education books best

100 Best Education Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best education books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck | 5.00

Tony Robbins [Tony Robbins recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Bill Gates One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because it’s solutions-oriented. In the book’s final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that ‘just learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Tara Westover | 4.99

Bill Gates Tara never went to school or visited a doctor until she left home at 17. I never thought I’d relate to a story about growing up in a Mormon survivalist household, but she’s such a good writer that she got me to reflect on my own life while reading about her extreme childhood. Melinda and I loved this memoir of a young woman whose thirst for learning was so strong that she ended up getting a Ph.D.... (Source)

Barack Obama As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018... (Source)

Alexander Stubb If you read or listen to only one book this summer, this is it. Bloody brilliant! Every word, every sentence. Rarely do I go through a book with such a rollecoaster of emotion, from love to hate. Thank you for sharing ⁦@tarawestover⁩ #Educated https://t.co/GqLaqlcWMp (Source)

The Story of Success

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.63

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

James Altucher Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? And so on. (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar The books that I've talked the most about with friends and colleagues over the years are the Malcolm Gladwell series of novels. Glorious stories that mix science, behaviours and insight. You can't go wrong with the "The Tipping Point", "Outliers", "Blink" or "David & Goliath". (Source)

How Children Succeed

Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

Paul Tough | 4.60

Chelsea Frank I was reading a book, “How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character” by Paul Tough on a recommendation by my sister, a Middle School teacher. At that time I considered myself a great mother with natural intuition and did not go to the book as a means of “self-help” but of leisurely pleasure. However, I was perplexed when I discovered that even the most intelligent,... (Source)

Make It Stick

The Science of Successful Learning

Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel | 4.57

Barbara Oakley If you’re trying to keep up your reading about learning, one of the best books about learning is Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger III, and Mark McDaniel. This insightful book was co-authored by some of the most influential researchers around. The book jacket says it best: “Many common study habits and practice routines turn out to be... (Source)

Pedagogy of the Oppressed

erbac | 4.56

Alexis Isabel @dontkauf i’ve read it! great book, def worth a re-read (Source)

How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren | 4.55

Sergey Brin had “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer J. Adler as one of his most recommended books. (Source)

Ben Chestnut I also love How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler. I’m teaching its tips to my children while they’re young, so they can consume books much faster and have more fun reading. (Source)

Kevin Systrom [The author's] thesis is that the most important part of reading a book is to actually read the table of contents and familiarize yourself with the major structure of the book. (Source)

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Kahneman | 4.53

Barack Obama A few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Marc Andreessen Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? (Source)

Savage Inequalities

Children in America's Schools

Jonathan Kozol | 4.53

The Book Whisperer

Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

Donalyn Miller, Jeff Anderson | 4.52

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The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Susan Cain | 4.51

Simon Sinek eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',164,'0','1'])); Leaders needn’t be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. It’s not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we needn’t try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... (Source)

Jason Fried A good book I’d recommend is “Quiet” by Susan Cain. (Source)

James Altucher Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. It’s not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, “uh-oh. I just shut down. I can’t talk anymore and there’s a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.” Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Let’s try to lock eyes at the party. “Quiet” shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... (Source)

Dumbing Us Down

The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

John Taylor Gatto | 4.51

The Smartest Kids in the World

And How They Got That Way

Amanda Ripley | 4.49

Angela Duckworth | 4.48

Benjamin Spall [Question: What five books would you recommend to youngsters interested in your professional path?] [...] Grit by Angela Duckworth (Source)

Bogdan Lucaciu Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - it was frustrating to read: “Where was this book 20 years ago!?” (Source)

Stephen Lew When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned Grit. (Source)

Teaching to Transgress

Education as the Practice of Freedom

bell hooks | 4.48

Brene Brown This book sat next to my bed the entire first year I taught at the University of Houston. Hooks' idea of "education as the practice of freedom" shaped who I am today. Whenever difficult conversations about race, class, or gender begin to surface, I remember what she taught me: If your students are comfortable, you're not doing your job. (Source)

Les Back It’s really a wonderful account of the possibility that education has to shape and transform lives. (Source)

The Well-Trained Mind

A Guide to Classical Education at Home

Susan Wise Bauer, Jessie Wise | 4.45

Why Don't Students Like School?

A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom

Daniel T. Willingham | 4.44

The Death and Life of the Great American School System

How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education

Diane Ravitch | 4.44

Other People's Children

Cultural Conflict in the Classroom

Lisa Delpit | 4.43

Kelly Wickham Hurst @MJAntinarelli @KaitPopielarz It’s amazing. It’s THE book that changed everything for me early on in my career. It was such a swift kick to the head. (Source)

Michelle Rhee Other People’s Children is one of the books that all educators should read because it really gives a different perspective on teaching children who may not be of the same race or socioeconomic background. I think it’s always important for teachers to understand the cultural norms and expectations that prevail in the school environment where they work. Teachers need to be cognisant, not... (Source)

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel H. Pink | 4.42

Tobi Lütke [Tobi Lütke recommended this book in an interview in "The Globe and Mail."] (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Takes some of those same ideas about motivations and rewards and extrapolates them in a little bit. (Source)

Mike Benkovich I'd recommend a sprinkling of business books followed by a heap of productivity and behavioural psychology books. The business books will help you with principals and the psychological books help with everything else in your life. Building your own business can really f!@# you up psychologically. (Source)

The First Days of School

How to Be An Effective Teacher [with CD]

Harry K. Wong, Rosemary T. Wong | 4.42

I Am Malala

The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb | 4.41

Adrienne Kisner Malala’s story of triumph is a battle cry for girls (and boys) everywhere. Education can set you free. (Source)

Three Cups of Tea

One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time

Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin | 4.40

Jennifer Steil Greg Mortenson has changed literally thousands and thousands of lives. (Source)

Nicholas Kristof I think Greg does a very good job of providing a more nuanced portrait of the Islamic world and what is possible in it. (Source)

Gretchen Peters I went to a refugee camp after 9/11 where people were living in tents and boiling grass to make tea and at least one family offered to let me sleep in their tent. (Source)

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

James W. Loewen | 4.40

Creative Schools

The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education

Sir Ken Robinson PhD and Lou Aronica | 4.37

Ng Rong Xin Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education by Sir Ken Robinson - a book for educator or edu-preneur or anyone who wants to make a change in the education realm. (Source)

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Stephen R. Covey | 4.37

Dustin Moskovitz [I] was surprised at how familiar the topics felt. (Source)

Dave Ramsey [Dave Ramsey recommended this book on his website.] (Source)

Kishore Biyani Immensely helpful and influential during my early years, it explained some of the basic mindsets required to succeed in any profession. (Source)

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood... and the Rest of Y'all Too

Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education

Christopher Emdin | 4.31

Teach Like a Champion

49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College

Doug Lemov | 4.31

Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire

The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56

Rafe Esquith | 4.28

The Shame of the Nation

The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America

Jonathan Kozol | 4.28

The One World Schoolhouse

Education Reimagined

Salman Kha | 4.28

How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It

Mr. Kelly Gallagher | 4.28

How Children Fail

John Holt | 4.27

Carol Dweck This was a revolutionary book. In it John Holt talks about why students turn off their minds, why even students from privileged backgrounds and schools become intellectually numb. Why do they fail? (Source)

Jacqueline Leighton One of the things that John Holt talks about is how children can learn to game the system, because they begin to realise what it will take to do well in school. (Source)

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

And Other Conversations About Race

Beverly Daniel Tatum | 4.26

Denise Morris Kipnis I was serving on the board of a prestigious and exclusive school when I first read this. As part of the school’s commitment to inclusion, every group, including the board, went through diversity training. Our consultant, Glenn Singleton of Pacific Education Group, never let us forget why we were there: that improving outcomes for all our students was a business imperative. As a result of this... (Source)

The Read-Aloud Handbook

Jim Trelease | 4.26

Bethany S. Mandel Also: Read Aloud Revival (all parents should check it out), this is another great book for all parents: https://t.co/632afZ2yFC, and we like Beautiful Feet Books curriculum too (lots of literature based options on world cultures, history, character etc) (Source)

The Four Agreements

A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

Don Miguel Ruiz, Janet Mills | 4.23

Jack Dorsey Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading! (Source)

Charlamagne Tha God These are the books I recommend people to listen to on @applebooks. (Source)

Karlie Kloss I just think it’s got a lot of great principles and ideas. (Source)

Excellent Sheep

The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life

William Deresiewicz | 4.23

Bryan Callen There’s a guy who I just had on my podcast, Mark Deresiewicz, who wrote a book called Excellent Sheep. He was a Yale professor, and took a look at the essentially what was wrong with higher education, at these elite institutions, primarily places like Amherst and Yale and Harvard. And one of the things he said is that we’re breeding excellent sheep. You’ve got 31 flavors of vanilla. These kids... (Source)

The Element

How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica | 4.23

Ng Rong Xin I read this book the year I graduated from college and was in my first job. It was a game-changer because it was after I read the book that I decided to take a plunge to start Explorer Junior, my start-up. (Source)

The Teacher Wars

A History of America's Most Embattled Profession

Dana Goldstein | 4.22

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Neil Postman, Andrew Postman | 4.21

Austin Kleon Earlier this year Postman’s son Andrew wrote an op-ed with the title, “My dad predicted Trump in 1985 — it’s not Orwell, he warned, it’s Brave New World.” Postman wrote: “What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.” (Source)

