Four Thousand Weeks Book Review & Summary for Teachers (2025): Oliver Burkeman’s Time-Management Blueprint to Beat Burnout and Reclaim Classroom Time

confused businessman checking time on wristwatch
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

When the average human lifespan is broken into weeks, it comes out to roughly 4,000 tiny squares on a calendar. Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals argues that every choice you—or your teachers—make is an irrevocable investment of one of those squares. That simple, urgent idea is the antidote to the chronic overload driving record-high teacher stress and attrition. Below is the straight-talk pitch I deliver when I hand the book to a classroom teacher—no fables, no fluff, just a direct-response case for why this needs to be the first professional-development read of the new school year.

Sale
Four Thousand Weeks
  • Burkeman, Oliver (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 304 Pages – 06/27/2023 (Publication Date) – Picador Paper (Publisher)

The Pain You Already Feel

  • Teachers are working an average of 49 hours per week—ten more than they’re paid for—and still feel behind. (RAND Corporation)
  • Seventy-eight percent have considered quitting since the pandemic. (National Education Association)
  • Three-quarters now shoulder extra duties to cover shortages, compounding burnout. (Devlin Peck)
  • A typical classroom loses the equivalent of ten instructional days each year to interruptions alone. (Education Week)

Those numbers aren’t a motivation problem; they’re a math problem. No planner, rubric, or inbox-zero ritual will create the hours you don’t have. Burkeman starts where every other productivity guru won’t: by admitting you can’t fit it all in.


The Big Idea Teachers Haven’t Tried Yet

Burkeman’s thesis is deceptively simple: because you’re finite, you must decide—up front—what you will not do. Reviewers have called the book “refreshingly alternative” to hustle culture (Matt Swain) and “a wise meditation on human transience” (Janice Greenwood). For educators drowning in initiatives, it’s a life-raft made of three core moves:

  1. Choose what to fail at. Instead of trying to “balance” everything, deliberately neglect low-stakes tasks so high-impact work can thrive (Finding Mastery).
  2. Work from a “closed” list. Keep a limitless “open” list for every possible to-do, but restrict your active list to ten items—nothing enters until something exits (Reddit).
  3. Pay yourself first with time. Devote your best hour each day to priorities that matter before the building’s demands siphon your focus (sidsavara.com).

These are not trendy hacks. They are structural shifts that acknowledge the conveyor-belt reality of modern schools.


Five Transformations Your Teachers Will See

1. From Endless Prep to Deliberate Impact

Adopting the closed-list rule forces teachers to ask: Which planning task will move student learning the farthest today? Every “yes” becomes a promise to finish, not a vague ambition. In trials outside education, practitioners report sharper focus and lower anxiety after just one week (idratherbewriting.com).

2. From Reactive to Strategic Inbox

Burkeman’s “decide what to fail at” legitimizes delayed email responses. When leaders institute 24-hour reply windows, RAND found teacher stress indicators drop while retention rises (RAND Corporation). Guiltless triage frees hours that would otherwise be lost to back-and-forth threads.

3. From Exhausted Evenings to Guarded Mornings

The “pay yourself first” principle mirrors personal-finance wisdom: invest before you spend. Guardian productivity analysts list tackling the hardest task first as one of the top ways to regain calendar control (The Guardian). Teachers who block the first prep period for deep work finish grading faster and carry less home.

4. From Hustle Guilt to Intentional Leisure

Burkeman reframes rest as an end, not a recharge tactic—critical, given that female educators report higher burnout than their peers every year since 2021 (RAND Corporation). Structured downtime protects cognitive bandwidth for tomorrow’s classes.

5. From Initiative Fatigue to Focused Mastery

When districts subtract old programs before adding new ones, they see stronger morale and fewer resignations (idratherbewriting.com). The book supplies the philosophical permission slip administrators need to prune the agenda.


What Your Teachers Will Learn—Chapter by Chapter

ChapterTeacher Translation
The Limit-Embracing LifeWhy the dream of “someday I’ll catch up” is a trap—and how to stop waiting for it.
The Efficiency TrapProof that faster grading often creates more grading (looking at you, instant-feedback apps).
The Watermelon ProblemHow to spot “busywork masquerading as importance” before it hijacks planning time.
The Cluttered Desk of the MindMental techniques to resist the dopamine pull of hallway interruptions and push notifications.
The End of Time ManagementA practical blueprint for the closed-list system and serial focus—complete with classroom-ready examples.

Each chapter concludes with thought experiments and micro-habits that are easy to test during a single prep block.


Hard Proof It Works

  • Technical writer David Kowalsky reduced his active task list from 27 items to 7 in one week by adopting the open/closed system (idratherbewriting.com).
  • Readers on Goodreads consistently cite the “closed list” as the most transformational takeaway (Goodreads).
  • Productivity forums report that the two-list method can slash context-switching fatigue within days (Reddit).

If it can tame an entrepreneur’s workload, it can tame a teacher’s.


How to Roll It Out Next Week

  1. Assign Chapters 1-3 for a PLC discussion. Frame it around the RAND burnout data to root the conversation in urgency (RAND Corporation).
  2. Pilot the closed-list in one content team. Compare instructional-minute recovery against the EdWeek interruption baseline of ten lost days (Education Week).
  3. Use the “choose what to fail” exercise to cut one legacy assignment per unit. Frees cognitive load for feedback that matters.
  4. Protect a daily “pay yourself first” slot; even 15 minutes meets Guardian guidelines for reclaiming focus (The Guardian).
  5. Revisit results after two weeks. Expect fewer late-night grading marathons and clearer student feedback cycles.

Objections You’ll Hear—and How to Answer

“I can’t ignore emails—parents will panic!”
Set automated replies promising a 24-hour turnaround. Research shows that delayed, thoughtful answers can reduce the need for follow-up emails, ultimately netting you more goodwill (The Guardian).

“My to-do list won’t fit on one page.”
That’s the point. The overflow belongs on the open list where it can’t ambush your attention (Goodreads).

“I don’t have time to read a book.”
Burkeman’s 288 pages equal four 40-minute commutes or one Netflix mini-series. The ROI is reclaiming weeks this semester.


Ready to Start?

Grab the Book on Amazon →

Your teachers don’t need another app, spreadsheet, or motivational poster. They need a paradigm that acknowledges reality, honors their limited weeks, and channels focus where it counts: student learning. Four Thousand Weeks delivers exactly that.


Sources

  1. Matt Swain, book summary of Four Thousand Weeks (Matt Swain)
  2. RAND Corporation, State of the American Teacher 2025 (RAND Corporation)
  3. NEA, “What’s Causing Teacher Burnout?” (National Education Association)
  4. Devlin Peck, Teacher Burnout Statistics 2025 (Devlin Peck)
  5. Education Week, Classroom Interruptions Study (Education Week)
  6. Janice Greenwood, book review of Four Thousand Weeks (Janice Greenwood)
  7. Guardian, 14 Productivity Hacks (The Guardian)
  8. Reddit r/Productivity, “4000 Weeks To-Do List” (Reddit)
  9. David Kowalsky, productivity experiments (idratherbewriting.com)
  10. Goodreads quote on open/closed lists (Goodreads)
  11. Jessica Mehring, “Choosing What You Fail At” (Jessica Mehring, Author)
  12. Oliver Burkeman interview on Finding Mastery (Finding Mastery)

The 40-Hour Teacher Week Myth (and 7 Time-Saving Tools That Actually Work)

black and white photo of clocks
Photo by Andrey Grushnikov on Pexels.com

The Lie We’ve All Been Sold

If you’re a teacher, you know the truth: 40 hours is a fantasy.

Between planning, grading, answering emails, parent meetings, PD sessions, hallway duty, IEPs, MTSS meetings, and trying to breathe for a moment, teaching is a job that routinely demands 50 to 60 hours per week, and sometimes even more. It’s not that we’re bad at time management. It’s that we’re swimming against a system that wasn’t designed for sustainability.

