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Recommended Books

These are our favorite books we recommend for learning about current research related to the brain, learning, education, and leadership. Get your gears turning!

Learning and the Brain

  • By National Research Council

    Exceptional collection of decades of important research across the field of learning sciences. Series includes volumes with research about specific content areas.

  • By Judy Willis and Malana Willis

    This book uniquely provides both the brain science behind learning and behavior, as well as concrete strategies to use in K-12 lessons across disciplines.

  • By Zaretta Hammond

    Learn how to engage learners of all identities with culturally responsive pedagogy, and the neuroscience that underpins these strategies.

  • By Frances Jensen

    Understand the inner workings of the brain during adolescence, including a range of topics like learning, media, sleep, drugs, and alcohol.

  • By John Medina

    Explore key truths about how our brains work that can improve how we learn, work, and live. Topics include sleep, stress, attention, exercise, and more.

  • By Angela Duckworth

    Learn about the science behind what makes people gritty, through the cultivation of passion which drives the ability to persevere through challenge.

  • By Barbara Oakley et al.

    Understand how learning and memory works, from an expert communicator of neuroscience for educators.

  • By Pooja Agarwal & Patrice Bain

    Learn high-powered cognitive science strategies that boost memory and learning for students, including retrieval practice, spaced practice, interleaving, and feedback.

  • By Paul Zak

    Learn the neuroscience research behind why trust is a necessary factor in success, creativity, and collaboration both in schools and in professional work.

  • By Lisa Feldman Barrett

    This is a short read that packs a powerful punch of brain science. Explore fundamental truths about how our brains evolved and ways we can leverage that in today’s world.

  • By National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

    Updated findings from important learning science research, including culturally responsive pedagogy and design.

  • By Chip Heath & Dan Heath

    Learn essential characteristics of memorable messages and experiences, that transfer to any context personally and professionally.

  • By Donna Wilson & Marcus Conyers

    Understand how key changes in learning sciences directly impact teaching, including neural plasticity, intelligence, and metacognition.

  • By William Stixrud & Ned Johnson

    Understand the science behind why it’s so important to give kids choice in their school and home lives.

  • By Annie Murphy Paul

    Learn about the ways our bodies, space, and other people help us construct knowledge in ways that extend and enhance what happens in our brains.

Leadership and Innovation

  • Subtract

    By Leidy Klotz

    Explore the untapped science of less. Learn about the ways our brains default to adding when solving problems, and the ways we can achieve more meaningful outcomes through the process of subtraction.

  • Switch

    By Chip Heath & Dan Heath

    What does research say about how to make change when people or systems feel stuck in old ways of doing things? Learn about creative strategies for how to advance change.

  • Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership

    By Tim Elmore

    Learn about the paradoxical skills that effective leaders demonstrate, including having clear vision while also recognizing blind spots. Another is balancing visibility and invisibility.

  • Upstream

    By Dan Heath

    What if we could prevent problems before they begin? Thinking upstream encourages leaders to zoom out from daily emergencies, to engineer smarter systemic solutions.

  • Fearless Schools

    By Douglas Reeves

    Creating a sense of trust in schools is paramount for success and well-being. Learn how to establish stability for students and staff by leaning away from fear and toward your community.

  • Dare to Lead

    By Brene Brown

    Learn about the science behind why and how to build trust with teams, through embracing vulnerability and courageous conversations.

  • Start with Why

    By Simon Sinek

    Thinking about why your organization does what it does allows you to be more effective in your communication and decision-making as a leader and professional.

  • The Infinte Game

    By Simon Sinek

    An excellent resource for leaders and educators to re-think how we design our systems to motivate long-lasting learning and growth, rather than short finite “wins” that don’t advance our deeper “just cause”.

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