The Beast

The Beast is the seven-week summer training course that all West Point cadets are subjected to when they first arrive at the Point. It is a grueling experience that taxes people mentally, physically, and psychologically. The author finds that grit, rather than sheer mental or physical fitness, determines which cadets survive the Beast.

Grit Scale

The author developed a Grit Scale to measure an individual's grit. A version of the Grit Scale she administered to West Point cadets is reproduced in her book. The Grit Scale has two main components--passion and perseverance. The author has used this scale in many contexts to measure a person's grit. Though she admits the answer can be "faked," it's a good measure of a person's passion and perseverance if taken seriously.

Goal Hierarchy

Within the book, the author shows a goal hierarchy, which, for the purposes of simplification, has three...