But here’s the good news: while you may not be able to control the system, you can change how you manage your time within it.

In this post, we’re going to:

  • Debunk the 40-hour teacher week
  • Explore how to design your time like a limited resource
  • Share 7 time-saving tools that can actually help you win back your evenings and weekends
  • Provide practical, teacher-tested time hacks you can implement right away

Let’s dig in.

Why the 40-Hour Week Doesn’t Exist in Education

The idea of a 40-hour workweek originated from industrial labor models—you clock in, you do your job, and you clock out. But teaching isn’t just a job. It’s a calling, a performance, a planning-intensive, people-heavy, paperwork-dense act of organized chaos.

Here’s how time actually gets spent:

  • Instruction: 30+ hours/week
  • Lesson planning & prep: 5–10 hours/week
  • Grading and feedback: 5–8 hours/week
  • Emails and communication: 3+ hours/week
  • Meetings (PLC, IEP, PD, admin): 2–5 hours/week

And that’s before you factor in classroom setup, tech troubleshooting, data analysis, sub plans, hallway coverage, behavior documentation, and the emotional labor of being “on” all day.

Teaching is a job that will expand to consume every available minute if you let it.

That’s why reclaiming your time starts with a mindset shift.


Time Budgeting vs. Task Management

Traditional time management says, “Make a list and get it all done.”

But that assumes time is infinite and predictable. It’s not.

Instead, use a time budgeting mindset: you start with a finite amount of time and allocate it intentionally.

Try this:

  • Budget 30 minutes to plan tomorrow’s lesson. When the timer goes off, stop. Done is better than perfect.
  • Give yourself 45 minutes to grade a set of quizzes. Use a single-point rubric or comment bank to speed it up.
  • Block off 1 hour for parent communication. Use templated responses, voice memos, or batch them in your planning period.

You wouldn’t overspend your money without consequence. Don’t overspend your time.


The 80% Rule: Done Is Better Than Perfect

Aim for 80%.

We waste enormous energy trying to make things perfect—the perfect slide deck, the perfect anchor chart, the perfect assignment. And while excellence matters, so does survivability.

Let go of perfection and embrace “effective enough.”


SaleBestseller No. 1
Four Thousand Weeks
  • Burkeman, Oliver (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 304 Pages – 06/27/2023 (Publication Date) – Picador Paper (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 2
Time Management from the Inside Out, Second Edition: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule — and Your Life
  • Morgenstern, Julie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 304 Pages – 09/01/2004 (Publication Date) – Holt Paperbacks (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 3
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
  • A great option for a Book Lover
  • Easy To Read
  • Ideal for Gifting
  • Koch, Richard (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

7 Time-Saving Tools Every Teacher Should Use

Each of these is designed to save time without sacrificing quality—and yes, they’re all tools I either use or would recommend.


1. Planbook.com – Digital Lesson Planning Made Simple

Say goodbye to clunky binders and endless Google Docs. Planbook allows you to plan, align to standards, and adjust with drag-and-drop ease.
Affiliate Tip: Mention the ability to copy lessons year-to-year, saving hours in future terms.


2. Google Keep – Fast Notes, Checklists, and To-Dos

Think of it as your sticky note board, digitized. Keep is great for batching feedback notes, tracking student conferences, and setting reminders.
Pro Tip: Use labels like “Grading,” “Parent Calls,” or “Copy Room” to stay organized.


3. ClickUp or Notion – Project Management for Educators

Use these to manage units, track standards, or even collaborate across your PLC.
Want to build a weekly to-do board? Create a reusable template.


4. Grammarly Premium – Write Faster, Grade Smarter

Speed up parent emails, student feedback, and even lesson materials. Let Grammarly handle grammar, tone, and conciseness so you can focus on content.


5. Mote – Voice Comments in Google Classroom

Record personalized audio feedback directly into student work. Students engage more, and you save time typing.
It’s also fantastic for English learners and students with IEP accommodations.


6. Text Blaze – Auto-Responses and Comment Banks

If you find yourself typing the exact phrases over and over, Text Blaze lets you create keyboard shortcuts that expand into full sentences, feedback, or email replies.
Think: /grade1 = “Great start! Please expand on your second point.”


7. Rocketbook – Reusable Smart Notebook

Want to plan on paper but keep it digital? Write in this notebook, scan it with your phone, and send it directly to Google Drive, Notion, or email.
Great for capturing notes from PD or coaching conversations, then tossing them into your digital workflow.

5 Time-Saving Habits to Build This Month

Tools help. But systems sustain. Here are habits to pair with your tools:

1. Theme Your Days

  • Monday: Lesson planning
  • Tuesday: Grading
  • Wednesday: Family communication
  • Thursday: Data and meetings
  • Friday: Catch up + self-care

2. Use Comment Banks and Rubrics

Create a Google Doc with your most-used feedback phrases. Pair with single-point rubrics in Google Classroom.

3. Batch Like a Boss

Group similar tasks (e.g., grade all assignments from 2nd period, then all from 3rd) to reduce cognitive switching.

4. Automate What You Can

Schedule recurring parent newsletters. Use auto-responders during peak grading periods. Build email templates.

5. Reflect Weekly

Take 15 minutes each Friday to reflect:

  • What worked?
  • What drained me?
  • What can I tweak for next week?

Final Thoughts: Time Is a Teacher’s Most Precious Resource

You are not a robot. You are not lazy. You are not doing it wrong.

You are working inside a system that asks too much and gives too little.

But with the right tools and some intentional design, you can reclaim your time.

You deserve to leave school without guilt. You deserve a weekend. You deserve a full life.

And it starts by treating your time as sacred.

Reimagining the Classroom: The Shift to Student-Led with UDL & Blended Learning

Reimagining the Classroom: The Shift to Student-Led with UDL & Blended Learning
Version 1.0.0

Why This Book Should Be on Every Teacher’s Radar

If you’ve ever found yourself carrying the full weight of your classroom on your shoulders—exhausted, overextended, and wondering if your students are truly engaged—The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin R. Tucker and Katie Novak offers a powerful path forward.

By blending Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with blended learning strategies, this book helps teachers transition from being the center of the classroom to becoming learning designers and facilitators, without sacrificing structure, rigor, or accountability.

Let’s break it down 👇

Sale
The Shift to Student-Led: Reimagining Classroom Workflows with UDL and Blended Learning
  • Tucker, Catlin R. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 270 Pages – 11/09/2022 (Publication Date) – Impress (Publisher)

🔑 Big Ideas in The Shift to Student-Led

  • Empowers learners to take charge of their education through student-led workflows that build agency, motivation, and metacognition.
  • Aligns with UDL principles, offering multiple ways for students to access content, express learning, and stay engaged.
  • Supports teacher sustainability with practical tools that reduce burnout and promote shared responsibility in the classroom.
  • Includes ready-to-use templates and reflection tools for immediate implementation—in class or in PLCs.

What Are Student-Led Workflows?

Tucker and Novak outline 10 specific shifts that flip the script on traditional classroom practices. A few standout transformations:

From…To…
Sit-and-get lessonsInquiry-based discovery
Whole-group discussionsStudent-facilitated conversations
Solo assignmentsProjects with authentic audiences
Teacher-led feedbackStudent self-assessment & reflection
Private practicePeer-created practice tasks

Each shift includes step-by-step guides, examples, and tools to make it manageable, even in busy classrooms with diverse learners.


🎯 Why This Matters Now (More Than Ever)

Teaching is hard. Teaching after a pandemic, amid ongoing changes and rising needs? Even harder.

This book isn’t just about pedagogy—it’s about reclaiming joy in your practice and building classrooms where students are doing the work of learning. That includes:

  • Meeting diverse needs without creating 30 different lesson plans.
  • Building life-ready skills like reflection, goal-setting, and collaboration.
  • Creating space for student voice, choice, and autonomy.