Steve Lance Neil Postman took the work of Marshall McLuhan – who was putting out early theories on media – and built on them. However, Postman was far more observant and empirical about the trends occurring in the media landscape. The trends which he identifies in Amusing Ourselves to Death, written in the 1980s, have since all come true. For example, he predicted that if you make news entertaining, then... (Source)

Kara Nortman @andrewchen Also a great book on the topic - Amusing Ourselves to Death https://t.co/yWLBxKumLQ (Source)

The Coddling of the American Mind

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Greg Lukianoff, Jonathan Haidt | 4.21

Mark Manson The kids aren’t alright. No, really—I know every generation says that, but this time it’s true. Kids who grew up with smartphones (and have begun to enter the university system) are emotionally stunted, overly fragile, and exhibiting mental health issues at alarming rates. I expected this book to be another, “Let’s all shit on social media together,” party, but it’s not. Social media, of course,... (Source)

Max Levchin Highlights the need to continue to have such discussions about sensitive topics instead of ignoring them for the sake of comfort. (Source)

Glenn Beck Just finished The Coddling of the American mind by @glukianoff Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt. Insightful. Straight forward and very helpful. A book that not only correctly identifies what ails us but also gives practical steps to cure. MUST READ (Source)

How Children Learn

John Holt | 4.21

Experience and Education

John Dewey | 4.20

Lost at School

Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them

Ross W. Greene Ph.D. | 4.20

Weapons of Mass Instruction

A Schoolteacher's Journey Through The Dark World of Compulsory Schooling

John Taylor Gatto | 4.20

Seth Godin I end up recommending this book to parents again and again. It will transform the way you think of schooling. (Source)

Reign of Error

The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools

Diane Ravitch | 4.20

The Well-Educated Mind

A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had

Susan Wise Bauer | 4.19

The Power of Habit

Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Charles Duhigg | 4.19

Naval Ravikant I also recently finished The Power of Habit, or close to finish as I get. That one was interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are. [...] I think learning how to break habits is a very important meta-skill that can serve you better in life than almost anything else. Although you can read tons of books... (Source)

Blake Irving You know, there's a book called The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Simple read book about just how to build positive habits that can be I think I what I'd call you know whether in your personal life or whether in your business life to help you build you know, have a loop that can build your success and that's one I mean there are so many great books out there. (Source)

Santiago Basulto Another book with great impact was “The power of habit”. But to be honest, I read only a couple of pages. It’s a good book, with many interesting stories. But to be honest, the idea it tries to communicate is simple and after a couple of pages you’ve pretty much understood all of it. Happens the same thing with those types of books (Getting things done, crossing the chasm, etc.) (Source)

Educating Esmé

Diary of a Teacher's First Year

Esme Raji Codell, Jim Trelease | 4.19

The Daily Five

Gail Boushey, Joan Moser | 4.19

The Courage to Teach

Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life

Parker J. Palmer | 4.18

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish | 4.18

Jeff Atwood "The best marriage advice book I’ve read is a paperback called How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. As you might deduce from the title, it wasn’t meant as a marriage advice book." https://t.co/cy7JeKVsjV (Source)

Miguel De Icaza @codinghorror Yes - that is an awesome book too (Source)

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Thomas C. Foster | 4.17

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may...

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

The Whole-Brain Child

12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind

Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson | 4.16

Genevieve Von Lob Siegel uses what neuroscience tells us about how a child’s brain develops to provide practical tips for parents. (Source)

Graham Duncan [Graham Duncan recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Freakonomics

A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Stephen J. Levitt, Steven D.; Dubner | 4.16

Malcolm Gladwell I don’t need to say much here. This book invented an entire genre. Economics was never supposed to be this entertaining. (Source)

Daymond John I love newer books like [this book]. (Source)

James Altucher [James Altucher recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Brain Rules

12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

John Medina | 4.16

James Altucher Discusses how to keep your brain healthy. (Source)

Dmitry Dragilev There’s a book called Brain Rules, also a great book, by John Medina, sort of like how your brain works. (Source)

Democracy and Education

John Dewey | 4.16

Last Child in the Woods

Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Richard Louv | 4.16

Genevieve Von Lob Louv coined the term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ because he was so concerned about the alienation of young people from nature. (Source)

Free to Learn

Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life

Peter Gray | 4.16

Punished by Rewards

The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise and Other Bribes

Alfie Kohn | 4.16

David Heinemeier Hansson Outlines all the scientific research on why incentive systems don't work. (Source)

The Essential 55

An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child

Ron Clark | 4.15

For the Children's Sake

Foundations of Education for Home and School

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay | 4.15

Bethany S. Mandel More: AmblesideOnline has lots of info and an amazing curriculum, Exploring Nature with Children is a great preschool curriculum and this book is a great place to start too: https://t.co/jETfCMdEnS (Source)

Teaching with Poverty in Mind

What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do about It

Eric Jensen | 4.15

Understanding by Design

Grant Wiggins, Jay McTighe | 4.15

Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around...

Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum.

Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, Understanding by Design , Expanded 2nd Edition, offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

Michelle Rhee Understanding by Design is an incredibly influential book. Its premise is that you have to start curriculum design with an end in mind. You figure out what your goal is first and plan backwards from there, building your curriculum around what you want to achieve. It sounds very simple but for a long time people weren’t doing that. They were covering units or textbooks without clear priorities or... (Source)

How We Learn

The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens

Benedict Carey | 4.15

Vladimir Oane He does a brilliant job proving that our thinking about learning is rooted more in superstition than in science. And boy this book is filled with science. It is extremely evident that the author is a science nerd because this book is 95% filled with studies and experiments on lots and lots of topics related to the learning: memorization, forgetting, associations, perceptions etc. This could make... (Source)

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

Zaretta L. (Lynn) Hammond | 4.14

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.13

Mike Shinoda I know most of the guys in the band read [this book]. (Source)

Marillyn Hewson CEO Marilyn Hewson recommends this book because it helped her to trust her instincts in business. (Source)

A Mind for Numbers

How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)

Barbara Oakley PhD | 4.13

Mike Rowe A good teacher will leave you educated. But a great teacher will leave you curious. Well, Barbara Oakley is a great teacher. Not only does she have a mind for numbers, she has a way with words, and she makes every one of them count (Source)

Teach Like a Pirate

Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator

Dave Burgess | 4.13

Reading in the Wild

Donalyn Miller | 4.13

The Elements of Style

William Jr. Strunk | 4.13

Tobi Lütke [My] most frequently gifted book is [this book] because I like good writing. (Source)

Bill Nye This is my guide. I accept that I’ll never write anything as good as the introductory essay by [the author]. It’s brilliant. (Source)

Jennifer Rock If you are interested in writing and communication, start with reading and understanding the technical aspects of the craft: The Elements of Style. On Writing Well. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. (Source)

The Underground History of American Education

An Intimate Investigation Into the Prison of Modern Schooling

John Taylor Gatto, Richard Grove, et al. | 4.12

NurtureShock

New Thinking About Children

Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman | 4.12

A Thomas Jefferson Education

Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century

Oliver Van DeMille | 4.11

Teaching with Love and Logic

Taking Control of the Classroom

Jim Fay, David Funk | 4.11

Teaching from Rest

A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Sarah Mackenzie and Dr. Christopher Perrin | 4.10

Whatever It Takes

Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America

Paul Tough | 4.10

Julia Enthoven As for non-fiction, Half the Sky (about crimes against women, especially in the developing world) and Whatever it Takes (about the Harlem Children’s Zone and the work of Geoffrey Canada) both changed my world-view enormously, and I thought they were both super compelling. (Source)

What Great Teachers Do Differently

17 Things That Matter Most

Todd Whitaker | 4.10

Out of Our Minds

Learning to Be Creative

Ken Robinson | 4.09

Deschooling Society

Ivan Illich | 4.09

Teacher Man (Frank McCourt, #3)

Frank McCourt | 4.09

A Whole New Mind

Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age

Daniel H. Pink | 4.09

Park Howell This is one of the books I recommend to people looking for a career in advertising. (Source)

Teaching as a Subversive Activity

Neil Postman, Charles Weingartner | 4.06

Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

Joshua Foer | 4.06

Bill Gates Of the five books I finished over vacation, the one that impressed me the most – and that is probably of broadest interest – is Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by science writer Joshua Foer. This is an absolutely phenomenal book that looks at memory and techniques for dramatically improving memory. Foer actually mastered these techniques, which led him to... (Source)

Chelsea Handler It has changed my life and made me embarrass myself much less when meeting someone twice. (Source)

Deborah Blum This book focuses not so much on the scientists but more on the consequence and meaning of memory for the rest of us. Within the framework of a memory championship, Foer looks at this almost obsessive interest in learning, how to remember everything. He asks the really interesting philosophical question, which is, are we defined by what we remember? (Source)

The Abolition of Man

C. S. Lewi | 4.05

Letters to a Young Teacher

Jonathan Kozol | 4.05

A Framework for Understanding Poverty

Ruby K. Payne | 4.05

The Global Achievement Gap

Why Our Kids Don't Have the Skills They Need for College, Careers, and Citizenship—and What We Can Do About It

Tony Wagner | 4.05

Creating Innovators

The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World

Tony Wagner | 4.04

David and Goliath

Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.04

Catalina Penciu Business-wise, my goal for this year is to improve my collection and my mindset, but my favorite so far has been David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. (Source)

Robert Katai Buy Malcolm Gladwell’s book “David and Goliath” and read the interesting stories about how the Davids of that moments have defeated the Goliaths. (Source)

The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools

Monique W. Morris | 4.04

I Read It, but I Don't Get It

Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers

Cris Tovani | 4.04

The End of Education

Redefining the Value of School

Neil Postman | 4.04

Making Thinking Visible

How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners

Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, Karin Morrison | 4.03

Choice Words

How Our Language Affects Children's Learning

Peter H. Johnston | 4.03

The Reading Strategies Book

Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers

Jennifer Serravallo | 4.03

"Multiplication Is for White People"

Raising Expectations for Other People's Children

Lisa Delpit | 4.02

Work Hard. Be Nice.

