Well, the summer is unofficially over and all I can say is that it was one of the most productive breaks I have had in recent memory from a reading standpoint. I made a commitment to set aside time to read, something that I have failed miserably at in the past. The challenge for me though was to select books that were not only engaging but would push my thinking on educational leadership. For me, that equates to pleasurable reading. Obviously, I am a non-fiction guy. I wanted to read not only for pleasure but also personal and professional growth. Image credit: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/14/100-must-read-books-the-essential-mans-library/
After reading five books this past summer, a personal record for me, I can honestly say that I exceeded my goal. Not only was each one inspiring in its own right, but I was able to incorporate some of the principles and takeaways from each book during the first meeting with my staff yesterday. It is safe to This is a trend that will continue as the year progresses. It is safe to say that my choices, based in large part on recommendations from my Personal Learning Network (PLN) have had a profound impact. Below is my reading list that I highly recommend to all school leaders and any educator for that matter:
Linchpin by Seth Godin
Drive by Daniel Pink
The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Trust me when I tell you that you will thoroughly enjoy these books and quite possibly rethink how you lead, innovate, and communicate. What would you add to this list?