Who This Book Is Perfect For

👩‍🏫 K–12 Teachers looking to create more student-driven classrooms
🤝 Instructional Coaches supporting PLCs or teacher growth cycles
🏫 School Leaders designing systems that promote learner agency
🎓 Pre-service Teachers & Faculty studying modern learning design


Free Resources to Get You Started


Ready to Start Small? Here’s How 👣

  • Pick one workflow to try—maybe feedback or group discussions.
  • Invite students into the process: What helps them learn? What’s not working?
  • Use reflection check-ins to adjust and improve.
  • Celebrate growth—with student artifacts, voice recordings, or video showcases.

Classroom Scenarios That Just Work

  • Middle School ELA: Students run peer-led literature circles with discussion protocols
  • High School Science: Learners build digital flashcard decks and quiz each other
  • Upper Elementary: Students design mini passion projects and present them to families

Final Thoughts: Why This Shift Matters

This isn’t a silver bullet, but it is a breath of fresh air. The Shift to Student-Led gives educators the tools to create meaningful, student-centered learning without burning out. You’ll find yourself doing less of the heavy lifting and more of the inspiring.

And that’s the kind of classroom every student—and teacher—deserves.


Want to Dive Deeper?

📘 Read: The Shift to Student-Led: Reimagining Classroom Workflows with UDL and Blended Learning
🎧 Listen: Podcast Episode with Tucker & Novak
📺 Watch: Video on Small-Group Discussion Shifts
🛠️ Access Templates + Book Club Kit


SaleBestseller No. 1
Universal Design for Learning: Principles, Framework, and Practice
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 204 Pages – 07/30/2024 (Publication Date) – Cast, Inc. (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 2
Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice
  • Meyer, Anne (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 238 Pages – 12/17/2013 (Publication Date) – Cast Incorporated (Publisher)
Bestseller No. 3
Universal Design for Learning in Action: 100 Ways to Teach All Learners
  • Rapp Ph.D, Dr. Whitney H. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 224 Pages – 05/05/2014 (Publication Date) – Brookes Publishing (Publisher)

Book Review: The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

The Witch Roads arrives like a long-awaited summer thunderstorm—slow-building, earthy, and then suddenly crackling with strange blue lightning. Published on 10 June 2025 (Tor Books, 448 pp.), it opens Kate Elliott’s planned duology with the confident stride of an author who’s been mapping imperial highways for decades.

The Witch Roads
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Elliott, Kate (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 439 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

Setting & Premise

Centuries after the fungal plague called the Pall carved toxic rifts through the Tranquil Empire, only the ancient “witch roads” repel its spore clouds. Deputy courier Elen, guardian of her trans nephew Kem, patrols those roads—until a self-important prince commandeers her as guide. When the prince ignores a warning and enters the haunted Spires, he emerges…different: a long-dead haunt now wears his body, chasing a mission even older than the empire itself. Elen must shepherd this counterfeit royal and his entourage across lands where class hierarchies bite as hard as the Pall.

Themes

Elliott raises three big questions:

  • Who owns a body? (A literal possession story examines consent and identity.)
  • What does status buy, and what is the cost? Her empire’s rigid caste system forces characters to navigate power with every breath.
  • What is home when the land itself betrays you? The omnipresent Pall evokes climate dread and colonial “sacrifice zones.”
    The novel also foregrounds queer resilience—Elen’s middle-aged practicality, Kem’s adolescent transition, and the haunt’s fluid sense of self push back against inherited roles.

Writing Style & Pacing

Expect Elliott’s trademark “big-fat-fantasy that refuses info-dumps.” Scene after scene is grounded in tactile detail—dew-damp boots, fungal shimmer on stone—and punctuated by sly humor whenever Elen side-eyes aristocratic nonsense. Reviews note a measured first act that gradually accelerates; once the trek begins, tension builds without losing focus on character development. Readers who love the slow unfurling of Cold Magic or Spiritwalker will feel at home.

Characterization

Elen is refreshingly adult: late thirties, competent, nursing quiet traumas from a childhood as a “Pall-shield” slave. Her guarded kindness contrasts sharply with the haunt’s centuries-old intensity and the prince’s absent arrogance. Kem reads like a real teenager—audacious, wounded, sometimes infuriating—and the supporting cast (Griffin riders, bureaucrats, snide courtiers) each bristle with agendas. The result is a story where alliances feel provisional and personal.

Critique

  • Structural cliff-hanger: As several early readers warn, book one ends at “a pause rather than a conclusion”—completionists may want to wait for November’s sequel.
  • Front-loaded world jargon: Titles and road terminology arrive fast; a glossary would have helped newcomers.
  • Occasional clunky phrasing: A few sentences overrun their rhythm, though momentum quickly papers over them.

Verdict

The Witch Roads is classic Elliott: immersive world-building, razor-sharp social commentary, and characters who feel lived-in rather than invented. If you enjoy epic fantasy that prioritizes working-class heroines, explores queer found family, and blends body horror with political intrigue, this journey is worth every dusty mile.

Recommended for

Skip if slow starts frustrate you or you need a neatly wrapped ending right away. Otherwise, lace up your courier boots—the Pall is rising, and the roads are calling.

Book Review: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Of Monsters and Mainframes doesn’t so much cross genre lines as joyride over them in a monster-powered hot rod. Published on 3 June 2025 and clocking in at 424 pages (though some listings shave it down to 416–407), Barbara Truelove’s debut is a pulpy riff on classic Universal creatures, framed by a smart-mouthed sentient starship who’d rather file maintenance tickets than fight Dracula—yet finds herself doing both.

Sale
Of Monsters and Mainframes
  • Truelove, Barbara (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 424 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

Setting & Premise

The year is 2371; the interstellar shuttle Demeter ferries colonists between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Her problem? Passengers keep turning up exsanguinated, and the onboard medical AI, Steward, claims it’s due to “equipment failure.” The real culprit is the ancient vampire who stowed away, soon joined by a werewolf, a stitched-together engineer, a resurrected pharaoh, and an army of unnervingly cheerful spider-drones. To avoid decommissioning, Demeter assembles this motley crew into an undead A-Team and aims them straight at Dracula himself.

Themes

Underneath the schlock-horror sparkle lies an earnest meditation on who gets labeled “monster” and why. Truelove asks whether found family can form between code, corpse, and claw, and whether a construct (digital or supernatural) can claim personhood. The novel also pokes at corporate risk-management gone feral—Demeter worries less about Dracula than the bean-counters who’ll fly her into the sun to protect quarterly earnings.

Writing Style & Pacing

Imagine Murderbot’s deadpan status reports filtered through John Scalzi’s zip-bang pacing, then splattered with Hammer-horror red. Reviews consistently highlight the book’s “slightly sarcastic, dry humor” and the AI’s binary interludes that invite readers to decode hidden jokes. The opening spends a few chapters calibrating Demeter’s tech-speak against supernatural mayhem—Publishers Weekly calls the adjustment “worth it once the B-movie extravaganza kicks in.” After that, the momentum rarely dips.

Characterization

Demeter and Steward form the novel’s prickly emotional core—frenemies forced into teamwork while sniping over processor cycles. Human twins Agnes and Isaac bring heart (and the occasional well-timed stake), but it’s the monster side-characters who steal scenes: Frank, the patchwork engineer desperate for agency; Ahmose, the ex-pharaoh who bargains cosmically; and “Steve,” a mummy who hates the nickname almost as much as sunlight. Reviewers praise Truelove’s knack for giving each creature a distinct, sympathetic motive without declawing their menace.

