Shortcuts: Reviews | In the pipeline | Crowdsourced Wishlist
The number of business books and guides available to you in bookshops and online now are enormous. Some can contain one simple idea, explored thoroughly, where others can have a great concept or strategy on every page – both have their place, in the commercial world at least. But what about Education? What can schools and colleges learn from business theories which can really benefit learning?
In my opinion, lots. As an educator for the past decade, I have also devoured this genre of book, which is as far away from my day-to-day life as I thought it could be. In the past few years however, I have realised that some of the things I have picked up from these books have pervaded my school planning, teaching, management and vision, making me a better teacher, and helping the pupils in my care to develop more confidence and gain further thinking and learning skills.
The trouble is that there is an awful lot to choose from – some have sold millions and are, in my opinion, tripe, while others have somehow slipped under the radar and yet are inspirational.
This part of the website aims to correct that balance. Every week, an in-depth review, from the perspective of an educator, will be published here. It will highlight the basic concept, give a readability reflection, and will examine the main thrust of the book, from a macro (SMT), class (teacher) and micro (pupil) perspective. Things I have learnt from these books I have developed and tailored in my classes, for my pupils, and I will, where possible, share these ideas with readers.
I would appreciate feedback, good or bad, as well as recommendations for books which aren’t yet on this list. Many thanks for reading this far!
Reviews
Bounce (The myth of talent and the power of practice)
In the wings for a review:
- The Shallows – Nicholas Carr
- Connected – Nicholas Christakis & James Fowler
- 59 Seconds – Professor Richard Wiseman
- What’s Mine Is Ours – Rachel Botsman & Roo Rogers
- Alex’s Adventures in Numberland – Alex Bellos
- Strategy and the Fat Smoker – David Maister
- The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – Carmine Gallo (SUPERB)
- Smart Swarm – Peter Miller
- Predictably Irrational – Dan Ariely
- Getting Things Done – David Allen
- Made to Stick – Chip & Dan Heath (ALSO SUPERB)
- Switch – Chip & Dan Heath
- Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
- The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell
Recommended books on Twitter:
- Quiet – Susan Cain (@nickdennis)
- Start with Why – Simon Sinek (@nickdennis)
- Multipliers in Education – Liz Wiseman (@nickdennis)
- The Oz Principle – Roger Connors, Tom Smith, Craig Hickman (@simon_warburton)
- From Good to Great – Jim Collins (@Teachertoolkit)
- Mindset – Carol Dweck (@nickdennis)
- Learning Power – Keri Facer (@taffwatts)
Please tweet to @mrlockyer to add to this list!