Book Genre: Non-Fiction

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Sarah McHarry 2013
Read: 2016
Non-Fiction

This is a very quick read for me as I try to figure out how to use the web and blogs to get some of my ideas across. I have this as a continuous goal, and I have a ways to go to get better at it, but that’s what I’m working on. Interesting – […]

Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be

Frank Bruni 2015
Read: 2016
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

I became interested in this book after reading about Palo Alto High School and some of the suicide tragedies that occurred in that school in the last ten years. The pressure on our students to go to the right college is extraordinary. The pressure on our most advanced students to get into one of ten […]

Wheat Belly

William Davis, MD 2013
Read: 2013
Non-Fiction

After reading this, my weight dropped from 205 to 197. If I was truly dedicated, it would go even lower. I recommend it for a very quick read. I don’t think he is wrong. My favorite line is when Dr. Davis talks about all of the marathoners and triathletes who have a paunch. How can […]

Unselfie : Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World

Michele Borba 2017
Read: 2017
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

This is a book that our middle school vice principal Margot Parker asked our parents to read and led a book group discussion on it. It explores the idea that in this digital age, students are often hyper-consumed with themselves. I am reminded of that classic YouTube video of the college girls at the professional […]

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival

Laura Hildebrand 2010
Read: 2014
Non-Fiction

I read this because (1) it is a big movie this year, and (2) it is a local story of a man from Torrance. My friend Paul told me about the book, and how it told so much more in the movie. He was particularly angered by the fact that the movie removed the importance […]

Truman

David McCullough 1992
Read: 2010 or before
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

Truman, by David McCullough (1992) I am in awe of this ordinary man who became an extraordinary leader. (I’m also in awe of David McCullough, and I’ll read anything he writes.) Some of my favorite quotes: “An optimist was a person who thinks things can be done.  No pessimist ever did anything for the world.” Near […]

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging

Sebastian Junger 2014
Read: 2019
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

Tribe is a compelling book that speaks of the isolation and independence of humans in the modern world but particularly in the United States and the potentially harmful impact that that has on both individuals and society. The book opens with some historical accounts of Americans who were captured by Native American tribes and when […]

Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor

Warren Bennis 2008
Read: 2014
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

A major premise of this book is that the higher the leadership position, the less honest feedback the person receives. Their remedy: free flow of information and finding ways to hear directly from all levels of the organization. It’s about abandoning ego, hearing good and hard feedback, and giving the same.      

Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything

B.J. Fogg 2019
Read: 2021
Non-Fiction

“There are only three things we can do that will create lasting change: have an epiphany, change our environment, or change our habits in tiny ways.”

10% Happier

Dan Harris 2014
Read: 2014
Non-Fiction

My father recommended this book to me. I try to always follow his recommendations. He is still a voracious reader, while continuing to practice law. He is keenly interested in my career and in public education. He lives back in Arkansas, but we talk regularly about life, law, public education and anything that resembles good […]

Talking to Strangers

Malcolm Gladwell 2019
Read: 2020
Non-Fiction

In recent months, I have become a fan of podcasts. I have a long commute so I enjoy getting to listen to them on the way to or from work. They’re usually about 20 minutes in length so I can listen to one or two on my drive. This latest “book” from Malcom Gladwell has […]

Switch

Chip and Dan Heath 2010
Read: 2011
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

It’s centered on the idea that humans have two sides: a rational side (the rider) that plans and knows what is best, and an emotional side (the elephant) that actually get things done.

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern

Stephen Greenblatt 2011
Read: 2015
Non-Fiction

It is a lesson about how civilizations can be ruined by fanaticism.

Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Character)

Richard P. Feynman 1997
Read: 2019
Non-Fiction

Oh, and the reason I like his views as a teacher was that he believes that textbooks bring nothing additional to the classroom, and only a great teacher bringing a subject to life matters. Word.

Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson 2011
Read: 2011
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

I downloaded this on the first day it was available. I said at the TEDx conference that I think Steve Jobs will go down as one of the great educational heroes of the 21st century.  He may be responsible for actually changing the way the classroom looks – something no one else has done.  By putting […]

Spark Joy

Marie Kondo 2016
Read: 2018
Non-Fiction

The introduction to this book has Marie Kondo saying, “I don’t really see a need for this book. I told you everything in this first book but people keep writing me asking for details on how to do stuff, so here it goes.” I raced through this book and when I was done, I firmly […]

Spark. The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

John J. Ratey, MD 2008
Read: 2011
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

Exercise makes us better. Plato had it right when he wrote: “In order for man to succeed in life, God provided him with two means, education and physical activity.

The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way

Amanda Ripley 2013
Read: 2015
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way, by Amanda Ripley (2013) This book takes three exchange students from the US and compares their experiences at home and abroad, while looking carefully and the Finland Education System as a model. It is a compelling read, and sends some strong messages. First: […]

The Six Secrets of Change

Michael Fullan 2008
Read: 2012
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

Michael Fullan’s Change Forces is one of the great educational books, and he continues to look into the subject. In this book, he looks at six secrets: Love Your Employees Connect Peers with Purpose Capacity Building Prevails Learning is the Work Transparency Rules Systems Learn There is nothing stunningly new here, but there are some […]

The Short Bus

Jonathan Mooney 2008
Read: 2018
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction

I learned about this book when I heard about Jonathan Mooney speaking to a group of educators locally. I learned that he was an elementary school student and high school student with us before going on to Brown University. I learned that he faced many challenges as a special education student and that he had […]

Shantaram

Gregory Roberts 2003
Read: 2017
Non-Fiction

I read this book at the recommendation of some friends in the District. It’s a book of fiction about the life of an Australian refugee in India. It gives amazing insight into the slum life in India, some of the political and international battles being fought in India, and life overall in India. It is […]

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey 1989
Read: 2010 or before
Education/Leadership, Non-Fiction, Reading Now, Recommended for Young Adults

This is another one of my bedrock books. Stephen Covey has had such an influence on my personal and professional life. The seven habits: Be Proactive Begin with the End in Mind First Things First Win-Win Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood Synergize Sharpen the Saw From “Beginning with the End in Mind” which […]

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari 2015
Read: 2015
Non-Fiction

My dad recommended this one to me. I don’t think I liked it as much as he did. Mr. Harari examines the cognitive history of humans, and basically argues that we have not become any happier due to all of our cognitive development. In fact, we may very well be more unhappy than ever. He […]

Salt: A World History

Matt Kurlansky 2003
Read: 2020
Cooking, Non-Fiction

I saw this book in the airport bookstore, and bought it for my Kindle. I love reading on my Kindle, as I can always go back to the book, I carry it with me at all times, and I can take my notes from the book and my highlights from the book and upload them […]