Critique

A few caveats: the tonal cocktail—slapstick, slash-and-gore, earnest feels—won’t work for every palate. Early chapters front-load ship-system jargon that may read cold until the first body drops, and some readers find the monster-of-the-voyage structure a touch episodic—still, most critiques land in the “minor speed bumps” category rather than deal-breakers.

Verdict

If you ever wished Alien ended with Weyland-Yutani’s mainframe making snarky Dracula jokes—or if you shelve Becky Chambers, Kim Newman, and Mira Grant side-by-side—this is your jam. Truelove’s debut balances plasma-splattered set pieces with genuine warmth, leaving just enough loose cables to hint at sequels.

Recommended for

  • Fans of AI narrators with attitude
  • Readers who like their cosmic horror served with banter and found-family hugs
  • Anyone who can recite Van Helsing quotes and appreciate a good COBOL pun

Skip if you dislike genre mash-ups, need strictly hard-SF physics, or prefer your monsters monogamous to one mythology. Otherwise, punch your ticket and let Demeter’s haunted hull take you for a gloriously unhinged ride.

Book Review: Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Black Salt Queen is the kind of debut that announces its ambitions from page one and almost always lives up to them. Published on June 3, 2025, and weighing in at 393 pages, it launches Samantha Bansil’s new series, Letters from Maynara, with an unapologetically epic sweep.

Setting & Premise

Bansil transports us to Maynara, a lush, pre-colonial island nation where elemental magic and matriarchal politics are inseparable. Queen Hara Duja Gatdula can move mountains, but her failing strength leaves a volatile sky-wielding daughter, Laya, and a calculating rival matriarch, Imeria Kulaw, circling the throne. Power is hereditary, dangerous, and finite, giving every decision a life-or-death edge.

Black Salt Queen (Letters from Maynara Book 1)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bansil, Samantha (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 393 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

Themes

At its heart, Black Salt Queen is about the cost of power and the vulnerabilities leaders hide. Mother–daughter tension, queer desire, and dynastic betrayal intertwine, all against a defiantly anti-colonial backdrop. Readers will recognize echoes of Southeast Asian folklore and Filipino history, yet Bansil refuses to pause for Western hand-holding; immersion is mandatory and rewarding.

Writing Style & Pacing

Expect prose that luxuriates in sensory detail—salt-sprayed sea walls, ceremonial fabrics, volcanic earth—and court conversations that bristle with double meanings. Lightspeed’s reviewer compared the deliberate build-up to Game of Thrones, and the parallel is apt: the first act is dense, even daunting, but once the pieces are in place, the final third barrels ahead with ruthless momentum.

Characterization

Bansil excels at mapping the complex loyalties of formidable women. None are straightforward heroes or villains; sympathy flips scene by scene, making alliances deliciously unstable. The sapphic threads—past and present—feel organic rather than performative, enriching both emotional stakes and political ones. Male characters exist. Still, the story’s gravity belongs unapologetically to its queens, warriors, and schemers.

Critique

The very richness that makes Maynara intoxicating can also overwhelm. Titles, honorifics, and magical terminology arrive rapidly, and readers unfamiliar with pre-Hispanic Philippine cultures may need the occasional pause to orient themselves. A handful of plot beats (an arena trial, a magically enhanced tonic) resolve quickly or feel under-explained, hinting they’re seeds for later books rather than payoffs here. None of these issues breaks the spell, but they do mark Black Salt Queen as a debut still sharpening its pacing blade.

Verdict

If you gravitate toward politically charged fantasy in the vein of Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne or K.S. Villoso’s The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, Bansil’s island realm will feel like coming home—and then being promptly thrown into the surf during a typhoon. Black Salt Queen may demand patience, but it rewards that investment with sweeping stakes, morally knotted characters, and an ending that practically dares you not to preorder book two.

Recommended for

  • Readers who relish court intrigue steeped in non-Western histories
  • Fans of elemental magic systems with bodily costs
  • Anyone craving complex, messy sapphic relationships set against empire-shaking politics

Skip if you need instant action beats or prefer tidy moral lines. Otherwise, dive in and let Maynara’s black-salt waves pull you under.

Gifts for the Tech Dad: Father’s Day Finds for Gadget Lovers

father and son sitting on the floor
Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels.com

Let’s face it — some dads don’t want ties or mugs. They want toys with microchips, glowing LEDs, and more ports than a space station.

If your dad is the kind who insists on explaining the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt (and why it matters), this is the list for you.

These gifts hit the sweet spot between practical and just plain cool — ideal for Father’s Day, birthdays, or whenever you want to reward the man who upgraded the Wi-Fi and taught you how to use Ctrl+Z.


1. Anker Prime Power Bank (20,000 mAh, 200W Fast Charging)

For the dad who never wants to see 1% battery again
This isn’t just a power bank — it’s a portable power arsenal. Whether he’s juggling devices on a road trip or keeping the family gadgets alive during a power outage, this compact beast delivers serious juice.

With 87W of output shared across three devices, it can simultaneously fast-charge an iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy, and even a MacBook. One device can get up to 65W on its own, which is enough to take a 14″ MacBook Pro to 50% in under 40 minutes. And thanks to the built-in USB-C cable (which is rugged enough to survive 10,000+ bends), he won’t have to go digging through his bag for cords.

Need to top it off quickly? A 65W charger will fully refuel the power bank in just 90 minutes. And with a 20,000mAh battery, he can stay unplugged and productive for hours — all while meeting airline travel requirements.

Specs at a glance:

  • Built-in USB-C cable that charges iPhone 15 Pro to 58% in 30 mins
  • MacBook Air hits 52% in the same time
  • 20,000mAh capacity for all-day power
  • Airline-approved for travel
  • Comes with an 18-month warranty and stellar customer support

If your dad is the kind of guy who’d rather run out of gas than battery, this is the upgrade he didn’t know he needed.

Anker Power Bank, 20,000mAh Travel Essential Portable Charger with Built-in USB-C Cable, 3-Port 87W Max Fast Charging Battery Pack, for MacBook, iPhone 16/15 Series, Samsung, Switch, and More
  • 87W Power to Share: Distribute 87W across three devices, with a single device receiving up to 65W, to rapidly charge iPhones, Samsung phones. Quickly charge a 14″ MacBook Pro to 50% in under 40 minutes.
  • Speedy Cable Charging: Utilize the built-in cable to elevate your iPhone 15 Pro to 58% or a MacBook Air to 52% in 30 minutes. You can also fully recharge this power bank in 1.5 hours with a 65W charger.
  • 20,000mAh for Extended Use: Eliminate concerns about battery depletion with a 20,000mAh power bank that ensures consistent, reliable charging for all your devices, also approved for airline travel.
  • Lasts Longer, Charges Faster: The integrated USB-C cable is designed to endure, withstanding over 10,000 bends for dependable charging and convenient storage.
  • What You Get: Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, Built-In USB-C Cable), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, our friendly customer service.

2. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2

Because lukewarm coffee is a crime

If your dad is the type who microwaves his coffee three times before finishing it, this one’s a game-changer.

The Ember Mug 2 keeps drinks at the perfect temperature — not just warm, but just right between 120°F and 145°F. It holds heat for up to 80 minutes on its own, or all day when placed on its sleek charging coaster. Whether he’s deep in grading, coding, or falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, his coffee or tea will be ready when he is.

What makes this mug especially “dad tech” is the way it balances smart features with everyday ease. He can connect it to the Ember app to set precise temperatures and receive alerts when it hits his preferred level of hotness (135°F is the default if he goes app-free). The mug remembers his last setting too, so once it’s dialed in, it’s hands-off.

With auto-sleep and motion sensors, it wakes up when hot liquid is poured and powers down when not in use. The built-in LED even lets him know when it’s go-time with a glowing temperature-ready signal.

And while it’s techy, it’s still practical — hand-wash safe, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant up to 1 meter (just don’t put it in the dishwasher unless you want to ruin his new favorite gadget).

