Non-fiction

Viviane Robinson Reduce Change to Increase Improvement: My brilliant colleague at the National Institute of Teaching, Paula, recommended this. It has been hugely influential in developing leadership approaches that are clear and simple, and is full of helpful and realistic examples.

Peps McCrea Developing Expert Teaching: I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve quoted this book. A great synthesis of the evidence and theory of teacher development, told in McCrea’s trademark no-fluff style. A great one to read alongside lengthier tomes that illustrate the “how”, but the quickest and easiest to revisit for the core, good stuff.

Daniel Willingham Outsmart your Brain: Loved the latest from this education guru. Great tips for self-study from cognitive science, which could – with minor adaptations – support secondary pupils to do better in this.

Matt Lloyd-Rose Into the Night: I really enjoyed this account of Lloyd Rose’s year with the policy: a funny, sad, smart account of how the force works with our most vulnerable communities, and some incisive thoughts about how we might do this work better.

Jeffrey Boakye I Heard What you Said: Boakye can’t write a bad book, and this probably my favourite yet. A searing account of some troubling racism in our education system, this challenged some of my curriculum beliefs and gave me a lot to lose sleep over. We have to do better.

Daniel Finkelstein Hitler Stalin Mum and Dad: Quite possibly the most astonishing memoir I have ever read. A deeply personal account of the Holocaust atrocities juxtaposed with, perhaps lesser known, Soviet war crimes and their echoes through a family history.

Greg Ashman The Truth about teaching: Ashman brings research to the practical realities of the classroom, and I found this particularly insightful on the importance of early career training as well as how teachers can check which methods have more impact within their departments.

Cal Newport Deep Work: Another NIoT colleague, Reuben, recommended this (I love working with colleagues who read). A compelling thesis, and helpful lens to see how to split your workday. More of a way of life than tricks and tips.

Fiction

Brandon Taylor Real Life: this manages to be both readable and richly layered with perspectives and meanings and metaphors. Just brilliant and moving and gorgeous to read.

Maggie O’Farrell The Marriage Portrait: one of my favourite writers fictionalises one of my favourite poems. Lived up to every expectation.

Bonnie Garmus Lessons in Chemistry: feminism, motherhood, friendship, a dramatic twist – this book has it all.

Donal Ryan The Queen of Dirt Island: hero headteacher Carly Moran told me to read this and it resulted in a particularly humiliating tube journey as I sobbed through the final chapter. A slow burn that is well worth the payoff. Ordinary life transfigured by prose.

Reading resolutions

I’m surprised at how few fiction reads I loved enough to recommend, considering I read about five fiction for every non-fiction book. On reflection, what I’ve done is read a massive amount of stupid thrillers and romances which were fun at the time but didn’t really stick. Next year, I resolve to read more “proper good” fiction. Please share any and all recommendations!