How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America

Jay Mathews | 4.01

Bill Gates Gives a great sense of how hard it was to get KIPP going and how intense the focus on good teaching is. (Source)

The CAFE Book

Engaging All Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction

Gail Boushey, Joan Moser | 4.00

The Total Money Makeover

A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Classic Edition)

Dave Ramsey | 4.00

Eric 'Dids' Recently listened to the Audiobook "Total Money Makeover" and am amazed how much it has made a difference, arguably more so outside of finance. The motto posed in the book, "Live like nobody else so eventually you can live like nobody else." Is an amazing motto to have in life. (Source)

Vincent Pugliese Linchpin by Seth Godin, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, and Rich Dad, Poor Dad had immediate effects on my life. (Source)

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A critical take on education and schooling

The 50 great books on education

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I have often argued that I would not let any teacher into a school unless – as a minimum – they had read, carefully and well, the three great books on education: Plato’s Republic, Rousseau’s Émile and Dewey’s Democracy and Education. There would be no instrumental purpose in this, but the struggle to understand these books and the thinking involved in understanding them would change teachers and ultimately teaching.

These are the three great books because each is sociologically whole. They each present a description and arguments for an education for a particular and better society. You do not have to agree with these authors. Plato’s tripartite education for a just society ruled over by philosopher kings; Rousseau’s education through nature to establish the social contract and Dewey’s relevant, problem-solving democratic education for a democratic society can all be criticised. That is not the point. The point is to understand these great works. They constitute the intellectual background to any informed discussion of education.

What of more modern works? I used to recommend the “blistering indictment” of the flight from traditional liberal education that is Melanie Phillips’s All Must Have Prizes, to be read alongside Tom Bentley’s Learning Beyond the Classroom: Education for a Changing World, which is a defence of a wider view of learning for the “learning age”. These two books defined the debate in the 1990s between traditional education by authoritative teachers and its rejection in favour of a new learning in partnership with students.

Much time and money is spent on teacher training and continuing professional development and much of it is wasted. A cheaper and better way of giving student teachers and in-service teachers an understanding of education would be to get them to read the 50 great works on education.

The books I have identified, with the help of members of the Institute of Ideas’ Education Forum, teachers and colleagues at several universities, constitute an attempt at an education “canon”.

What are “out” of my list are textbooks and guides to classroom practice. What are also “out” are novels and plays. But there are some great literary works that should be read by every teacher: Charles Dicken’s Hard Times – for Gradgrind’s now much-needed celebration of facts; D. H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow – for Ursula Brangwen’s struggle against her early child-centred idealism in the reality of St Philips School; and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys – for Hector’s role as the subversive teacher committed to knowledge.

I hope I have produced a list of books, displayed here in alphabetical order, that are held to be important by today’s teachers. I make no apology for including the book I wrote with Kathryn Ecclestone, The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education because it is an influential critical work that has produced considerable controversy. If you disagree with this, or any other of my choices, please add your alternative “canonical” books on education.

Michael W. Apple – Official Knowledge: Democratic Education in a Conservative Age (1993)

Hannah Arendt – Between Past and Future (1961), for the essay “The Crisis in Education” (1958)

Matthew Arnold – Culture and Anarchy (1867-9)

Robin Barrow – Giving Teaching Back to the Teachers (1984)

Tom Bentley – Learning Beyond The Classroom: Education for a Changing World (1998)

Allan Bloom – The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students (1987)

Pierre Bourdieu and Jean-Claude Passeron – Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (1977)

Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis – Schooling in Capitalist America: Educational Reform and the Contradictions of Economic Life (1976)

Jerome Bruner – The Process of Education (1960)

John Dewey – Democracy and Education (1916)

Margaret Donaldson – Children’s Minds (1978)

JWB Douglas – The Home and the School (1964)

Kathryn Ecclestone and Dennis Hayes – The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education (2008)

Harold Entwistle – Antonio Gramsci: Conservative Schooling for Radical Politics (1979).

Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968/1970)

Frank Furedi – Wasted: Why Education Isn’t Educating (2009)

Helene Guldberg – Reclaiming Childhood (2009)

ED Hirsch Jnr. – The Schools We Need And Why We Don’t Have Them (1999)

Paul H Hirst – Knowledge and the Curriculum (1974) For the essay which appears as Chapter 3 ‘Liberal Education and the Nature of Knowledge’ (1965)

John Holt – How Children Fail (1964)

Eric Hoyle – The Role of the Teacher (1969)

James Davison Hunter – The Death of Character: Moral Education in an Age without Good or Evil (2000)

Ivan Illich – Deschooling Society (1971)

Nell Keddie (Ed.) – Tinker, Taylor: The Myth of Cultural Deprivation (1973)

John Locke – Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1692)

John Stuart Mill – Autobiography (1873)

Sybil Marshall – An Experiment in Education (1963)

Alexander Sutherland Neil – Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing (1960)

John Henry Newman – The Idea of a University (1873)

Michael Oakeshott – The Voice of Liberal Learning (1989) In particular for the essay “Education: The Engagement and Its Frustration” (1972)

Anthony O’ Hear – Education, Society and Human Nature: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education (1981)

Richard Stanley Peters – Ethics and Education (1966)

Melanie Phillips – All Must Have Prizes (1996)

Plato – The Republic (366BC?)

Plato – Protagoras (390BC?) and Meno (387BC?)

Neil Postman – The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School (1995)

Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner – Teaching as a Subversive Activity (1969)

Herbert Read – Education Through Art (1943)

Carl Rogers – Freedom to Learn: A View of What Education Might Become (1969)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Émile or “on education” (1762)

Bertrand Russell – On Education (1926)

Israel Scheffler – The Language of Education (1960)

Brian Simon – Does Education Matter? (1985) Particularly for the paper “Why No Pedagogy in England?” (1981)

JW Tibble (Ed.) – The Study of Education (1966)

Lev Vygotsky – Thought and Language (1934/1962)

Alfred North Whitehead – The Aims of Education and other essays (1929)

Paul E. Willis – Learning to Labour: How Working Class Kids Get Working Class Jobs (1977)

Alison Wolf – Does Education Matter? Myths about Education and Economic Growth (2002)

Michael FD Young (Ed) – Knowledge and Control: New Directions for the Sociology of Education (1971)

Michael FD Young – Bringing Knowledge Back In: From Social Constructivism to Social Realism in the Sociology of Education (2007)

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Education Articles & More

Our favorite books for educators in 2023, the ggsc's education team picks the most thought-provoking, practical, and inspirational education books of the year..

For this year’s collection of our favorite education books, we’ve included a little something for everyone—including kids!—and they all center on one theme: hope. Navigating an antiquated educational system in a world that seems to thrive on stress and turmoil can lead to a feeling of helplessness. But we all know that educators are anything but helpless!

Sometimes, though, we need a little shoring up of our sense of agency, and that’s what these books do. If you feel like your imagination has taken a permanent hiatus—you just can’t bring yourself to think of another creative way to teach long division or save the world—look no further. If your students are having a hard time imagining how they can change the world, presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman has written a book just for them. For students and teachers who don’t need help imagining a cleaner, healthier world, but need a little guidance on how to start tackling climate change, social-emotional learning (SEL) expert Tom Roderick offers some ideas. But, if in all this changing and saving the world, you feel like you and your students need to decompress and remember the joy of learning, we’ve got you covered. And, for school leaders who aspire to create the space for all this beautiful transformation to take place (but, really, on certain days, only want to crawl under your desks), there is a book just for you…finally.

We wish you a peaceful end to 2023—and hope you take time to breathe and imagine new possibilities!

The Polyvagal Path to Joyful Learning: Transforming Classrooms One Nervous System at a Time , by Debra Em Wilson

Why is everyone talking about the vagus nerve these days? This wandering bundle of fibers connects the brain and the body, sending safety-and-danger signals to us throughout the day. Because it plays a starring role in our bodies’ involuntary functions (like our heart rate, breath, and digestion), it’s worthy of our curiosity as educators.

Debra Em Wilson’s book, The Polyvagal Path to Joyful Learning , provides a biological framework for understanding, monitoring, and responding to the diverse array of individual nervous systems in your classroom—including your own. Wilson’s practical anecdotes, metaphors, diagrams, and accessible writing make her guide highly readable and relevant. If you strive to be a trauma-sensitive practitioner, and you believe in the power of relationships in the classroom, this book will reaffirm your vision and sense of agency.

Drawing on Stephen Porges’s groundbreaking polyvagal theory and Deb Dana’s theory-practice translation work for clinicians , Wilson represents the primary autonomic nervous system responses as a three-runged ladder: from the immobilizing dorsal vagal response (associated with helpless and hopeless feelings) to the mobilizing sympathetic state (linked to both fear and aggression) to the optimal sense of safety, calm, and eager engagement we experience at the top of the ladder through the ventral vagal response.