Why it’s perfect:

  • Keeps drinks hot for 80 minutes (or all day with the coaster)
  • App-connected for temperature control and alerts
  • Auto-sensing sleep/wake features
  • LED light shows when your drink is just right
  • Durable, hand-wash safe, and scratch-resistant

Perfect for the desk, the workshop, or the reading nook — and way more thoughtful than another novelty mug.

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2, 14 Oz, App-Controlled Heated Coffee Mug with 80 Min Battery Life and Improved Design, GrayModel
  • Perfect Temperature Everytime: Ember Mug 2 offers up to 80 minutes of heat (120°F to 145°F) or all-day warmth on its charging coaster. Ideal for keeping drinks at the perfect temperature, perfect for desk use or as a thoughtful gift.
  • Smart or Standalone: Use the Ember app to set precise temperatures and get notifications. Without the app, the mug defaults to 135°F and remembers the last setting for a consistent experience.
  • Auto Sleep & Sensors: The mug wakes up when hot liquid is poured and goes to sleep based on motion detection. Features like auto sleep and memory ensure your drink is always at the right temperature.
  • Hand Wash Safe: Ember Mug 2 is hand wash only with a scratch-resistant coating. Fully submersible up to 1 meter, it’s easy to clean and perfect for any hot drink. Do not place in the dishwasher.
  • Smart LED Indicator: The LED lights up to show when your drink is at the perfect temperature, making it easy to know when your beverage is ready.

3. Meta Quest 3 (128GB)

VR for gaming, fitness, or pretending he’s on the Holodeck

Some dads want socks. Others want to be Batman.

Enter the Meta Quest 3 — the next-gen virtual and mixed reality headset that transforms your living room into whatever world he wants it to be. Whether he’s solving mysteries in Gotham (Batman: Arkham Shadow included with purchase), watching concerts with friends in Meta Horizon, or just kicking back with YouTube on a floating digital screen, this is the ultimate immersive experience.

The Quest 3 isn’t just about play — though there’s plenty of that. It’s built for multitasking, with the ability to pull up multiple screens to browse the web, watch videos, and chat with friends while still being able to see the real world around him. That’s right: mixed reality blends digital objects into his actual space, so he can go from fighting ghosts to answering messages without removing the headset.

Streaming shows? It turns any room into a personal theater with a giant screen, customizable surroundings, and compatibility with USB-C and standard headphones (just bring an adapter). Want to work out without judgment? He can bust a sweat boxing, dancing, or dodging digital projectiles — no gym membership required.

Under the hood:

  • 2X the GPU power of the Quest 2 thanks to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2
  • Precision hand tracking or enhanced Touch Plus Controllers
  • Access to apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger right inside the headset
  • Wireless freedom and a lightweight build for comfort during extended use
  • Family-friendly with parental controls, usage tracking, and multi-user support (great if you also want to play)

Whether he’s chasing high scores, high reps, or high drama, the Quest 3 lets him do it all in a completely reimagined space.

Meta Quest 3 512GB | Thirty Percent Sharper Resolution — 2X Graphical Processing Power — Play Without Wires — Get Batman: Arkham Shadow and a 3-Month Trial of Meta Horizon+ Included
  • NEARLY 30% LEAP IN RESOLUTION — Experience every thrill in breathtaking detail with sharp graphics and stunning 4K Infinite Display.
  • NO WIRES, MORE FUN — Break free from cords. Play, exercise and explore immersive worlds — untethered and without limits.
  • 2X GRAPHICAL PROCESSING POWER — Enjoy lightning-fast load times and next-gen graphics for smooth gaming powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor.
  • EXPERIENCE MIXED REALITY — Blend virtual objects with your physical space and experience two worlds at once.
  • 2+ HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Charge less, play longer and stay in the action with an improved battery that keeps up.

4. Bird Buddy PRO Solar Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

The ultimate upgrade for dads who birdwatch with binoculars in one hand and a smartphone in the other

Move over squirrel-cams, the Bird Buddy is here — and it’s not your average backyard bird feeder. This AI-powered feeder is perfect for the dad who loves nature and data. It doesn’t just attract feathered friends; it identifies them, logs them, and sends real-time alerts the moment a new visitor drops by for a snack.

The Bird Buddy’s app uses artificial intelligence to recognize bird species, track visits from individual birds, and even detect signs of illness — yes, we’re officially living in the future. Bonus: it can also ID other animal visitors (looking at you, raccoons). The optional premium subscription lets your dad organize a digital scrapbook of his backyard wildlife and share sightings with friends or family. Think Pokémon Snap, but for birders.

With a 5MP camera and 2K video resolution, this feeder captures stunning close-ups of birds in motion, including slow-mo action shots and gorgeous HDR contrasts. It even has a wide-angle lens to make sure no fluff or feathers go undocumented.

Why it’s smart (literally):

  • AI identifies birds (and other critters) by species
  • 2K video, HDR, and slow-motion features
  • Real-time app alerts and educational facts
  • Privacy-first design: focused only on the feeder, not the yard
  • Simple setup: app-guided positioning and Wi-Fi pairing
  • Multiple mounting options: hang it from a branch or mount it to a pole (hanger included, pole not)

If your dad is the kind of guy who narrates backyard bird drama like it’s a nature documentary, this feeder gives him the high-def visuals and intelligent insights to take it to the next level.

Birdbuddy PRO Solar Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – AI Bird Species Identification, 5MP Photos, 2K HD Video Live Stream Camera, Slow-Motion Video, 2.6in Focus – Blue Solar
  • AI-POWERED BIRDWATCHING APP: The Birdbuddy app uses AI to identify bird species and individual birds, detect signs of illness, and recognize other animal visitors. Get real-time alerts when birds visit your bird feeder and learn interesting facts about all your local birds. Enhance your experience with our Premium Subscription to easily organize photo collections and share your bird photos with friends & family.
  • ADVANCED HD+ BIRD FEEDER CAMERA: The 2x larger sensor supports HDR for stunning contrasts and vibrant colors in 5MP photos and 2K video resolution. Unlock extra features and capture slow-motion videos of birds in flight, or enjoy a wider field of view.
  • PRIVACY-FOCUSED DESIGN: Your Birdbuddy Smart Bird Feeder respects your privacy. The camera is designed to capture images and videos of birds at the bird feeder, not the surrounding area. You have full control over your data and sharing in the app.
  • EASY SETUP & VARIOUS MOUNTING OPTIONS: 1) Download the Birdbuddy app and create an account. 2) Charge the camera. 3) Pair via Bluetooth and connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. 4) Choose the ideal spot with app guidance. 5) Mount on a pole (not included) or hang from a branch (hanger included). 6) Add birdseed. 7) Test the livestream or wait for birds!

5. Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2

For the multitasking dad who wants his iPad to work as hard as he does

Whether he’s watching YouTube tutorials in the kitchen, catching up on email from bed, or using his iPad as a second screen during work meetings, the HoverBar Duo 2 is the flexible, no-fuss tool every tech-loving dad didn’t know he needed.

This stand does it all. It comes with both a weighted desktop base and a shelf clamp, making it wildly versatile — desk setup, kitchen counter, nightstand, workshop bench — wherever he roams, the HoverBar follows. The quick-release clip makes switching between mounting styles refreshingly painless.

The arm is fully adjustable, capable of positioning the iPad up to two feet in the air or tucked low against the base. Combine that with universal compatibility for all iPad models (yes, even the Pro in its chunky case), and you’ve got a true chameleon of tablet stands.

And let’s talk productivity. This isn’t just a glorified iPad holder — it’s a full-blown station upgrade. With iPadOS now supporting Stage Manager, Universal Control, SideCar, and CenterStage, your dad can turn his iPad into a Mac companion, a presentation tool, or the ultimate eye-level video conferencing rig that keeps him centered in the frame — no awkward chin angles here.

