Adversity Quotient:
Turning Obstacles into Opportunities. Paul G. Stoltz,
ISBN: 0-471-17892-6, Published: Apr 1997, Copyright: 1997
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Review by Michael Pellecchia
Adversity may not be your friend, but it doesn't have to be your enemy. This book builds on the latest scientific research and people's experiences to narrow down success factors into an "Adversity Quotient." Books about measuring individual effectiveness are often jam-packed with applicable insights and this one is no exception. The author has plenty of data drawn from his work with individuals and in corporations, to show that high AQ can be associated with top performance, productivity, creativity, health, persistence, resilience and vitality.

Using the metaphor of mountain climbing, Stoltz classifies people as either quitters, campers or climbers. Climbers "embrace challenges, and they live with a sense of urgency." Your Adversity Quotient, which you can measure with this book, determines how much control and hopefulness you can maintain during difficult times.