Three insights emerged for me while reading about nervous system function and our capacity for learning. First, polyvagal theory emphasizes co-regulation (regulating emotions with others) before self-regulation (or self-management), one of the core social-emotional learning capacities. Wilson highlights healthy, adaptive ways that we can “borrow and lend” our regulated nervous systems through structured academic play, movement, and stillness, for example.

Second, our capacity for resilience isn’t an all-or-nothing game largely dependent on the number of adverse childhood experiences we’ve had. It’s an open-ended, growth process of “befriending and retuning” the nervous system as we recognize our bodily states and draw on our ventral response resources through calming “safety rest stops” and ongoing repair of day-to-day “misses” or “ruptures” with one another.

Finally, this approach expands the notion of the mind-body connection to a dynamic “mind-body-world” exchange where things like tone of voice, a soft gaze, a friendly gesture, and an open posture can make us feel safer, more joyful, more motivated, and engaged in learning and growing together. —Amy L. Eva

Something, Someday , with words by Amanda Gorman and pictures by Christian Robinson

There is much that is hard in this world. An ever-worsening climate crisis , increased poverty and homelessness, violent wars …all problems that feel too big to fix, especially for young children. This beautifully illustrated picture book by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman reminds children (and all of us, really) that we do have the ability to make a difference . It offers up hope that when we come together, and build upon small acts of kindness , we can find beauty and create change in the world.

This book touches on themes that Greater Good has focused on this year: having the courage to take action when things feel hard or scary; the experience of awe that comes from collective effervescence (the feeling that arises when we work with others toward a common goal); approaching the world with openness, wonder , and curiosity ; and, lastly, the importance of community, connection, and compassion for those around us. —Mariah Flynn

Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education , by Tom Roderick

After leading the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility for 36 years with a commitment to furthering research-based programs in SEL, restorative practices, and racial equity, progressive educator and trailblazer Tom Roderick turns his focus to the struggle for climate justice. He argues that the “primary purpose of education at this turning point in history must be to nurture a generation of courageous, intelligent, and wise non-violent fighters for climate justice.”

His vision incorporates the work of outstanding educators who are attuned to their students’ needs and the needs of humanity during this time of environmental crisis, with the wisdom of luminaries such as Martin Luther King Jr., Joanna Macy, Parker J. Palmer, and many others who have led the way toward peace and justice for all.

A central theme of his book is that we must take the cares and concerns of our young people seriously. As climate activist Greta Thunberg has said, her generation is grieving over the threat to their future and is enraged at adults for “standing by while the house burns.” Teach for Climate Justice is a call to action—“an urgent plea for educators everywhere to rise up and demand the time and resources needed to express our caring by addressing our students’ true needs…[and] transform the dominant mind-set that sees our fragile environment as a field for unlimited exploitation into one based on humility and respectful reciprocity.”

What Roderick has learned in his long career advocating for racial equity and social responsibility provides a framework for this transformation. Each chapter describes one of eight dimensions for creating and sustaining environments where students understand the power of civil resistance, the ability to think intelligently about solutions to pressing needs, and the importance of caring for one another along the way. It is both an inspirational manifesto and a clear set of developmentally appropriate teaching strategies, examples of best practices, and links to resources for the classroom and school.

Although concern for the climate crisis may lead to anxiety, fear, and anger, Teach for Climate Justice describes a way forward where love, joy, and hope animate the work and provide inspiration and motivation to manifest a just and sustainable future for all. —Margaret Golden

Learning to Imagine: The Science of Discovering New Possibilities , by Andrew Shtulman

There is a misconception in popular culture that we become less imaginative as we get older, and that our capacity for imagination declines over our lifespan. In Learning to Imagine , cognitive scientist Andrew Shtulman argues the opposite: All that we learn through our lives serves to enhance our capacity to be imaginative. Knowledge actually powers imagination, and, as we live, learn, and reflect, we continue to grow our capacities to imagine throughout our lives.

Shtulman explores how, contrary to popular belief, children are not the most imaginative among us. Through a deep dive of research, the book illustrates how children’s capacities for imagination are actually fostered through education, not in spite of it; in fact, it takes care, learning, and support to nurture children’s imagination.

Replete with research across cognitive development, psychology, and education, the book is an inspiring and empowering nudge to nurture our knowledge banks to open up more possibilities, and affirms the importance of education in all its forms, from traditional pre-K–12 to Montessori, from unschooling to self-directed learning and higher education.

“Let’s stop thinking of imagination as a limited resource, found only in the minds of young children, and start thinking of it as it really is: a nascent capacity shared by all and expandable by all through learning and reflection.” —Lauren Lee

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders , by Janet Patti and Robin Stern

When I left my position as a burned-out school leader, I embarked on a healing journey, determined to figure out what had happened. So much of what I’ve learned along the way—from my doctoral studies to my work at Greater Good—is encapsulated in Janet Patti and Robin Stern’s Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders . As school leaders, we can have the best of intentions to do right by our students and staff, but navigating the challenges of a flailing educational system and the unmet needs of so many people— without taking any of it personally —requires a skill set not taught in most principal training programs. Patti and Stern have done a great service to the field with this book. Not only do they acknowledge and empathize with the almost impossible job of a school leader (Patti herself tells some harrowing stories from her time as a leader), they also offer solace and hope and actual tools that leaders can start using today. Half the battle, they argue, is convincing policymakers and others that these skills are a vital necessity if schools are to succeed.

“Many believe that the purpose of school is to solely support and develop academic achievement,” they write, “Further, it’s not widely understood that an emotionally intelligent focus in a supportive environment begets high achievement. And the lack of time is always a culprit, especially in view of the ongoing pressure to achieve.” For school leaders who want to improve their emotional intelligence, growing one’s self-awareness is the first step. Patti and Stern urge leaders to do the inner work: School leaders need to develop the “capacity to tune into your feelings, sense inner signals, understand what you are feeling, and recognize how your emotions impact your ability to focus, make decisions, and maintain relationships.” From there, they offer concrete self-management and relationship skills, along with stories from the field and reflection questions for those who aren’t sure where to begin. Overall, this book should be required reading (and using!) for all pre- and in-service school leaders because “the practice of creating joy for yourself and others is uplifting for a school climate and serves as a protective factor for both self and others.” —Vicki Zakrzewski

New Course for Educators

Courage in Education: Facing Challenges with Strength, Determination, and Hope

About the Authors

Amy L. Eva, Ph.D. , is the associate education director at the Greater Good Science Center. As an educational psychologist and teacher educator with over 25 years in classrooms, she currently writes, presents, and leads online courses focused on student and educator well-being, mindfulness, and courage. Her new book, Surviving Teacher Burnout: A Weekly Guide To Build Resilience, Deal with Emotional Exhaustion, and Stay Inspired in the Classroom, features 52 simple, low-lift strategies for enhancing educators’ social and emotional well-being.

Mariah Flynn

Mariah Flynn is the Education Program Coordinator for the Greater Good Science Center.

Margaret Golden

Margaret Golden, Ed.D. , is the education community manager at the Greater Good Science Center. She is the coauthor of Teach Our Children Well: Essential Strategies for the Urban Classroom and editor of Teaching and Learning from the Inside Out: Revitalizing Ourselves and Our Institutions .

Lauren Lee is the education marketing and partnerships manager at the Greater Good Science Center. Passionate about character education and social-emotional learning, she supports the education team in promoting kinder, happier places to live and learn.

Vicki Zakrzewski

Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D. , is the education director of the Greater Good Science Center.

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Best Books on Education

Expand your understanding of learning with these key books on education, compiled from notable educational articles and rankings, and sequenced by how often they were spotlighted..

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Ten books every teacher should read

In the last decade, a wealth of books has brought together ideas to help teachers have the greatest impact on student learning. Here are just a few

P lato’s Republic, Rousseau’s Émile and Dewey’s Democracy and Education – there’s a strong case to be made, as Dennis Hayes has , that these are the only books on education that teachers need to read. But if I was about to enter the classroom as a teacher for the first time or was looking to improve my practice, I would probably want to read something with more practical advice on what I should be doing and, more importantly, on what I shouldn’t.

Much of what happens in a classroom is highly variable and hard to define, but over the last 10 years a wealth of books has sought to draw together evidence from other fields and provide a series of “best bets” on what might have the greatest impact on student learning. Here are just a few of them.

Why Don’t Students Like School? by Daniel Willingham

Understanding is remembering in disguise

In this eminently readable book, Willingham takes findings from cognitive science and applies them to the classroom in a straightforward and practical way. A central claim in this book is that while we are naturally curious, we are not naturally good at thinking and can only truly think about things we know. It also contains one of the best lines ever to feature in a book on education: “Memory is the residue of thought.”

The Hidden Lives of Learners by Graham Nuthall

Learning requires motivation, but motivation does not necessarily lead to learning

For Nuthall, three worlds exist in the classroom. First, the public world that is largely managed by the teacher and features easily-visible lesson activities and routines. Second, there is the “semi-private world of ongoing peer relationships” in which students foster and maintain social roles in the classroom. Last, there is the private world of the student’s own mind where learning actually takes. This book peels back the layers of those worlds and reveals many surprising findings.

Trivium 21c by Martin Robinson

In a true democracy all citizens share responsibility for their community

As a general model of what should happen in schools, this book has it all. Drawing on the classical triumvirate of grammar (knowledge), dialectic (questioning and debate) and rhetoric (expression), Robinson offers a model of education he wishes to see for his daughter and that seeks to draw on the past to anticipate an uncertain future.

