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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
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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.
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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.
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By Zaretta Hammond
Learn how to engage learners of all identities with culturally responsive pedagogy, and the neuroscience that underpins these strategies.
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By Frances Jensen
Understand the inner workings of the brain during adolescence, including a range of topics like learning, media, sleep, drugs, and alcohol.
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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.
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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.
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By Barbara Oakley et al.
Understand how learning and memory works, from an expert communicator of neuroscience for educators.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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By National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Updated findings from important learning science research, including culturally responsive pedagogy and design.
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By Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Learn essential characteristics of memorable messages and experiences, that transfer to any context personally and professionally.
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By Donna Wilson & Marcus Conyers
Understand how key changes in learning sciences directly impact teaching, including neural plasticity, intelligence, and metacognition.
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By William Stixrud & Ned Johnson
Understand the science behind why it’s so important to give kids choice in their school and home lives.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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”.
Want more?
Here’s more of our favorite reads, for understanding how to create meaningful learning and cultures among students and professional teams.
How We Learn: The Surprising Truth about When, Where, and Why it Happens by Benedict Carey
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
Empower: What Happens When Students Own their Learning by John Spencer & A.J. Juliani
Reality-Based Leadership: Ditch the Drama, Restore Sanity to the Workplace, and Turn Excuses into Results by Cy Wakeman
Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott
Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google that Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Block
How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning by Pooja Agarwal & Patrice Bain
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath & Dan Heath