Book Recommendations - Adults

This page shares book recommendations for parents, teachers, university students, or any other adults looking to gain a better understanding of learning and education.

Make it Stick: Successful Learning
by Brown, McDaniel & Roedinger III

In Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, authors Brown, McDaniel & Roedinger III delve into how memory and learning work, and what we can do to make new concepts stick around long term. Of all the books I've read within the field of education, this has been by far the most impactful on my own learning as well as my teaching approach.

The authors pick apart the common practices of lecture style classes and cramming for an exam. They explain why these short-term techniques won't lead to any lasting gains. Instead, they argue for the need for students to work with new information in various ways: reflecting, summarizing, discussing, elaborating, or even self-quizzing. Concepts like retrieval practice, spacing out learning, and interleaving content areas are explored as well. I would strongly recommend this book for any teachers, parents, or even older students.

Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman is all about how we think and how our brains work. Kahneman, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, contrasts the two primary thinking models: 'fast' thinking that is a sort of impulsive interpretation of information and stimulus, versus 'slow' thinking which is more deliberate and occurs when we give focused attention to a situation. By analyzing these models and sharing mountains of his own research, he demonstrates how often we experience unconscious biases or apply heuristics without even realizing it. This book is a must read for anybody wishing to gain a better understanding of the human mind.

Creative Schools
by Ken Robinson

In Creative Schools, Sir Ken Robison sets out his vision for what school should become in the 21st century. On the heels of his famous Ted Talk "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" this book looks at education from all sides: curriculum, testing, students, teachers, principals, parents, and more. The core theme is designing an education system from top to bottom with the individual in mind, rather than a mass production, one-size-fits-all approach. In this book Robinson shares an inspiring vision of what school could be, and how we all play a role in getting there. A great read for teachers and parents alike.

Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance
by Angela Duckworth

Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance argues that this hard-to-define characteristic, which combines stick-to-itiveness and personal connection to a task, can be the greatest factor in determining future success. It may even be more important than intelligence.

Duckworth highlights the four key pillars of grit: interest, practice, purpose, and hope. She discusses how these elements come together to make some more resilient, more willing to sacrifice, and more passionate about completing what they set their mind to. Fortunately, like all characteristics, grit is not predetermined. It can be built, grown, or developed over time, as long as the right intention is there. This is a great read for anybody looking to gain a better understanding of resilience and perseverance.

How We Learn  
by Benedict Carey

How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens by Benedict Carey is an excellent summary of what we know about learning today. In easy to understand and straightforward language, Carey breaks down what the most recent research says about deep learning and memory. He debunks common misconceptions about how best to study and instead gives a simple blueprint of how to best approach new information and skills. Highly recommended for teachers, parents, and students alike.

Mindset
by Carol Dweck

Mindset, by world famous Stanford psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, is the preeminent book about Growth Mindset and how we think about our own learning, intelligence, and abilities. Dweck shares decades of her own research leading to the concepts of Growth vs. Fixed Mindset and how the way we think about our abilities and development can significantly affect our potential. Through simple language and examples, she argues for persistence, learning from failure, and holding on to an I Can Do Anything attitude. For more on growth mindset, see the Ed-450 Blog post here.

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn, by Faber & Mazlish, accomplishes exactly what its title suggests: it gives a clear roadmap of communication skills that lead to effective learning. The chapter names alone tell the story: Chapter 2 - Seven Skills That Invite Kids to Cooperate; Chapter 4 - Solving Problems Together; Chapter 5 - Praise That Doesn't Demean, Criticism That Doesn't Wound.

In easy-to-read language, authors Faber & Mazlish give invaluable advice to teachers and parents alike about what works, and what doesn't, when communicating with children in a classroom or at home. This book is highly recommended for all adults working with kids; teachers, coaches, mentors, and parents.

Raising Cain
by Kindlon & Thompson

Raising Cain, written by child psychologists Kindlon & Thompson, explores the often overlooked social-emotional development of boys in North American culture. It highlights the challenging emotional atmosphere that most boys grow up in, the issues with cool and masculine standards that exist, and the overall lack of encouragement towards qualities such as compassion, sensitivity, and warmth. Often touted as a must read, this book is highly recommended for parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors working with boys.  

The Smartest Kids in the World
by Amanda Ripley

In The Smartest Kids in the World author and journalist Amanda Ripley explores some of the most successful education systems in the world. By sharing the stories of three American high school exchange students in Finland, Poland and South Korea, Ripley illustrates how these countries approach public education and deliver an exceptional service to virtually all students. Highlighting clear contrasts with the American public school system, The Smartest Kids in the World gives a roadmap, a blueprint, of something to strive for closer to home.

Drive
by Daniel H. Pink

Drive, by Daniel H. Pink, is all about what truly motivates us. The author sets out clear arguments against the traditional approach of external motivation - carrots and sticks - and explains how monetary incentives alone can actually crush creativity, promote short-term thinking, and ultimately diminish performance.

Alternatively, Pink highlights what really drives us is internal motivation hinged on autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Although largely focused on the adult working world, there is discussion of growth, education, and how teachers can apply these concepts in developing curriculum, lesson plans, and even classroom management techniques.