Embedded Formative Assessment by Dylan Wiliam

The first fundamental principle of effective classroom feedback is that feedback should be more work for the recipient than the donor

Formative assessment is probably the most influential idea in schools today, and possibly the most misunderstood. In this book, the architect of formative assessment sets out the core principles of effective assessment but crucially applies them to the classroom with highly practical examples based on years of research in the field.

Seven Myths About Education by Daisy Christodoulou

If you only teach pupils using the knowledge they bring to the classroom, then you will reproduce educational inequalities

In this brief but explosive book, Christodoulou challenges several orthodoxies in education such as prioritising skills over knowledge, the claim that teacher-led instruction is passive, and why you can’t just look it up on Google. Whether or not you agree with everything in this book, every teacher should at least be acquainted with its arguments.

Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn by John Hattie and Gregory Yates

Knowing what to do matters more than knowing what your level is

First published in 2009, Hattie’s original book of alchemy, Visible Learning, attempted to illuminate the dark arts of pedagogy through the meta-analysis of hundreds of studies. In this book, Hattie teams up with cognitive psychologist Gregory Yates to provide another highly practical overview of how lessons from cognitive science can be useful in a range of different contexts. An indispensable reference guide for busy teachers.

Bringing Words to Life by Isabel L Beck, Margaret G McKeown and Linda Kucan

It is not the case that one either knows or does not know a word

Simply the best book on teaching vocabulary. The authors offer a three-tier model: tier one words are those that rarely require instruction such as “dog” or “run”, tier two consists of words that have “high utility for mature language users” such as “contradict” or “precede”, and tier three words are domain specific such as “pantheon” or “epidermis”. Tier two words are of vital importance to children’s development and this book provides sage advice on how to expand that vital range, along with a range of different approaches to broaden children’s vocabulary.

Make It Stick by Peter C Brown, Henry L Roediger and Mark A McDaniel

Learning is deeper and more durable when it’s effortful. Learning that’s easy is like writing in sand, here today and gone tomorrow

One of the more concrete findings from cognitive science is that many of the things that engender effective learning are highly counterintuitive. For example, many students will re-read and highlight material leading up to a test, something which the authors of this book show is little more than colouring in. Far more effective are practices such as interleaving, spaced learning and retrieval practice, which are expertly outlined in this easily accessible book.

Urban Myths About Learning and Education by Pedro De Bruyckere, Paul A Kirschner and Casper D Hulshof

It is our prior knowledge and experience that determines how we see the world

Do students really have different learning styles? Do they actually learn better if they discover things for themselves? Do we only use 10% of our brains? Do we need to know facts in an age of Google? If you’ve ever asked questions like these, then this book is for you. The authors draw on a huge body of evidence to address many common classroom myths that we could all do without.

Why Knowledge Matters by ED Hirsch

Thinking skills cannot readily be separated from one subject matter and applied to other subject matters

This important book argues that while students have been taught how to read, they have not been taught what to read and that cultural literacy matters far more than vague notions of 21st century skills. In short, what’s needed is a more serious look at the curriculum and a greater focus on what we are teaching instead of how we teach it.

Carl Hendrick is an English teacher, head of research and the author of What Does This Look Like in the Classroom? He tweets @C_Hendrick .

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6 Essential Books Every Adult Learner Should Read Right Now

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The start of a new year is always an exciting time to reflect on the previous year and think about the highlights; it is also the perfect opportunity to set new goals as another chapter begins. As an avid reader, I am interested in finding books that either help me to understand a different viewpoint or offer valuable advice I can apply directly to my life. If you are a reader in search of a new title or someone that hasn't read something new in awhile, a new year is the perfect time to consider picking up a good book!

As adult learners, many of you are juggling full-time jobs, multiple responsibilities and even the demands of raising a family all while attending school, so books targeting some of these themes and challenges may be of interest. Here is a list of titles including a brief synopsis of my favorites that have helped me; some of these books are meant to inspire, some are to help define a purpose and others are geared toward simplifying your routine - making time management and organization work for you and your busy lifestyle.

1.  Daring Greatly  by Brené Brown, PhD

Lesson: explore the paradoxes of courage..

Brené Brown is a highly respected research professor and author of several books. Her work in the field of social work in the last decade has inspired thousands. In this book, she shows how vulnerability is a true measure of courage, especially in a world when we may feel unworthy or not "good enough.” Brené inspires us to dare greatly by stepping out of our comfort zone to let ourselves truly be seen. Whether you are looking for the nerve to start a new relationship, lead a powerful meeting, speak during an interview or initiate a difficult conversation - whether it’s applied to work, school or relationships/parenting at home, this book will provide the insight needed for personal growth and ways to help you reveal your authentic self.

2.   Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life  by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Lesson: Find your passion and purpose.

The authors are well known for their work at Stanford University, and this book has been described as the “prototype for a happy life.” It contains powerful tools to assist you in evaluating where you are in your life and helps you to reframe exactly what you want; essentially, the book does what is says – it helps you to think like a designer. The book provides context and meaning, leaving you with many ideas to think about long after you have finished reading it. The book also contains exercises to work through that can be applied directly to your life right now. It's a great resource for those who are looking for a change, for getting unstuck or for those who want to be motivated and inspired.

3.  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less   by Greg McKeown

Lesson: focus on what is essential – a new perspective on time management..

“Less is more” is a major takeaway of this book. If you live a busy lifestyle and feel overwhelmed, this is an important book to read. Essentialism teaches you how to figure out what is essential in your life; it helps you to identify the things you must commit to and focus on and how to limit “opportunities” or list items that do not require your attention, but seem to monopolize much of your time. The book teaches you how to foster the important work and how to let go of the nonessentials – it’s not about getting more done in less time, it’s about getting the “right” things done. If you're looking for a new perspective on time management, this is the one to read.

4.  The Joy of Less  by Francine Jay

Lesson: declutter, organize and simplify your life..

Better known in the blogging world as Miss Minimalist, author Francine Jay has been a trailblazer for the simple living movement. If you are looking to declutter a room in your home or simply get more organized, this is the book for you. Francine shows you how to make any space more functional and organized. Whether you want to declutter an office space, kitchen area or place in your bedroom – consider making a “study area” conducive to reading, writing and getting your work done. It’s amazing what a little organization can do, and Francine will give you the tips and tools needed to turn any space into an organized, presentable and functional space you’ll be happy with.

5.   When Breath Becomes Air  by Paul Kalanithi

Lesson: find your meaning of life..

As Dr. Paul Kalanithi faces his own mortality, he is forced to forge a new path, one far different than the one he thought he was going to travel. In a matter of months, the 36-year-old went from a distinguished neurosurgeon and scientist who dealt with death on a daily basis to a patient diagnosed with terminal cancer. This memoir  – written by Kalanithi , a brilliant writer whose words transcend time as he narrates his journey – is one of those books I will keep on my bookshelf and reread for years to come. Kalanithi's words are a gift; it’s the kind of book that once you read it, you’ll want to share it with family and friends.

6.   The Elements of Style (Fourth Edition) by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Lesson: become a better writer..

Hailed as a classic, this book is the one resource every college student should own. I couldn't agree more with this sentiment since it is an essential tool for all writers and has been on my bookshelf since I was a student. It's the kind of reference book you will refer to time and time again and for many years to come - it's a timeless resource that will never go out of style.

Have you picked up a good book lately? Share with us in the comments or connect with us via social using #TESUreads.

Written by Heather Russino

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The Coddling of the American Mind

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A timely investigation into the new "safety culture" on campus and the dangers it poses to free speech, mental health, education, and ultimately democracy....

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1. The Coddling of the American Mind

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• Release date: 09-04-18
• Language: English
• 5 out of 5 stars 12,416 ratings

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• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 22,332
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 22,193

Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, students, and businesspeople - both seasoned and new - that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called "grit"....

• 4 out of 5 stars

Two different books

• By Tristan on 06-11-16
• Release date: 05-03-16
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 26,141 ratings

Regular price: $14.99 or 1 credit

Sale price: $14.99 or 1 credit

Get Out of Your Head

• Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
• By: Jennie Allen
• Narrated by: Jennie Allen
• Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,848
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,894
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,875

The visionary behind the million-strong IF:Gathering challenges Christian women to transform their outlook and their lives by interrupting their spiraling thoughts and realizing their God-given power to think differently....

• 1 out of 5 stars
• By Amazon Customer on 02-04-20

4. Get Out of Your Head

• Release date: 01-28-20
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,848 ratings

Regular price: $15.75 or 1 credit

Sale price: $15.75 or 1 credit

Weapons of Mass Instruction

• A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling
• By: John Taylor Gatto
• Narrated by: Michael Puttonen
• Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 744
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 644
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 646

Weapons of Mass Instruction focuses on mechanisms of traditional education which cripple imagination, discourage critical thinking, and create a false view of learning....

I will never see school the same

• By Nicole on 05-21-15

5. Weapons of Mass Instruction

• Release date: 02-26-13
• 5 out of 5 stars 744 ratings

Regular price: $20.00 or 1 credit

Sale price: $20.00 or 1 credit

The Power of Writing It Down

• A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life
• By: Allison Fallon
• Narrated by: Allison Fallon
• Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 137
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 119
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 118

For anyone who's trying to make sense of their life, who wants to get unstuck from the patterns that hold them back, hear this incredible news: everything you need for the freedom you want is entirely within reach ....