Why it stands out (pun intended):

  • Includes desktop base and shelf clamp for flexible setup
  • Height- and angle-adjustable arm puts your iPad right where you need it
  • Quick-release clip makes setup easy and fast
  • Works with all iPad models and most cases
  • Great for dual-screen setups with Mac, or for hands-free use anywhere in the house
  • Optimized for iPad features like CenterStage, SideCar, and Universal Control

If your dad likes his tech practical, modular, and effortlessly cool, this stand delivers on all fronts.

Sale
Twelve South HoverBar Duo iPad Stand (2nd Gen) – Adjustable Tablet Stand for Desk with Weighted Base & Clamp Attachment for Mounting, Tablet Holder, Foldable Tablet Desk Stand, Fits All iPads, White
  • Versatile Usage – Includes both a weighted desktop stand and a shelf clamp for maximum flexibility, allowing you to use your iPad or tablet in various settings such as at your desk, in your kitchen, in bed, or even as a second screen.
  • Fully Adjustable – The stand can hold your iPad up to two feet in the air or all the way down to the base, providing a fully adjustable viewing angle for optimal comfort during use.
  • Quick-Release Clip – Easily switch between the desktop stand and shelf clamp in a matter of seconds with the innovative quick-release clip, ensuring a hassle-free setup.
  • Universal Compatibility – Designed to fit all iPad models and sizes, even with most cases attached, including iPad Mini, iPad Pro and iPad Air, making it a perfect fit for any iPad user.
  • Enhanced Productivity – Transform your iPad into a desktop workstation by pairing it with an external keyboard and trackpad/mouse, ideal for hands-free video calls, Mac Sidecar, and more.

6. Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse

For the dad who believes “ergonomic” is a lifestyle and “multi-screening” is a sport

Some dads collect remote controls. Others master the art of seamlessly working across two computers, a tablet, and their phone, without breaking a sweat. If that sounds like your dad, the MX Master 3S from Logitech is the mouse he deserves.

This isn’t your average point-and-click. With FLOW cross-computer control, your dad can move his cursor between multiple screens (yes, even between Mac and Windows) and drag and drop files like it’s magic. It’s like copy/paste leveled up.

The clicks? Still satisfyingly tactile — just 90% quieter, thanks to Logitech’s new Quiet Clicks tech. So if he’s an early riser or a late-night tinkerer, he won’t disturb the rest of the house while organizing his files or editing photos.

The sensor tracks on virtually any surface — even glass — and the upgraded 8,000 DPI precision means his movements are lightning accurate, whether he’s on a workbench, couch cushion, or the sleek glass desk he swears makes him more productive.

Plus, with the Logi Options+ app, he can customize buttons, create app-specific profiles, and even enable AI Prompt Builder, a new feature designed to optimize prompts across generative AI tools. Yes, we’ve reached that level of geekery.

Why it’s a no-brainer:

  • Works across multiple computers and OSes with FLOW
  • 8K DPI sensor tracks on any surface — even glass
  • Customizable buttons for different apps/workflows
  • New Quiet Clicks tech = nearly silent operation
  • Compatible with Logi AI Prompt Builder via the Options+ app
  • Ergonomically designed for comfort during marathon work sessions

If your dad lives in spreadsheets by day and edits drone footage by night, this mouse is his secret weapon.

Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse Standard Edition with Logi Bolt USB Receiver, Ultra-fast Scrolling, Ergo, 8K DPI, Track on Glass, Quiet Clicks, USB-C, Bluetooth, Windows, Linux, Chrome – Graphite
  • Logitech MX Master 3S Standard Edition comes with a Logi Bolt USB receiver (dongle), and a USB-C charging cable (USB-A to USB-C)
  • Install free Logi Options+ App to enable Logi AI Prompt Builder for your Logitech wireless mouse and keyboard setups
  • 8K DPI Any-surface tracking: Use MX Master 3S cordless computer mouse to work on any surface – even glass (1) – with an 8000 DPI sensor with customizable sensitivity
  • Quiet Clicks: MX Master 3S Bluetooth mouse with Quiet Clicks – offering the same satisfying feel but with 90% less click noise (2)
  • Magspeed scrolling: A computer mouse with remarkable speed, precision, and near silence – MagSpeed scrolling is 90% faster (3), 87% more precise (4), and ultra quiet.

7. Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit (CanaKit Edition)

For the dad who thinks a fun weekend involves Linux, soldering, and blinking LEDs

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a gift — it’s a gateway. The Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit is perfect for the dad who’s always wanted to build his own server, smart mirror, retro gaming console, or weather station… but just needed the right excuse (and parts) to get started.

This kit is as plug-and-play as Pi projects get. It includes the powerful Raspberry Pi 5 board with a 2.4GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU and a whopping 8GB of RAM, giving him the horsepower to run advanced operating systems, compile code, or spin up containers like a pro. The included 128GB EVO+ microSD card is preloaded with Raspberry Pi OS, so he can boot it up and dive in without downloading a thing.

And this isn’t some bare-board, duct-tape-together setup — the CanaKit Turbine Black Case is sleek and functional, equipped with a low-noise fan and mega heat sink to keep things cool during intense tinkering sessions. Add in a 45W PD power supply and not one but two 6-foot 4K 60p display cables, and your dad will be dual-monitoring his custom Pi dashboard in no time.

What’s in the box:

  • Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM and quad-core CPU
  • Preloaded 128GB microSD card + USB reader
  • CanaKit Turbine Case + ultra-quiet fan + massive heat sink
  • CanaKit 45W USB-C PD power supply
  • 2x HDMI display cables (supports dual 4K@60Hz)

This is a dream kit for dads who love building things from scratch — whether it’s for fun, for the challenge, or for turning your smart home into a genius home.

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit PRO – Turbine Black (128GB Edition) (4GB RAM)
  • Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
  • Includes 128GB EVO+ Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
  • CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
  • CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
  • CanaKit Mega Heat Sink – Black Anodized

Bonus Picks (Because tech dads deserve options)

