"If you read one book , make it this one."
— Mel Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast
ABOUT THE BOOK
From the #1 bestselling author of Grit, four essential strategies everyone can pursue to bring out their best.
In Angela Duckworth's first book, she showed that a common denominator of successful strivers is a blend of passion and perseverance she dubbed "grit." This second book springs from her deepening realization that grit, while necessary, is sometimes not sufficient. How you situate yourself to meet a challenge can be crucial.
Duckworth's in-depth research reveals the enormous influence wielded by the objects within arm's reach, your peers and mentors, and even your zip code. Though you're often told to make the best of your situation, it is far, far better to make your situation better first.
In Situated, you'll discover—
Why your personality changes, sometimes dramatically, from one situation to another—and how you can harness that shift
The secret to conquering temptation without willpower
Why taking the less effortful path can feel like cheating but often solves a stubborn problem
How the company you keep shapes the person you become
The most effective ways to help others succeed
Highlighting four essential elements of successful situations, Duckworth shows how high performers like Taylor Swift, Michael Phelps, and Jerry Seinfeld create situations that make the most of their grit. And with disarming honesty, she shares her own struggles with burnout and marriage—and how learning to change her situation, not herself, made all the difference.
Whatever it is you want to achieve, there's a situation that can make your journey easier.
It takes effort to make your situation your ally—but a little effort goes a long way…when you get situated.
Pre-ordered Situated? Get a free personalized bookplate.
As a thank-you for pre-ordering, I'd love to send you a signed, personalized bookplate—a small decorative card, signed by me, that you can stick inside the front cover of your book.
Here's how to get yours:
Address a return envelope to yourself (at least 3" × 4") and add a stamp. If you're mailing from outside the U.S., please make sure to include the correct international postage so I can send your bookplate back.
If you'd like your bookplate personalized, tuck in a note telling me how (for example, the name you'd like it made out to).
Mail it to me at:
Angela Duckworth
3720 Walnut Street
Psychology Department, Solomon Building
Philadelphia, PA 19104And I'll put one in the mail for you!
Please note: limit one per person. Your envelope must be postmarked by September 1, 2026, and all bookplates will be mailed out by the end of October 2026.
SITUATED BOOK TOUR
Join Angela Duckworth this September for a nationwide series of live conversations celebrating her new book, Situated—on why the smartest way to reach your potential is to change your situation, not yourself.
How Situated Are You?
Rate how true each statement is for you right now. The more your situation works in your favor, the higher your score.
What can you change? It's never too late—or too early—to get situated.
A 0 means that at every turn, your situation is your enemy. A perfect 10 means that in every way, your situation is your ally.
Getting situated means proactively setting up your personal space, finding peers and mentors to support and guide you, and choosing a culture where the way people do things is the way you want to do them, too. Here's how you did:
What can you change? It's never too late—or too early—to get situated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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By “situation,” I mean the objective physical and social circumstances you inhabit. Not just the actual spaces but also the company you keep, not just the objects within sight and reach but also cultural norms. Your situation is quite literally everything and everyone around you. All of it.
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Grit matters! When it comes to achieving challenging goals, grit is necessary but not sufficient. The situation also matters—and to an astonishing degree. How you think about your goals and what you’re willing to do to achieve them depends on both you and your situation. A successful situation amplifies your effort, while a losing situation diminishes it.
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Whether you’re rich or poor, young or old, established in your career or just starting out, your circumstances aren’t fixed—not entirely. It’s true that the world isn’t always fair, and some have much more freedom to change our situation than others. But alongside the realities you have no power to change, there’s almost always something you can. For example, only you decide where to keep your phone when you go to bed. And you can choose to spend more time with the friends who bring out your best and less time with people who bring out your worst.
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Feeling burned out is a clue that something is amiss with your situation.
When you're feeling burned out, every task on your to-do list feels like a chore. You feel like you're dragging yourself through the day. You feel like as hard as you work, you’re not getting where you want to go.
In contrast, a challenging and supportive situation encourages positive thoughts, which lead you—without having to force yourself—to put forth your best effort.
situated HUB
SITUATED SCORECARD
CHALLENGE VS. SUPPORT
THREE BOXES BLUEPRINT
SITUATION VS. CONTROL
MEDIA