• 2 out of 5 stars
• By Sarah on 01-18-21

6. The Power of Writing It Down

• Release date: 01-12-21
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 137 ratings

Sale price: $6.99 (64% off) or 1 credit

Regular price: $19.79

Sale ends in Sale has ended

Learn Jamaican Patois in 30 Days

• Patwah Words & Phrases: The Easy Guide to Learn to Write and Speak Conversational Jamaican with Common Dialogues and Vocabulary
• By: Emily Montgomery
• Narrated by: Jamaican Creole Studio
• Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 53
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 52
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 52

Are you fascinated by the vibrant language and culture of Jamaica? Do you long to effortlessly converse in the rhythmic and colorful Jamaican Patois? Look no further than "Learn Jamaican Patois in 30 Days".

Highly recommended

• By Joshphine on 04-03-24

7. Learn Jamaican Patois in 30 Days

• Release date: 04-02-24
• 5 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

Regular price: $24.95 or 1 credit

Sale price: $24.95 or 1 credit

• A Memoir of the Craft
• By: Stephen King
• Narrated by: Stephen King, Joe Hill, Owen King
• Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 14,991
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 12,332
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 12,228

Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have....

Who needs a print edition when King reads King?

• By Cather on 11-18-05

8. On Writing

• Narrated by: Stephen King , Joe Hill , Owen King
• Release date: 10-04-00
• 5 out of 5 stars 14,991 ratings

Regular price: $17.99 or 1 credit

Sale price: $17.99 or 1 credit

Learn French with Paul Noble for Beginners – Complete Course

• French Made Easy with Your Personal Language Coach
• Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 422
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 342
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 324

No books. No long lists of vocabulary. No chance of failure. Welcome to Learn with Paul Noble – a tried and tested language learning method that has been used by almost a million people to speak fluently and confidently....

Excellent. Use this first before Rosetta Stone

• By Koda on 11-21-19

9. Learn French with Paul Noble for Beginners – Complete Course

• 5 out of 5 stars 422 ratings

12 Books to Read Before You Die, Volume 1

• By: Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, and others
• Narrated by: Bruce Pirie, David Clarke, Phil Chenevert, and others
• Length: 89 hrs and 18 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 31
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 27
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 27

Sound interesting? The author thinks so too! Listen to 12 Books to Read Before You Die, Volume 1 and learn about these classic books: Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, and more....

Technical problems and amateur readers

• By hanDle on 02-29-24

10. 12 Books to Read Before You Die, Volume 1

• By: Robert Louis Stevenson , Mark Twain , Lewis Carroll , Luigi Pirandello , Jules Verne , Jack London , Charlotte Brontë , Honoré de Balzac , Arthur Conan Doyle
• Narrated by: Bruce Pirie , David Clarke , Phil Chenevert , Mark F. Smith , Elizabeth Klett , John Greenman , Craig Franklin , Adrian Praetzellis , Aaron Blain , Peter Tucker
• Series: Twain's Tom and Huck , Book 1-2, Alice in Wonderland , Book 1
• Release date: 12-17-20
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 31 ratings

Sale price: $7.99 (73% off) or 1 credit

Regular price: $29.95

Learn Spanish: How To Speak Conversational Spanish Like a MF: 3 Books in 1

• Adults Only Bundle
• By: Patrick Jackson
• Narrated by: Valentino Blanco, Diego Martinez, Liliana Sanchez
• Length: 22 hrs and 44 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 126
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 123
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 122

Books 1 & 2 are all you need to speak and understand conversational Spanish with the confidence of a native. And without having to relocate to Latin America for months or even years or having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars taking private Spanish lessons....

Unfortunately, has one very serious drawback

• By Jerry Rubenstein on 04-22-23

11. Learn Spanish: How To Speak Conversational Spanish Like a MF: 3 Books in 1

• Narrated by: Valentino Blanco , Diego Martinez , Liliana Sanchez
• Release date: 04-13-23
• 5 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

Regular price: $29.95 or 1 credit

Sale price: $29.95 or 1 credit

Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking

• By: Allen Carr
• Narrated by: John Chancer
• Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 1,147
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 972
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 962

This book is the most up-to-date, cutting-edge, best-practice version of Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking method that will not only set you free from smoking but will also ensure that you find it easy and even enjoyable to quit....

• By Amazon Customer on 03-07-20

12. Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking

• Release date: 11-29-19
• 5 out of 5 stars 1,147 ratings

Regular price: $21.03 or 1 credit

Sale price: $21.03 or 1 credit

Manifest Now

• By: Idil Ahmed
• Narrated by: Idil Ahmed
• Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 2,433
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 2,044
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 2,028

Manifest Now provides a step-by-step guide with tools, techniques, and proven strategies to raise your frequency and create the reality you want. This audiobook is designed to guide you through the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of manifesting all that your heart desires....

This is my first review of 2 years subscribed!

• By Rodrigo on 02-22-19

13. Manifest Now

• Release date: 10-13-18
• 5 out of 5 stars 2,433 ratings

Regular price: $14.95 or 1 credit

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Financial Feminist

• Overcome the Patriarchy’s Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love
• By: Tori Dunlap
• Narrated by: Tori Dunlap, Samantha Tan, Shayna Small, and others
• Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 378
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 334
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 333

From the globally-recognized personal finance educator and social media star behind Her First $100K, an inclusive guide to all things money—from managing debt to investing and voting with your dollars.

• 3 out of 5 stars

If you believe in Manifesting

• By Julia on 01-21-23

14. Financial Feminist

• Narrated by: Tori Dunlap , Samantha Tan , Shayna Small , Jaime Lamchick , Graham Halstead
• Release date: 12-27-22
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 378 ratings

Regular price: $25.19 or 1 credit

Sale price: $25.19 or 1 credit

• A Manual for Surviving Worst-Case Scenarios
• By: Mike Glover, Jack Carr - foreword
• Narrated by: Mike Glover, Ray Porter
• Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 906
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 857
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 852

A former Green Beret’s indispensable course in preparedness, Prepared teaches the keys to building a resilient, fearless life....

A bit of fear mongering

• By JOHN DAVIS on 07-13-23

15. Prepared

• By: Mike Glover , Jack Carr - foreword
• Narrated by: Mike Glover , Ray Porter
• Release date: 06-06-23
• 5 out of 5 stars 906 ratings

Los cuatro acuerdos (Narración en Castellano) [The Four Agreements (Castilian Narration)]

• Una guía práctica para la libertad personal [A Practical Guide for Personal Freedom]
• By: Janet Mills, Don Miguel Ruiz
• Narrated by: David Albaladejo
• Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 1,135
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 882
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 885

El doctor Miguel Ruiz nos propone en este audiolibro un sencillo procedimiento para eliminar todas aquellas creencias heredadas que nos limitan y substituirlas por otras que responden a nuestra realidad interior y nos conducen a la libertad....

Decepción

• By berenice on 03-30-23

16. Los cuatro acuerdos (Narración en Castellano) [The Four Agreements (Castilian Narration)]

• By: Janet Mills , Don Miguel Ruiz
• Release date: 03-08-19
• Language: Spanish
• 5 out of 5 stars 1,135 ratings

Regular price: $6.95 or 1 credit

Sale price: $6.95 or 1 credit

The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication

• Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message
• By: John Maxwell
• Narrated by: John Maxwell
• Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 239
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 212
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 212

Never Be Afraid to Speak to a Group Again....

Home run! Real, practical, informative, invigorating!

• By Leadership guru on 07-24-23

17. The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication

• Release date: 03-28-23
• 5 out of 5 stars 239 ratings

Regular price: $14.63 or 1 credit

Sale price: $14.63 or 1 credit

Learn Italian with Paul Noble for Beginners – Complete Course

• Length: 13 hrs
• Original Recording
• Overall 5 out of 5 stars 149
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 119
• Story 5 out of 5 stars 113

An easy, enjoyable approach to learning Italian with Paul Noble – a unique, tried and tested language learning method used by almost a million people to speak fluently and confidently in no time at all. No grammar tests. No memory drills. No chance of failure....

What an amazing audiobook

• By HappyMommy on 09-28-20

18. Learn Italian with Paul Noble for Beginners – Complete Course

• Release date: 08-07-19
• 5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

Verbal Judo, Updated Edition

• The Gentle Art of Persuasion
• By: George J. Thompson PhD, Jerry B. Jenkins, Lee Fjelstad - foreword, and others
• Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
• Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,235
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,542
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,501

Verbal Judo is the classic guide to the martial art of the mind and mouth that can help you defuse confrontations and generate cooperation....

Kept thinking it was already started

• By Kim Dushinski on 05-24-17

19. Verbal Judo, Updated Edition

• By: George J. Thompson PhD , Jerry B. Jenkins , Lee Fjelstad - foreword , Pam Thompson - foreword
• Release date: 02-07-17
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,235 ratings

Regular price: $13.22 or 1 credit

Sale price: $13.22 or 1 credit

Make It Stick

• The Science of Successful Learning
• By: Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel
• Narrated by: Qarie Marshall
• Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,902
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,985
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,918

Make It Stick will appeal to all those interested in the challenge of lifelong learning and self-improvement....

