russia has launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. Donate to support Ukraine and protect the world’s peace.

library / 
book

Summary of The Smartest Kids in the World 

4.6 . 1212 reviews

Short summary

When it comes to spending per student, the United States is usually far ahead of the rest of the world. So then, why do countries like Finland, South Korea, and Poland consistently overshadow it in education quality? Does it have to do with diversity, child poverty, parent involvement, or something else? What should the schools do to ensure that children are ready for whatever the future holds? Amanda Ripley offers answers to these and many other questions in her book The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way. As a New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist for the Atlantic, Politico, and The Washington Post, she joins three American students on their year abroad in a quest to figure out what makes their host countries so unique. It turns out the key to success is in something that money cannot buy — academic rigor, exceptional teachers, and parents who genuinely care about learning. “Kids meet the expectations you set for them.” ~ Amanda Ripley

Table of content

  • Summary of The Smartest Kids in the World
  • About the author
  • What is The Smartest Kids in the World about?
  • Who should read The Smartest Kids in the World
  • Topics in The Smartest Kids in the World
first key point

Academic mediocrity is not an option anymore

Listen the first key point
00:00
00:00
Does a diploma from high school or university prove that a person is competent enough to do their job and meet the requirements laid out for them? It does in some countries, but the situation is more complicated in others.

When PISA (a worldwide study on the quality of education by OECD, which measures the proficiency of 15-year-old students in reading, math, and natural sciences) took place for the first time in the year 2000, the results were unexpected. Many presumed that countries like the United States, France, or Germany would run the show once again. They spent a lot on education, equipped many of their classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, and their economies were booming. It had to mean that they were doing something right. So imagine the surprise of everybody when Finland turned out to be the educational superpower, and the prime candidates ended up with scores below the OECD average. The United States, for example, ranked 19th in math.

You might be thinking: “It is just another test. Why should I care?” There are several reasons for that. For one thing, PISA does not assess how good the students are at memorizing and reproducing facts. It was designed to test their critical thinking and ability to solve real-life problems. Teenagers are asked to share their opinion and explain their answers, not just circle the right option. These are the competencies that matter for the countries in the long term.
Americans waste an extraordinary amount of tax money on high-tech toys for teachers and students, most of which have no proven learning value whatsoever. The smartest countries prioritize teacher pay and equity. ~ Amanda Ripley
Jobs are becoming more and more complex. Today, even factory workers must be able to thoroughly analyze the instructions they are given and make reasonable decisions related to their trade. That is why countries that want to make sure that their economies are not lagging in the future must focus on the quality of the school education that their kids receive now.

What have Finland, Korea, and Poland done to become educational superpowers? They combined rigorous curriculum, responsible parenting, and top-notch teaching to achieve the best results. What mistakes did they make? What practices and techniques do they use? Are their kids not only bright but also happy? Keep on with this piece to find out — because Amanda Ripley and her field agents abroad are ready to share their recipe for educational wonder with you.
Even though some countries feel like they have nothing to worry about because their economies are booming now, their success in the future depends on the quality of their kids’ education.
second key point

Teachers matter most

What is the most challenging career choice a person can make in your country? You probably answered becoming a doctor or a lawyer. In Finland, however, it is just as hard to become a teacher. 1. First, your scores for the school graduation exam should be higher than average. 2. Then you can try to get into one of only eight prestigious teacher-training universities that accept only 20% of applicants. 3. After that, you study rigorously for six years. Finnish teachers are required to have a master's degree, too. 4. For one year of your master's program, you train in one of the country's public schools. Teacher mentors closely watch your classes and give you their honest (and sometimes harsh) feedback. 5. And only then can you work as a teacher.
book
Continue reading with Headway app
Continue reading
Full summary is waiting for you in the app
third key point

Not all parental involvement is good

fourth key point

Make school a priority

fifth key point

Abolish or delay tracking

sixth key point

Choose your school carefully

seventh key point

Conclusion

Buy full book on AmazonContinue the summary

What is The Smartest Kids in the World about?

