Isaac Asimov once stated that ‘self-education is…the only kind of education there is’. For Albert Einstein ‘ intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death’. The moral behind the quotes is that personal learning, self-directed education, informal learning, self-development…you name it, is a life-long process. It’s an endeavour that is internally motivated and driven by an insatiable desire to explore and understand the world. It is also a mindset, a thinking framework that positions individuals within their social realities.
As teachers and educators, we are constantly engaged in this endeavour. In fact, it is what makes us who we are now. And while learning is an atemporal cognitive activity independent of any geo-temporal boundaries, yet because of our work constraints and busy schedules during the school year, summer is obviously the best time for teachers to indulge in ‘binge learning’. To this end , we have meticulously handpicked some wonderful books to help you make the best of your ‘binge learning’. The books are authored by some leading thinkers and educators and cover a wide mosaic of themes subsumed all under the generic concept of self-development. You can also check our Pinterest board 'Great Books for Teachers' for over 100 books specifically curated for teachers.
1- The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence , by Josh Witzkin
‘In his riveting new book, The Art of Learning, Waitzkin tells his remarkable story of personal achievement and shares the principles of learning and performance that have propelled him to the top -- twice. ’
2- Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning Hardcover , by Peter C. Brown (Author), Henry L. Roediger III (Author), Mark A. McDaniel (Author)
‘Drawing on cognitive psychology and other fields, Make It Stick offers techniques for becoming more productive learners, and cautions against study habits and practice routines that turn out to be counterproductive. The book speaks to students, teachers, trainers, athletes, and all those interested in lifelong learning and self-improvement.’
3- Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard , by Chip Heath (Author), Dan Heath (Author)
‘In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.’
4- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us , by Daniel H. Pink (Author)
‘Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose-and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action in a unique book that will change how we think and transform how we live.’
5- Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek (Author)
‘In studying the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act, and communicate in the exact same way-and it's the complete opposite of what everyone else does. People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers might have little in common, but they all started with why.’
6- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change ,by Stephen R. Covey (Author)
‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is recognized as one of the most influential audiobooks ever recorded. In this seminal work, Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity―principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates’
7- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living , by Dale Carnegie (Author)
‘With Dale Carnegie's timeless advice in hand, more than six million people have learned how to eliminate debilitating fear and worry from their lives and to embrace a worry-free future. In this classic work, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Carnegie offers a set of practical formulas that you can put to work today. It is a book packed with lessons that will last a lifetime and make that lifetime happier! ’
8- Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, by Richard H. Thaler (Author), Cass R. Sunstein
‘Nudge is about choices—how we make them and how we can make better ones. Drawing on decades of research in the fields of behavioral science and economics, authors Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein offer a new perspective on preventing the countless mistakes we make—ill-advised personal investments, consumption of unhealthy foods, neglect of our natural resources—and show us how sensible “choice architecture” can successfully nudge people toward the best decisions.’