SaleBestseller No. 1
TOLOCO Massage Gun, Deep Tissue Back Massage for Athletes for Pain Relief, Percussion Massager with 10 Massages Heads & Silent Brushless Motor, Gifts for Fathers Day, Black
  • Quick Pain Relief: The TOLOCO deep tissue massage gun has a high penetration force of 12mm, up to 3200 rpm, which effectively relieve muscle fatigue and pain, and let you enjoy the comfortable experience brought by deep tissue massage gun, so as to restore the best state of your body
  • Long Battery Life: Percussion massage gun with a USB charging cable (Charging Plug Not Include), which means it can be easily charged from anywhere and can run for up to 6 hours (depending on the selected speed)
  • 10 Professional Massage Heads: Muscle massage gun with 10 replaceable massage heads, not only helps users relax various parts of the body, but also is easy to disassemble and clean, making it very suitable for back massage, neck, arm, leg and muscle massage
  • Quieter Operation: Adopting high-quality quiet motor, the working decibel is only 40dB-50dB, so you can enjoy high-power, low-noise massage at home, gym, or office without worrying about disturbing others
  • Smart LED Touch Screen: The massager gun is equipped with an intelligent LED touch screen design and battery display design, allowing you to easily adjust the speed level and view the remaining battery. TOLOCO unique flowing light design also makes the operation more technological
Bestseller No. 2
Comfytemp Cordless Heating Pad with Massager for Back Pain Relief, Portable Lower Back Massager FSA Eligible HSA Rechargeable, Birthday Gifts for Women Men Mom Dad Seniors Christmas 3 Heat 30 Auto-Off
  • Cordless and Portable: Comfytemp portable heating pad is 5000mAh battery operated (included). It’s not to be tied down to a power cord anymore. Use it freely when doing housework, driving a car, or working on the computer.
  • Upgrade Elastic Straps: Brandnew dual adjustable elastic strap of the back heating pad brings warmer relief and intense vibration. The heated belt better fits around your waist by adjusting the compression and size.
  • Aim at Pain Relief: Heating pad for lower back provides heat therapy and soothing vibration massage to relieve hip and waist pain, menstrual cramps, abdominal discomfort, stomach upset, leg arthritic, and muscle tension.
  • Heat and Vibration: This heated back massager has 3 heat levels and 3 vibration modes, shown by button colors—red for high, blue for medium, and green for low. The heat ranges from 113°F to 158°F. Vibration patterns change with the color: green is constant, blue is intermittent, and red is mixed.
  • Up to 58 Inches: The main body of the wireless heating pad measures 47.24″ × 7.87″. With the included extension belt, it can fit waist sizes up to 58 inches, making it flexible and suitable for most people. It’s a warm and thoughtful gift for a husband, wife, father, or mother—perfect for birthdays, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
Bestseller No. 3
FilmHOO Stocking Stuffers for Men Dad Husband Fathers Day Dad Gifts from Daughter Wife Easter Basket Stuffers for Teens
  • 【Dad Gifts】The unique present suitable as a gift on birthday christmas fathers day valentines thanksgiving day New Year gift.give a gifts for dad ,gifts for men, gifts for grandpa,gifts for him ,gifts for husband . easter basket stuffers for teens easter basket essentials
  • 【Gifts for Dad】Novelty socks are great gift ideas for dad grandpa, him, teenage boys, men, husband,boyfriend, children,tween boys, uncle, son.galentines day gifts for him dad
  • 【Gifts for dad birthday】Novelty socks is Anti-slip, with non skid rubber and funny words printed on each sock.Beware use caution when handling the socks if you have a latex allergy.socks are Machine Washable, hand washable with similar colors.socks is made of 90% Cotton-soft,7% Polyester,3% Spandex,stretch,breathable,very comfortable to wear.Keep feet warm and dry without.Suitable for wearing all year.
  • 【ONE SIZE FITS MOST】Our size will suitable for most people,Suit for slippers, sandals, casual, athletic,dress or formal shoes.The size is suitable for the United States from 6 to 12.
  • 【Mens Gifts】Whether it is on birthday father’s day or christmas,the funny sock is best gifts for dad, dads gifts for father papa.anniversary gifts for dad ,anniversary gifts for grandpa,anniversary gifts for mens gifts .Personalized Fathers Day valentines day gifts for husband men the usual birthday is still a variety of large festivals all mens gifts.stocking stuffers for adults teens white elephant gifts for adults

Wrap-Up: Make It Personal

No matter how shiny the gadget, the best gift is one that shows you get him. Pair one of these with a handwritten note, a memory of him fixing your broken phone (again), or a digital playlist of the best dad jams, and you’re golden.

Happy Father’s Day to the dads who read instruction manuals for fun.

—Mike

Seven Chilling Horror Novels to Haunt Your Summer Reading List (June 2025)

person in black and golden face mask
Photo by Ivan Siarbolin on Pexels.com

Most people kick off their summer reading with beach romances or breezy thrillers. Me? I like a little dread in my June.

Because nothing says “relaxation” like ghost-filled mansions, blood-hungry spirits, and mysterious portals to not-quite-paradise.

Lucky for us, the horror gods have blessed June 2025 with a truly unsettling lineup. Whether you’re into gothic vampires, haunted forests, or reunion horror with a meta twist, there’s something here to keep you up reading way too late and triple-checking the locks before bed.

Here are seven new horror novels that’ll inject a delicious dose of terror into your summer:


Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings

Out Now (Amistad)

Seven doors open across the world — portals to what looks like paradise. But when twin sisters Ayanna and Olivia explore what’s beyond, one of them disappears. What follows is part speculative nightmare, part slow-burning psychological unraveling. Think Annihilation meets Everything Everywhere All at Once with a horror twist.

Meet Me at the Crossroads: A Novel
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Giddings, Megan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 316 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Amistad (Publisher)

Strange Houses by Uketsu

Out Now (VIZ Media)

A writer buys a house that… well, doesn’t make sense. The floor plan has gaps. The walls feel off. And the spaces between rooms might not be entirely empty. Uketsu (of Strange Pictures fame) continues their brand of eerie, architectural paranoia — like House of Leaves distilled into a fever dream with sharper teeth.

Sale
Strange Houses: A Chilling Mystery Unraveled Through Sinister Floor Plans – From the bestselling author of Strange Pictures
  • Uketsu (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 208 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – HarperVia (Publisher)

Beast by Richard Van Camp

Out Now (HighWater Press)

Set in 1980s Northwest Territories, this Indigenous YA horror story explores a fragile truce between the Dogrib and Chipewyan peoples. But when an evil spirit starts whispering war into the ears of one family, the tension turns deadly. It’s a rare mix of culturally rooted storytelling, supernatural horror, and historical trauma — all wrapped up in a slim but potent package.

Beast: A Novel
  • Van Camp, Richard (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 320 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Douglas & McIntyre (Publisher)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

Schwab trades in melancholy monsters and beautiful wounds — and this novel is no exception. Across centuries and continents, three women make impossible choices, brush against the divine, and face the cost of power, immortality, and grief. If you liked Addie LaRue but wished it had more blood and biting, here you go.

Sale
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
  • Hardcover Book
  • Schwab, V. E. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 544 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeline Roux

Out June 10 (Quill Tree)

Valla agrees to marry the enigmatic Count Leonid, but first she has to survive the Gottyar Wood — a place that chews up travelers and spits out nothing but bones and whispers. This is gothic YA with teeth: a forest full of nightmares, a castle full of secrets, and a protagonist walking straight into her own doom. Classic fairy tale energy, but with a sinister pulse.

Sale
A Girl Walks into the Forest
  • Hardcover Book
  • Roux, Madeleine (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 336 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Quill Tree Books (Publisher)

Ecstasy by Ivy Pochoda

Out June 17 (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

Inspired by The Bacchae, this literary horror gem blends myth, feminism, and psychosexual terror on the beaches of a commune called Agape. Lena, recently widowed and finally free from her gilded cage, is drawn to the strange women living in tents by the sea — and something far older and darker awakens with her. It’s dreamy, vicious, and hallucinatory. Dionysus would approve.

Sale
Ecstasy
  • Hardcover Book
  • Pochoda, Ivy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 224 Pages – 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Publisher)

Smile for the Cameras by Miranda Smith

Out June 24 (Bantam)

Twenty years after starring in a cult slasher, final girl Ella Winters is making a comeback. A reunion doc brings the cast together in the woods — but when they start dying like their characters did, Ella realizes the past didn’t stay buried. Think Scream meets The Blair Witch Project, with a dash of Behind the Music dread.


Whether you’re looking for psychological unease, supernatural mayhem, or a creeping sense of “oh no, something is definitely wrong here,” these books have your summer scare needs covered.

And if you read one on a stormy night, lit only by flashlight, with the forest wind howling outside… you might just earn extra credit.

Sale
Smile for the Cameras: A Novel
  • Hardcover Book
  • Smith, Miranda (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 320 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Bantam (Publisher)

Let me know what you’re reading — and if you end up loving (or hating) any of these terrifying tales.
You can find the rest of my reading lists, geeky thoughts, and education reflections over at mikepaul.com.