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW HOW TO LEARN

• By ANDRÉ on 11-22-14

20. Make It Stick

• By: Peter C. Brown , Henry L. Roediger III , Mark A. McDaniel
• Release date: 07-23-14
• 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,902 ratings
• Go back a page
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The best new science fiction books of May 2024

A new Stephen King short story collection, an Ursula K. Le Guin reissue and a celebration of cyberpunk featuring writing from Philip K. Dick and Cory Doctorow are among the new science fiction titles published this month

By Alison Flood

A new short story collection from Stephen King, You Like It Darker, is out in May

Shane Leonard

Every month, I trawl through publishers’ catalogues so I can tell you about the new science fiction being released. And every month, I’m disappointed to see so much more fantasy on publishers’ lists than sci-fi. I know it’s a response to the huge boom in readers of what’s been dubbed “ romantasy ”, and I’m not knocking it – I love that sort of book too. But it would be great to see more good, hard, mind-expanding sci-fi in the offing as well.

In the meantime, there is definitely enough for us sci-fi fans to sink our teeth into this month, whether it’s a reissue of classic writing from Ursula K. Le Guin, some new speculative short stories from Stephen King or murder in space from Victor Manibo and S. A. Barnes.

Last month, I tipped Douglas Preston’s Extinction and Sofia Samatar’s The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain as books I was looking forward to. I can report that they were both excellent: Extinction was a lot of good, clean, Jurassic Park -tinged fun, while Samatar’s offering was a beautiful and thought-provoking look at life on a generation ship.

The Language of the Night: Essays on writing, science fiction, and fantasy by Ursula K. Le Guin

There are few sci-fi and fantasy writers more brilliant (and revered) than Ursula K. Le Guin. This reissue of her first full-length collection of essays features a new introduction from Hugo and Nebula award-winner Ken Liu and covers the writing of The Left Hand of Darkness and A Wizard of Earthsea , as well as her advocacy for sci-fi and fantasy as legitimate literary mediums. I’ve read some of these essays but not all, and I won’t be missing this collection.

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

This isn’t science fiction, not quite, but it is one of the best and most important books I have read for some time. It sees Jacobsen lay out, minute by minute, what would happen if an intercontinental ballistic missile hit Washington DC. How would the US react? What, exactly, happens if deterrence fails? Jacobsen has spoken to dozens of military experts to put together what her publisher calls a “non-fiction thriller”, and what I call the scariest book I have possibly ever read (and I’m a Stephen King fan; see below). We’re currently reading it at the New Scientist Book Club, and you can sign up to join us here .

Read an extract from Nuclear War: A scenario by Annie Jacobsen

In this terrifying extract from Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario, the author lays out what would happen in the first seconds after a nuclear missile hits the Pentagon

The Big Book of Cyberpunk (Vol 1 & 2)

Forty years ago, William Gibson published Neuromancer . Since then, it has entranced millions of readers right from its unforgettable opening line: “The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel…”. Neuromancer gave us the literary genre that is cyberpunk, and we can now welcome a huge, two-volume anthology celebrating cyberpunk’s best stories, by writers from Cory Doctorow to Justina Robson, and from Samuel R. Delaney to Philip K. Dick. I have both glorious-sounding volumes, brought together by anthologist Jared Shurin, on my desk (using up most of the space on it), and I am looking forward to dipping in.

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

You could categorise Stephen King as a horror writer. I see him as an expert chronicler of the dark side of small-town America, and from The Tommyknockers and its aliens to Under the Dome with its literally divisive trope, he frequently slides into sci-fi. Even the horror at the heart of It is some sort of cosmic hideousness. He is one of my favourite writers, and You Like It Darker is a new collection of short stories that moves from “the folds in reality where anything can happen” to a “psychic flash” that upends dozens of lives. There’s a sequel to Cujo , and a look at “corners of the universe best left unexplored”. I’ve read the first story so far, and I can confirm there is plenty for us sci-fi fans here.

Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

Not sci-fi, but fiction about science – and from one of the UK’s most exciting writers (if you haven’t read The Essex Serpent yet, you’re in for a treat). This time, Perry tells the story of Thomas Hart, a columnist on the Essex Chronicle who becomes a passionate amateur astronomer as the comet Hale-Bopp approaches in 1997. Our sci-fi columnist Emily Wilson is reviewing it for New Scientist ’s 11 May issue, and she has given it a vigorous thumbs up (“a beautiful, compassionate and memorable book,” she writes in a sneak preview just for you guys).

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

Dr Ophelia Bray is a psychologist and expert in the study of Eckhart-Reiser syndrome, a fictional condition that affects space travellers in terrible ways. She’s sent to help a small crew whose colleague recently died, but as they begin life on an abandoned planet, she realises that her charges are hiding something. And then the pilot is murdered… Horror in space? Mysterious planets? I’m up for that.

In Hey, Zoey, the protagonist finds an animatronic sex doll hidden in her garage

Shutterstock / FOTOGRIN

Hey, Zoey by Sarah Crossan

Hot on the heels of Sierra Greer’s story about a sex robot wondering what it means to be human in Annie Bot , the acclaimed young adult and children’s author Sarah Crossan has ventured into similar territory. In Hey, Zoey , Dolores finds an animatronic sex doll hidden in her garage and assumes it belongs to her husband David. She takes no action – but then Dolores and Zoey begin to talk, and Dolores’s life changes.

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

Davi has tried to take down the Dark Lord before, rallying humanity and making the final charge – as you do. But the time loop she is stuck in always defeats her, and she loses the battle in the end. This time around, Davi decides that the best thing to do is to become the Dark Lord herself. You could argue that this is fantasy, but it has a time loop, so I’m going to count it as sci-fi. It sounds fun and lighthearted: quotes from early readers are along the lines of “A darkly comic delight”, and we could all use a bit of that these days.

Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo

It’s 2089, and there’s an old murder hanging over the clientele of Space Habitat Altaire, a luxury space hotel, while an “unforeseen threat” is also brewing in the service corridors. A thriller in space? Sounds excellent – and I’m keen to see if Manibo makes use of the latest research into the angle at which blood might travel following violence in space, as reported on by our New Scientist humour columnist Marc Abrahams recently.

The best new science fiction books of March 2024

With a new Adrian Tchaikovsky, Mars-set romance from Natasha Pulley and a high-concept thriller from Stuart Turton due to hit shelves, there is plenty of great new science fiction to be reading in March

In Our Stars by Jack Campbell

Part of the Doomed Earth series, this follows Lieutenant Selene Genji, who has been genetically engineered with partly alien DNA and has “one last chance to save the Earth from destruction”. Beautifully retro cover for this space adventure – not to judge a book in this way, of course…

The Downloaded by Robert J. Sawyer

Two sets of people have had their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in the Ontario of 2059. Astronauts preparing for the world’s first interstellar voyage form one group; the other contains convicted murderers, sentenced to a virtual-reality prison. Naturally, disaster strikes, and, yup, they must work together to save Earth from destruction. Originally released as an Audible Original with Brendan Fraser as lead narrator, this is the first print edition of the Hugo and Nebula award-winning Sawyer’s 26 th novel.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Just in case you still haven’t read it, Justin Cronin’s gloriously dreamy novel The Ferryman , set on an apparently utopian island where things aren’t quite as they seem, is out in paperback this month. It was the first pick for the New Scientist Book Club, and it is a mind-bending, dreamy stunner of a read. Go try it – and sign up for the Book Club in the meantime!

• science fiction /

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7 Best Book Adaptations Coming 2024

F rom Dune: Part Two to One Day , this year has already begun with several book adaptations to the screen. Yet, the excitement isn't quite over, considering that other notable page-turners are getting turned into films and TV shows. For instance, The Idea of You , which is based on a novel by Robinne Lee , is already breaking records with the most viewed trailer from a streaming service ever. Another anticipated release, the cinematic version of Wicked , has been a long time in the making, and it will finally hit theaters by the end of this year. With so many upcoming page-to-screen projects coming out, here is a curated list filled with must-sees.

Release Date: April 4, 2024 | Book: "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith

Cast: Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning, Eliot Sumner

After Matt Damon played Mr. Ripley in the 1999 film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith 's novel, Andrew Scott will take on the role of the grifter in an upcoming miniseries. Similarly to the film and the book it is based on, the Netflix original will follow Tom Ripley, a con man in the '60s that often gets by in his schemes. After a wealthy man hires him to retrieve his son from Italy, the protagonist becomes obsessed with the person he is supposed to take back home. As the character becomes exposed to the luxurious lifestyle in Italy, he slowly gets entangled in murder, deceit, and fraud.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Release Date: April 19, 2024 | Book: "Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII" by Damian Lewis

Cast: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Eiza Gonzalez, Hero Fiennes Tiffin

After leaving The Witcher in Season 3, Henry Cavill has been busy with other cinematic ventures, including Argylle and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare . The latter title is set to be released next month, and it will be centered on a top secret group that fought the Nazis during World War II and were commanded by Winston Churchill. Although the film is based on Damian Lewis ' book, it is inspired by a real-life motley crew that used some unconventional fighting techniques to change the course of the war.

The Sympathizer

Release Date: April 19, 2024 | Book: "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Cast: Hoa Xuande, Sandra Oh, Robert Downey Jr. Ky Duyen

HBO isn't done with book-to-series adaptations, and their next anticipated release is The Sympathizer . Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the series will follow a North Vietnamese spy (played by Hoa Xuande ) who settles in Los Angeles amid the end of the war in Vietnam. As he lives in America within a refugee community, the main character secretly continues to spy and report his findings to the Viet Cong. The project is executive produced by recent Oscar winner, Robert Downey Jr. who will also star in the series as multiple characters.

