In the dramatically titled Learn or Die, Edward Hess uses research and models to nudge our thinking on two topics: how we learn and how we can build organizations where learning is at the center of all we do. If you like analyzing topics such as self-efficacy, System 1 and System 2 thinking, and positive psychology’s impact on learning then Learn or Die will scratch those intellectual itches and more.

Do you ever feel like while training to teach you learned concepts that sounded great, but when put into practice in the classroom did not seem to be effective? In her book, Seven Myths About Education, Daisy Chrisodoulou dispels seven myths she was repeatedly taught when she was training to be a teacher. After much research, Christodoulou wrote this book to demonstrate what modern science tells us we need to change about the education system.

The quality of training for education leaders varies widely. If you are in a leadership role and have a counseling background, psychology degree, or SEL training then Mindwise, by Nicholas Epley will reinforce, update, or supplement what you already know. If not… then you might want to become familiar with lens perspective, correspondence bias, and the curse of knowledge, among other impactful ideas. Moving education towards implementing what research tells us is effective will depend on our engaging in books like this.

Stretch by Scott Sonenshein will encourage you to do more with less...and then show you how to do it. Concepts such as chasing, stretching, and being cognitively entrenched, combined with cautionary tales (Gerber singles, anyone?) and success stories (Yuengling and the book Green Eggs and Ham) to frame why it’s important to think more about “stretching” than “chasing.”

How to Raise an Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims, is in many ways a meta-analysis of the dozens of books she references and curated over the course of her 14 years as a Dean of Freshman at Stanford University. A great read for any parent or parent-to-be who wants to reflect on how they were raised and improve on that standard for the next generation.

As teachers, it is important to not only teach others how to learn but also how to be lifelong learners ourselves. In his book The Practicing Mind, Thomas Sterner highlights ways to transform the way we practice and think about learning.

Frans Johansson tells stories that illustrate connections across seemingly dissimilar disciplines in order to emphasize his main idea: Intersection is the key to innovation. Most of the book is spent guiding the reader in terms of how to create the Intersection as frequently and efficiently as possible.

Are your students discovering their talents and pursuing their passions? In The Element, Sir Ken Robinson explains why and how all humans should tap into their aptitudes and interests in order to find more fulfillment in life and prepare for the complex problems facing our ever-changing world.

Taken from the perspective of what makes an idea stick, this book analyzes and presents effective delivery methods to increase the retention of concepts or ideas. The Heath brothers use real-world examples and a somewhat informal tone to assist their readers in applying the six principles of “stickiness” (Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories: SUCCESS) necessary for effective concept retention.

In what is perhaps the most buzzworthy and conversation-inducing book within education this century, Mindset vividly demonstrates the difference between a “growth” and a “fixed” mindset. The former is a blueprint for a life of learning and achievement, and the latter, a life of low-effort, defensive responses creating a feeling of constantly not measuring up.

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