfimprovement keeps pairing it with Atomic Habits as a prerequisite — the framework that makes Clear's system make sense.
- + Dweck's own research is cited rather than her just asserting things, which gives it more credibility than most self-help in these threads.
Common criticism
- − At least one r/selfimprovement reader found the ideas were already common sense by the time they got to the book — a function of how widely the framework has spread.
- − The school-curriculum adoption makes some r/getdisciplined readers roll their eyes at it before they open it.
- − It generates fewer dedicated discussion threads than Atomic Habits despite similar mention counts, suggesting people recommend it more than they discuss it.
Who it's for
If you believe your abilities are fixed and that belief is costing you, this is the book that directly addresses it. r/getdisciplined recommends it specifically to people doubting their own capacities — the ↑98 comment is blunt: 'I highly recommend it for anyone doubting their abilities.' If you already operate from a growth mindset by disposition, the book will feel like a textbook for something you already know. Read it alongside Atomic Habits rather than instead of it; they're frequently cited together for a reason.
Mentions over time
Which Reddit comments matter for Mindset?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“Id go with atomic habits by james clear or mindset by carol dweck
“There are a few which really transformed my life after reading. Mindset by Carol s dweck. The obstacle is the way by Ryan holiday How to win friends and influence people by dale Carnegie Atomic habits by James clear
“Have you ever read Mindset by Carol Dweck? I highly recommend it for anyone doubting their abilities.
“It wasn't for me - the aspects I found beneficial were either common sense or bits and bobs that I've already come across. Some books I would recommend are: 'Mindset' by Carol Dweck, 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear*, Elastic Habits by Stephen Guise, '168 hours' by Laura Vanderkam, 'Dopamine Nation…
“Multiple books. Ikigai. Mindset (Carol Dweck). A bunch of articles in Psychology Today. Lessons learned include: 1. Don’t compare yourself to others. 2. Be content and get comfortable with being alone. 3. Don’t chase happiness but accept life is sadness, tragedy, and also happiness. Deal with each s…
“It sounds like part of what you’re describing is growth mindset vs. fixed mindset, which was popularized by a psychologist named Carol Dweck. She wrote a very good book about this called, appropriately, Mindset. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to praise a child’s effort (“I love how ha…
“Mindset by Carol Dweck. Hands down
“Mindset by Carol Dweck. Literally nothing gets me down after reading that book
“Mindset by Carol Dweck. Shifted my thinking from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Also, The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker. It’s great insight into the history of violence in society. You realize how much it has declined and much better things are now.
“>Mindset theory (Carol Dweck, Jason Moser and others) is the idea that if you believe you can change your intelligence (growth mindset) you increase your ability to learn. And if you believe your intelligence to be fixed (fixed mindset) you do not increase this ability. This is not a fair descript…
“For me, I was reading this book called growth by Carol dweck and It talks about the growth mindset. Satya nadela has talked about this book many times at various podcasts. It struck a cord coz my mother was a definition of anti growth mindset, she always looked at failure as something fate and desti…
“There's a lot to it, too much to discuss in a post, and without knowing your background. I would recommend Carol Dweck's Mindset book, available in libraries or 2nd hand / cheap, because it does provide a logical basis along with examples towards adopting a growth mindset. There are some dynami…
“Very relatable! I can recommend "Mindset" by Carol Dweck on this subject. Too much praise in children early in their lives will lead to a "fixed mindset", in which people feel the need to defend their intelligence, rather than working hard to improve (regardless of your current abilities)
“Maybe check out "Mindset" by Carol Dweck (or look at one of the 10000 summary videos on youtube). The concept, that you can and will get better with time made working on the boring parts (practicing instruments, learning vocabulary etc.) way more rewarding, because even if you don't have a breakthr…
“Hey, it’s understandable to feel disappointed, but remember that one setback doesn’t define your future. Consider alternative paths like vocational training, apprenticeships, or even retaking the exam with better preparation. Check out ”Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck for ins…
Convinced? Pick up Mindset
Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with Mindset — counted from the comments, not curated.
Guides featuring Mindset
Ranked best-of lists and editorial guides where this book's tracked mentions place it.
Mindset — frequently asked
Is Mindset by Carol Dweck worth reading if I've already absorbed the growth mindset concept?+
Depends on where you absorbed it. If you got it from a YouTube summary or a blog post, the book adds the research detail and specific case studies that make the argument stick. If you read it secondhand through Atomic Habits, there's real overlap. One r/selfimprovement commenter (↑86) said the ideas felt like common sense they'd already encountered — that's a fair warning if you've been in self-improvement circles for a while.
What does Reddit think of Mindset by Carol Dweck?+
Broadly positive, with 31 mentions across r/getdisciplined and r/selfimprovement over seven years. It consistently appears in lists alongside Atomic Habits and How to Win Friends and Influence People. The criticism is mild: the ideas have spread so widely that some readers find the book redundant. Nobody says it's wrong, just that for some it arrived late.
Should I read Mindset before or after Atomic Habits?+
Before, based on how r/selfimprovement commenters sequence them. Mindset addresses why you'd bother building habits in the first place — the belief that change is possible. Atomic Habits is the mechanism. The ↑234 and ↑142 comments that cite both tend to list Dweck first. That sequencing isn't accidental.
Is Mindset just a book about telling kids they're not smart?+
No, though the r/getdisciplined thread flagging school adoption gets at something real — Dweck's framework has been simplified in classroom settings to the point where older students find it patronizing. The book itself is more precise: it's about how praise for intelligence vs. effort shapes a person's response to failure. The adult applications are the more interesting half.