The Idea of You

Release Date: May 2, 2024 | Book: "The Idea of You" by Robinne Lee

Cast: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumulo

As previously said, the excitement from fans over The Idea of You has been unreal. The film premiered at SXSW earlier this month, and it received primarily positive reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on Lee's novel of the same name, the adaptation follows a divorced woman in her 40s called Sólene ( Anne Hathaway ), who falls head over heels for a much younger and charming, boyband lead singer (Hayes played by Nicholas Galitzine ). Despite the significant age gap, the two have a heated romance that defeats society's expectations.

The Watchers

Release Date: July 14, 2024 | Book: "The Watchers" by A.M. Shine

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Alistair Brammer, Hannah Howland

A.M. Shine's bestseller, The Watchers , will be adapted to the screen later this year. The project will mark Ishana Shyamalan 's feature directorial debut, after years working alongside her father ( M. Night Shyamalan ) in the Apple TV + series The Servant and in Old . The film will follow Mina ( Dakota Fanning ), a 27-year-old artist who embarks on a trip to the Western Irish countryside. As she travels on foot, the protagonist soon gets lost in the forest and entrapped in a concrete bunker alongside three other strangers. During the nighttime, various creepy-looking creatures watch these people in the bunker from the outside, making it nearly impossible to know what their intentions are. As this group of people plan to escape during the daytime, they become fearful of whether they will make it out of the forest before the creatures come after them at night.

The Amateur

Release Date: November 8, 2024 | Book: "The Amateur" by Robert Littell

Cast: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Julianne Nicholson, Caitriona Balfe

Rami Malek is ready to tap into CIA territory again, this time not as the villain. Based on Robert Littel 's page-turning thriller, the film will follow Charles Heller (Malek), a CIA cryptographer who is stricken by grief after his wife dies in a London terrorist attack. As the character seeks to avenge his wife's death, Charles begs the agency to train him so that he can be more active on the field. The film will be directed by James Hawes , who directed One Life and Black Mirror . It will also star The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's alum Rachel Brosnahan and Outlander 's lead actress, Caitrona Balfe .

Release Date: November 27, 2024 | Book: "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregorie Maguire

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh

There is still a while left before Wicked lands in theaters. Yet, compared to the 20-year wait for the musical to even be adapted to the screen, a few months isn't too far ahead. The film will have Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande playing the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, much before the events that unfold in The Wizard of Oz . The two witches used to have a tight-knit friendship, whose bond goes through various ups and downs until they ultimately head their separate ways. The movie musical will be split into two films, meaning that there will still be more material to cover even after Part I comes out on Thanksgiving.

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Paul Auster’s Best Books: A Guide

The novelist played with reality and chance in tales of solitary narrators and mutable identities. Here’s an overview of his work.

• Share full article

By Wilson Wong

Paul Auster, who died on April 30 at the age of 77, was an atmospheric author whose scalpel-sharp prose examined the fluidity of identity and the absurdity of the writer’s life. An occasional memoirist, essayist, translator, poet and screenwriter, Auster was best known for his metafiction — books that were characterized by their elusive narrators, chance encounters and labyrinthine narratives.

Consuming Auster’s genre-defying books is not unlike the experience of reading he describes in “The Brooklyn Follies”: “When a person is lucky enough to live inside a story, to live inside an imaginary world, the pains of this world disappear,” he wrote. “For as long as the story goes on, reality no longer exists.” Thankfully, Auster left us with many worlds and stories and realities to lose ourselves in.

These are the books that best represent his work.

The Invention of Solitude (1982)

Auster’s debut memoir, “The Invention of Solitude,” put him on the map as an exciting new voice in the literary world. Bold and inventive, it chronicles his life as the son of an absent father and the father of a young son. The book’s themes — grief, loss, identity, loneliness, coincidence — all became central in his later work, both fiction and nonfiction.

The New York Trilogy (1987)

This book is technically a triptych of novels (“City of Glass,” “Ghosts” and “The Locked Room”), each of which borrows elements from detective fiction by focusing on a man investigating a subject to the point of oblivion. But at its core, “The New York Trilogy” — likely his most popular work among academics, undergraduates and aspiring writers — is a meditation on the things that make a person who they are. It cemented Auster as a stylish writer, one whose distinctive narrators searched for meaning and identity, circuitously and in perpetuity, against the constraints of art and language.

Moon Palace (1989)

This novel has all the ingredients that readers came to expect from Auster’s work: the isolated male narrator, the search for an absent father and the disappointment of missed chances. It follows an orphan, Marco Stanley Fogg, on a picaresque journey west from New York as he tries to learn more about his family’s past. At times the journey is almost too farcical to be “unbelievable,” Joyce Reiser Kornblatt wrote in her New York Times review, but the book is grounded by a cast of characters both “heartfelt and complex.”

Leviathan (1992)

“Leviathan” — which borrows its name from Thomas Hobbes’s treatise about the role of government in society — is about a man trying to understand why a friend has blown himself up with a bomb. The Austerian themes are on full display, as our reviewer wrote, in “a work in which fictional lives are circumscribed by recorded events, and real people shape the destinies of conjured ones.”

The Book of Illusions (2002)

Questions of random coincidence bedevil David Zimmer, the book’s narrator, who appeared briefly in “Moon Palace.” Alone and on a path of self-destruction after losing his family in a plane crash, he becomes obsessed with the work of Hector Mann, an actor who vanished decades before and is presumed dead. After writing a book about him, Zimmer receives a cryptic letter saying that Mann is very much alive. The letter threatens to unravel Zimmer’s entire world, which Auster renders in a muted, elegiac tone.

The Brooklyn Follies (2005)

Set in an alluringly bleak New York, “The Brooklyn Follies” follows Nathan Glass, a cancer survivor looking for “a quiet place to die” until meeting someone who sends him spiraling into an existential crisis. Though the subject is solemn, this is Auster at his most playful.

4 3 2 1 (2017)

“4 3 2 1” is an epic bildungsroman that presents the life of a boy named Archie Ferguson in four versions simultaneously. At 866 pages, this book might sound like a drag; but as Tom Perrotta wrote in his New York Times review: “It’s impossible not to be impressed — and even a little awed — by what Auster has accomplished. ‘4 3 2 1’ is a work of outsize ambition and remarkable craft, a monumental assemblage of competing and complementary fictions, a novel that contains multitudes.”

Arizona has more top high schools than many states. Think about that

Letter to the editor: a nationally recognized measure of school performance shows arizona has many successful high schools meeting today's needs..

The annual U.S. News’ Best High Schools rankings of nearly 18,000 high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia were just announced.

These schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students.

While there are other means of evaluating school performance, this is a nationally recognized one.

Arizona had 12 high schools in the top 100. If each state had an equal number of schools in the top 100, we would expect to have two of our schools in the top.

We had 12. That is six times the average for states to have.

These annual ratings confirm that there are education leaders in Arizona who know what it takes to have successful high schools meeting today’s needs.

May the rest of the education leaders and citizens in Arizona learn from those in their profession who know what it takes for education success. Examples of success are right here.

Max E. Rumbaugh Jr., Scottsdale

It's not cool to post school fights

As a high school senior, I have seen many fights from my school on social media. I think about why people often record fights without notifying a staff member that there is a fight.

People record others fighting without their consent, and it can be very stressful for the victim in the fight because he will see himself as weak everyday.

Promoting fights does not make you cool in any way. It’s also important that students at school should not fight each other.

As much as you hate someone, violence should never be used, especially on school grounds. Take those actions outside of school. Your wrongdoing affects everyone else that observes your actions, such as younger students at your school.

If you see something, you should say something, instead of staying silent. Staying silent will end up getting you more trouble.

Jonathon Lai, Peoria

Grand jury, AG did their jobs

The indictment of Arizona citizens for elector fraud is appropriate. No one and no political party is above the law.

The previous attorney general did not represent Arizonans and those who voted. The current attorney general did represent Arizonans, which is what she is supposed to do.

The grand jury is composed of representative Arizona citizens. They did their job.

This is not political. This is American justice, as it should be.

Tom Haladyna, Phoenix

Don't use politics to judge justices

I read with interest your April 22 story regarding a political effort to unseat two Arizona Supreme Court justices .

The suggestion that Justices Clint Bolick and Kate King prioritize ideology or personal agendas over their duty to uphold the law doesn’t hold water. These justices have demonstrated a commitment to impartiality and a thorough understanding of legal principles.

That’s how it should be.

An independent judiciary is vital for maintaining the rule of law, ensuring that decisions are based on legal merit rather than political considerations.

More letters: What I learned from the Arizona Coyotes

Calls to remove judges based on perceived ideological differences overlook the fundamental purpose of our judicial system.

Justices should be evaluated based on their legal reasoning, adherence to the law and commitment to impartiality — not on whether their decisions align with a particular political viewpoint.

Upholding the integrity of our state Supreme Court benefits all Arizonans by promoting stability, predictability and respect for the rule of law.

Danny Seiden, Phoenix

The writer is president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Arizona still has an opioid crisis

The fentanyl and opioids crisis in Arizona demands immediate attention.

With a 39% increase in overdose fatalities from 2019 to 2024 alone, lives are being tragically lost daily, leaving shattered families and communities.

While prevention is crucial, access to treatment is equally vital. Shockingly, only one in 10 individuals with a substance use disorder receives specialty treatment , emphasizing the urgent need to expand support services.

As law enforcement battles drug trafficking networks, we must prioritize rehabilitation and support services to address the root causes of addiction.

It is time for Arizona to take a proactive approach, investing in prevention, treatment and support services. Together, we can confront this crisis and save lives.

Gavin Prosory, Peoria

What’s on your mind?  Send us a letter to the editor  online or via email at  [email protected] .

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