Who should read The Smartest Kids in the World

book
book

Enjoy summarized nonfiction bestsellers

Grasp the book’s key ideas in less than 15 minutes

Get started

Get new knowledge easily

Let’s check how many titles you can finish in a month with Headway! Tell us how much time you’d like to spend on reading:

2 min/day
5 min/day
10 min/day
15 min/day
20 min/day
30 min/day
45 min/day
4 titles/month
10 titles/month
20 titles/month
30 titles/month
40 titles/month
60 titles/month
90 titles/month
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
4 titles/month
10 titles/month
20 titles/month
30 titles/month
40 titles/month
60 titles/month
90 titles/month
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image
image

Join 30+ million learners around the world

60K5 reviews on App Store and Google Play
icon

Everything you need to be motivate, to learn & to self improves is all here. I actually do appreciate the reminders because otherwise this wouldn’t work for me. Thank you

icon

sandypantalones

icon

Headway is the answer! No longer accumulating books I never read. With Headway, I initially chose the areas important to me such as productivity, time management, etc., and each day I'm provided several book summaries from which I devote 20 minutes or more each day reading. All of this on my phone! My life has improved with Headway. Truly my most useful app.

icon

Carol Slinker

icon

An excellent concept, executed well. Headway can help you retain what you've read while introducing you to the essential core of new information. It's an easier way to stay inspired, and to be reminded of the mental tools you've learned

icon

Fuse Henry

icon

In today’s world, we rarely have time. Between our jobs, our families are social obligations, when do we have time to grow and develop ourselves? Headway is an excellent app that gives you that time it gives you those little snippets of information that you need to direct your focus in on your life. Headway gives you a chance to find out the meat of a book that you might want to purchase and read or listen to in-depth without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out is this book for me? I highly recommend the app.

icon

sleepy sprite

icon

The selections are on point and the summaries are excellent! I listen while I walk my pup 🐶 and have in turn, ordered a few selections! REALLY loving the app, it’s layout, daily selections and features!

icon

JuicyBaby328

icon

I've gotten multiple books out of the library with the intent to read them, but always have a hard time finding the time. This app has helped me finally be able to get to them. Summarized, yes, and thank goodness too! Just short enough I can finish one on my way picking kids up from school/practice, or while I'm cooking dinner. I can't wait to listen to them over the summer when we visit the beach!

icon

Jillian Emmert

icon

It amazed me! There is the possibility to highlight the most important points of each book and instantly translate unfamiliar vocabulary. With the ability to review the searched words. It's a great way to learn more about English as well. The price is great.

icon

Fiamma

icon

I’m enjoying what I’m learning on headway.each summary comes with quotes at the end which you can save to help you remember key points. You can listen or read, I’ve found that reading puts me to sleep before I can finish but the listening feature keeps me engaged and I can finish in a brief amount of time if not one session.

icon

Epic waters

icon

The app it’s so easy to use. I use it while driving or cooking and is great. I love the fact that the chapters are short, so you can finish them quickly. Very knowledgeable.

icon

kathytaveras

icon

The best app for self development.It helps to keep pace with your reading and also suggests the kind of reading material you might like.It is fun as you can switch from reading to listening and vice-versa as per your convenience .Just get started and partake of the treasure of knowledge at your fingertips .I feel lucky to have spotted the app.It has helped me become self-disciplined and much better informed.The audio track is excellent.

icon

anita yadav

icon

Exactly what I need! I always have booklist to read, but can't committed enough to finish/start bc of too much pages. Headway is really helpful and concise with their summary. What I love the most is that the essence of the book is well crafted, so I don't only read the key points, but also there's the story and how personality of the author still well shown through the summary. Well done!

icon

Feninda Amalia

icon

This is outstanding best app ever and honestly whoever came up with is my app is an absolute genius kudos my gratitude definitely goes out and I’m only on my first week free trial and I’m certainly going to purchase this app annually. Now that I have it, I can’t even imagine living without it.

icon

Darlin NIKKIDOLL0923

Have questions?

Asking the right questions brings you closer to achieving your goals

Can I test out Headway before purchasing it for my team?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What should I do if some of my employees already have your Premium subscription?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

Can I increase or decrease the number of subscriptions on my corporate subscription once it’s started?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What are the benefits of books summary?

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.