Could Do Better: Why Children Underachieve and What to Do About It

In this review of Could Do Better, Drs. Harvey P. Mandel and Sander I. Marcus offer a practical, clinician-informed guide to children who underperform at school despite clear ability. The bottom line: parents and educators looking for a psychologically grounded, behavior-focused approach will find the book valuable because it reframes underachievement as misdirected motivation and supplies concrete, tailored strategies. This review examines how well the text identifies different underachieving personalities and whether its step-by-step programs feel usable in real families.

Key Features

• Identification of six underachieving personalities: The book helps readers recognize distinct patterns so interventions can be matched to the child rather than applying one-size-fits-all advice.
• Clinical perspective: Written by experienced clinical psychologists, the guidance is grounded in more than 25 years of practice with underachieving children, giving the recommendations professional credibility.
• Focus on real motivation: The authors emphasize discovering what actually motivates a child so parents can redirect that energy toward schoolwork, making strategies more effective.
• Step-by-step programs: Each personality type comes with practical programs that parents and teachers can try, which reduces guesswork about how to intervene.
• Actionable language: The book speaks in clear terms rather than academic jargon, making it accessible to nonprofessionals who need usable advice.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at parents, tutors, and teachers who believe a child has untapped ability but lacks interest or drive in school. It suits adults who want concrete, behaviorally oriented strategies rather than purely theoretical explanations, and who are willing to observe and adapt approaches to a child's specific motivational profile.

Those seeking a neuroscience primer or a workbook for very young children may want a different resource, since the emphasis here is clinical description and tailored intervention rather than classroom curriculum or basic skill drills.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear framework for categorizing underachievement that helps target interventions.
• Practical, step-by-step programs that parents can implement without extensive training.
• Advice grounded in long clinical experience, which adds credibility to the recommendations.

Cons

• Not a substitute for individualized therapy in complex cases; some families may still need professional support.

Specifications

Title	Could Do Better: Why Children Underachieve and What to Do About It
Authors	Harvey P. Mandel, Sander I. Marcus
Primary focus	Underachievement and motivation in children
Approach	Clinical psychology with step-by-step programs
Experience behind content	More than 25 years of clinical work with underachievers
Audience	Parents, teachers, tutors

Our Verdict

Could Do Better is a solid, practical resource for adults who want to understand why a capable child resists school and how to redirect motivation. Its greatest value is the diagnostic framework of six personalities and the follow-up programs that make change feel possible; families who want clear, experience-based strategies will find it good value for addressing chronic underachievement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book offer actionable steps?
Yes. Each identified underachieving personality includes step-by-step programs intended for parents and teachers to apply.

Is this book suitable instead of therapy?
It provides practical guidance but is not a replacement for individualized therapy when problems are complex or severe.

Who wrote this book?
The authors are clinical psychologists Harvey P. Mandel and Sander I. Marcus, drawing on over 25 years of experience.