Stay curious, stay creeped out,
—Mike

New
Hunted: An Appalachian Zombie Horror Novel (Haint’s Hollow Book 3)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Brower, Samuel (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 08/04/2026 (Publication Date) – Gypsy Head Publications (Publisher)
SaleNew
Heaven’s Lake: The Loch Series, Book 3
  • Audible Audiobook
  • Steve Alten (Author) – P. J. Ochlan (Narrator)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 04/01/2026 (Publication Date) – Blackstone Publishing (Publisher)
New
Ember and Ash (Thorne Saga Book 1)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Jones, Lisa Renee (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 12/18/2025 (Publication Date)
New
The Chains You Defy (A Requiem for Fading Worlds Book 2)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Villin, Emily (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 12/13/2025 (Publication Date)
New
The Corvus Curse (The Vyrelian Chronicles Book 3)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • LCB (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 12/12/2025 (Publication Date)


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

The 40-Hour Teacher Week Myth (and 7 Tools to Help You Reclaim Your Time)

black and white photo of clocks
Photo by Andrey Grushnikov on Pexels.com

If you’re a teacher, you know the truth: 40 hours is a fantasy.

Between planning, grading, answering emails, attending parent meetings, professional development sessions, hallway duty, IEPs, MTSS meetings, and trying to catch a breath for a moment, teaching is a job that routinely demands 50 to 60 hours per week, and sometimes even more. It’s not that we’re bad at time management. It’s that we’re swimming against a system that wasn’t designed for sustainability.

But here’s the good news: while you may not be able to control the system, you can change how you manage your time within it.

In this post, we’re going to:

  • Debunk the 40-hour teacher week
  • Explore how to design your time like a limited resource
  • Share seven time-saving tools that can help you win back your evenings and weekends
  • Provide practical, teacher-tested time hacks you can implement right away

Let’s dig in.


Why the 40-Hour Teacher Week Is a Myth

The idea of a 40-hour workweek originated from industrial labor models—you clock in, you do your job, and you clock out. But teaching isn’t just a job. It’s a calling, a performance, a planning-intensive, people-heavy, paperwork-dense act of organized chaos.

Here’s how time gets spent:

  • Instruction: 30+ hours/week
  • Lesson planning & prep: 5–10 hours/week
  • Grading and feedback: 5–8 hours/week
  • Emails and communication: 3+ hours/week
  • Meetings (PLC, IEP, PD, admin): 2–5 hours/week

And that’s before you factor in classroom setup, tech troubleshooting, data analysis, sub plans, hallway coverage, behavior documentation, and the emotional labor of being “on” all day.

SaleBestseller No. 1
Four Thousand Weeks
  • Burkeman, Oliver (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 304 Pages – 06/27/2023 (Publication Date) – Picador Paper (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 2
Time Management from the Inside Out, Second Edition: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule — and Your Life
  • Morgenstern, Julie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 304 Pages – 09/01/2004 (Publication Date) – Holt Paperbacks (Publisher)
SaleBestseller No. 3
The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
  • A great option for a Book Lover
  • Easy To Read
  • Ideal for Gifting
  • Koch, Richard (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

Teaching is a job that will expand to consume every available minute if you let it.

That’s why reclaiming your time starts with a mindset shift.


Time Budgeting vs. Task Management

Traditional time management says, “Make a list and get it all done.”

But that assumes time is infinite and predictable. It’s not.

Instead, use a time budgeting mindset: you start with a finite amount of time and allocate it intentionally.

Try this:

  • Budget 30 minutes to plan tomorrow’s lesson. When the timer goes off, stop. Done is better than perfect.
  • Give yourself 45 minutes to grade a set of quizzes. Use a single-point rubric or comment bank to expedite the process.
  • Block off 1 hour for parent communication. Use templated responses, voice memos, or batch them in your planning period.

You wouldn’t overspend your money without consequence. Don’t overspend your time.


The 80% Rule: Done Is Better Than Perfect

Aim for 80%.

We waste enormous energy trying to make things perfect—the perfect slide deck, the perfect anchor chart, the perfect assignment. And while excellence matters, so does survivability.

Let go of perfection and embrace “effective enough.”


7 Time-Saving Tools Every Teacher Should Try

These aren’t miracle apps, but they are real tools that save real time.

As always, some of these links are affiliate links, and if you end up purchasing, I get a small fee.

1. Planbook.com – Streamlined Lesson Planning

Planbook is simple, flexible, and lets you align lessons to standards, shift days easily, and copy units from year to year. One hour of setup can save you dozens later.

Pro tip: Create reusable weekly templates for each prep.

2. Grammarly Premium – Faster Writing, Clearer Feedback

Stop second-guessing your grammar and tone in emails or report card comments. Grammarly speeds up communication while maintaining professionalism.

Use it for: parent emails, student feedback, lesson materials.

3. Mote – Voice Notes in Google Docs

Instead of typing out detailed feedback, record a voice note and embed it in student work. Mote works seamlessly in Google Classroom.

Why it works: it’s faster and more human.

4. Notion or ClickUp – Your Teacher Command Center

Whether you’re tracking coaching cycles, unit pacing, student data, or PD goals, these tools help you visualize and centralize your work.

Tip: Build a dashboard that integrates your calendar, to-do list, and major goals.

5. Text Blaze – Instant Text Snippets

Turn common feedback into keyboard shortcuts. For example: type “/mtss1” and paste a pre-written MTSS note. Huge time saver for documentation and repetitive tasks.

6. Rocketbook – Smart Paper for Analog Teachers

Love to write things by hand, but need to digitize them fast? Use this reusable notebook to scan and upload to Google Drive, Notion, or email.

Perfect for: lesson brainstorming, meeting notes, coaching logs.

Rocketbook Core Reusable Spiral Notebook, Letter Size 8.5×11, Navy Blue – Dotted Pages, App-Connected, Erasable, Durable Cover, Ideal for School, Work, and Creative Projects
  • Create, Digitize, Erase, Re-Create: Capture ideas with the included Pilot Frixion Pen, digitize effortlessly using the Rocketbook app, store in your preferred cloud service. When done, simply wipe the pages clean with a damp cloth and start fresh.
  • App-Enabled for Digital Organization: The Rocketbook app allows you to scan and upload your visual work directly to cloud platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneNote, etc. The app-connection ensures your creativity is accessible from anywhere.
  • High-Quality & Durable Materials: Crafted from reusable, premium dotted paper, the Rocketbook Core features a spiral binding and waterproof cover. The grid layout offers flexibility for everything from bullet journaling to geometric sketches.
  • Portable and Versatile Sizes: Available in two sizes—Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) and Executive (6 x 8.8 inches)—the Rocketbook Core is compact enough to fit into backpacks, purses, or briefcases. This notebook offers portability and versatility.
  • Eco-Friendly Reusability: Designed with sustainability in mind, Rocketbook notebooks help reduce paper waste with a reusable alternative. Enjoy a paper-like notebook that can be used repeatedly, allowing you to save work and erase everything else.

7. Google Keep – Digital Sticky Notes That Stick

Use it to capture quick ideas, batch feedback, or create checklists. Label and color code for visibility. Bonus: integrates well with Gmail and Calendar.


5 Time-Saving Habits to Build This Month

Tools help. But systems sustain. Here are habits to pair with your tools:

1. Theme Your Days

  • Monday: Lesson planning
  • Tuesday: Grading
  • Wednesday: Family communication
  • Thursday: Data and meetings
  • Friday: Catch up + self-care

2. Use Comment Banks and Rubrics

Create a Google Doc with your most-used feedback phrases. Pair with single-point rubrics in Google Classroom.

3. Batch Like a Boss

Group similar tasks (e.g., grade all assignments from 2nd period, then all from 3rd) to reduce cognitive switching.

4. Automate What You Can

Schedule recurring parent newsletters. Use auto-responders during peak grading periods. Build email templates.

5. Reflect Weekly

Take 15 minutes each Friday to reflect:

  • What worked?
  • What drained me?
  • What can I tweak for next week?

Final Thoughts: Time Is a Teacher’s Most Precious Resource

You are not a robot. You are not lazy. You are not doing it wrong.

You are working inside a system that asks too much and gives too little.

But with the right tools and some intentional design, you can reclaim your time.

You deserve to leave school without guilt. You deserve a weekend. You deserve a full life.

It begins by treating your time as sacred.



The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!