In this book theorists and researchers present a range of perspectives on how to promote excellence in education, providing an opportunity for expression to those who stress transformation of educational practice and those who emphasize individual abilities. In part 1, The Individual Pursuit of Excellence, the chapters are: (1) Learning from Extraordinary Minds (Howard Gardner); (2) Attaining Excellence through Deliberate Practice: Insights from the Study of Expert Performance (K. Anders Ericsson); (3) Fostering Intellectual Excellence through Developing Expertise (Robert J. Sternberg, Elena L. Grigorenko, and Michel Ferrari); and (4) Achieving Academic Excellence: A Self-Regulatory Perspective (Barry J. Zimmerman). In part 2, Culture, Society, and the Pursuit of Excellence, the chapters are: (5) Pathways to Excellence: Value Presuppositions and the Development of Academic and Affective Skills in Educational Contexts (Michael F. Mascolo, Jin Li, Rosalie Fink, and Kurt W. Fischer); (6) Creating Standards of Excellence for Residency Training in Neurological Surgery: A Historical Approach (Rosa Lynn Pinkus and Ryan Sauder); (7) Achieving Excellence in Institutions (Herbert A. Simon); (8) Personal and Institutional Pursuit of Excellence (Michel Ferrari); and (9) Conclusion: What Is Excellence and How To Study It? (Michel Ferrari). Each chapter contains references. (SLD)