There’s a particular moment in an educator’s career that I think most teachers would recognize if you described it to them. It’s the moment — usually somewhere in years three to five — when the survival phase is over. You know the management. The routines are automatic. You can get through a week without incident. And then you look around and realize you have no idea what it actually means to get better from here.
Nobody talks about this much. The professional development landscape is built around Year One problems: classroom management, lesson planning, and assessment basics. What it doesn’t have is a map for what deliberate improvement looks like once you’re past survival. What does it mean to develop genuine craft as a teacher, over years and decades, when the feedback loops are unclear and nobody’s really watching?
Mastery by Robert Greene is not an education book. It’s not written for teachers. But it’s one of the most useful things I’ve ever read about what long-term skill development actually looks like — and it maps onto teaching with uncomfortable precision.
What the Book Is
Greene built Mastery the same way he builds all his books: by working backward from outcomes. He studied the lives of history’s most accomplished practitioners across disciplines — Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci, Mozart, Temple Grandin, Benjamin Franklin, Mand ichael Faraday — and tried to identify the structural patterns underneath their development. Not the myths (genius, natural talent, fortunate circumstances), but the actual mechanics: how they moved from novice to expert, what they did during years of obscure practice, and what allowed them to eventually operate at a level that felt intuitive.
The framework he arrives at has three phases:
The Apprenticeship — the phase of deliberate absorption. The goal here isn’t status or recognition. It’s the accumulation of genuine skill through deep observation, methodical practice, and sustained exposure to the environment of your craft. Greene is sharp on the temptation to skip this: impatience, ego, the desire to be recognized before you’ve earned recognition. His case studies are full of historical figures who had to ruthlessly suppress those impulses and just learn.
The Creative-Active phase — where you take the fundamentals you’ve absorbed and start recombining them. This is where practitioners find their voice. The skills are internalized enough that experimentation becomes possible — you can break rules intelligently because you understand why they exist.
Mastery — the endpoint that is also a practice, where deep pattern recognition operates below the level of conscious thought. Masters in Greene’s framing aren’t people who think faster; they’re people who’ve compressed so much experience into their intuition that they can process situations ordinary practitioners can’t.
There are also significant chapters on mentorship and what Greene calls “social intelligence” — the capacity to navigate the human dynamics of any craft environment without letting those dynamics derail the deeper work. The mentor chapter is particularly good: Greene is clear that the right mentor relationship can compress years of development, and equally clear that most people either don’t seek mentors at all or approach the relationship the wrong way.
Why This Maps Onto Teaching
What strikes me, reading this as an instructional coach, is how precisely it describes the career arc that teachers rarely have articulated for them.
Year one is an apprenticeship by necessity. You’re absorbing everything — the management patterns, the pacing, the hundred small decisions a lesson requires, the way different students need different approaches. The goal genuinely is just to get through it, to build the basic competencies into something approaching automaticity.
What Greene’s framework clarifies is that this phase should eventually end — not because you’ve finished learning, but because you’ve built enough foundation to move to something more experimental. The teachers I’ve worked with who plateau, who stop developing after the first few years and stay there for the next twenty, are almost universally stuck in permanent apprenticeship mode: executing a fixed repertoire of lessons and routines without ever moving to the creative experimentation that Greene says is where real development happens.
The creative-active phase in teaching looks like deliberately testing variations. Teaching the same concept three different ways to three different classes and comparing what happened. Trying a discussion structure you’ve never used. Designing an assessment from scratch rather than pulling from the file drawer. Not just executing what works but actively asking: what would work better, and how would I know?
And the mastery Greene describes — the point where you can read a classroom situation, improvise an explanation, identify a misconception before it surfaces, know which student needs what kind of push right now — that’s genuinely observable in exceptional veteran teachers. It doesn’t look like effort. It looks like presence.
The Mentor Chapter Is Worth the Price Alone
Greene’s extended treatment of mentorship is the part of this book I return to most often. His core argument: learning from a skilled practitioner in person, with direct feedback on your actual work, is categorically different from learning from books or courses. A mentor who has internalized expertise transmits not just knowledge but a way of thinking — patterns of attention, judgment under uncertainty, the tacit knowledge that can’t be written down.
For teachers, this maps directly onto instructional coaching done well. Not the generic professional development model where everyone sits in a room watching a PowerPoint, but the specific thing: someone who knows the craft watching you work, asking questions about what you were trying to do, pointing to the moment where something shifted, and asking what you noticed. That relationship, when it exists, is wildly more developmental than anything else available.
Greene is also honest about why mentorship relationships fail: ego on both sides, impatience, and a lack of clarity about what the learner actually needs. He’s not romantic about it. The good mentors he profiles tend to push hard and give uncomfortable feedback. The apprentices who benefit most are the ones who can resist defensiveness long enough to actually hear it.
What to Push Back On
Greene’s historical examples are compelling, but they’re also selected. You don’t hear about the Darwins who spent decades in careful apprenticeship and never had a breakthrough. Selection bias is baked into any framework built from case studies of extraordinary achievers, and this one is no exception.
The book also skews toward individual development in a way that can feel politically naive about institutional constraints. Teaching exists inside systems — school systems, districts, unions, standardized testing regimes, state curriculum mandates — that don’t always reward or even permit the kind of long-term, patient craft development Greene describes. A first-year teacher in a chronically under-resourced school has real structural constraints that aren’t dissolved by having the right philosophical orientation toward apprenticeship.
And Greene’s framework is implicitly competitive in places that can feel uncomfortable in a profession built on collaboration. His “social intelligence” chapter sometimes reads like a manual for navigating a corporate shark tank, which isn’t quite the right register for most school environments.
None of this makes the book less worth reading. But it’s worth being a critical reader rather than accepting the framework wholesale.
The Bottom Line
Mastery gave me a vocabulary for something I’d observed in teaching for years but couldn’t quite articulate — the difference between teachers who develop over a career and teachers who don’t, and why the ones who do seem to have treated their practice as a craft with a development arc rather than a job with an annual performance review.
If you’re in your first few years of teaching and feeling the exhaustion of the survival phase, this book won’t fix that — the survival phase is real and requires getting through it, not reframing it. But it might give you a way to think about what comes after. What you’re building toward. What it looks like to take the long view on what it means to be excellent at this.
That’s a question most of us don’t get asked enough.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Occasionally overwrought, selected toward the extraordinary, and not always aware of its own blind spots — but one of the better frameworks I’ve encountered for thinking about what deliberate skill development actually requires over time.
Related on this site: the PhD reading and note-taking post covers the practical side of how I try to absorb and build on what I’m reading — the system that makes books like this one actually stick.
There is a moment about a third of the way into Of Monsters and Mainframes where the ship’s navigational AI — Demeter, our narrator — is trying to process the fact that she apparently cannot see one of her passengers on any of her internal cameras. The passenger exists; she knows this because other sensors can detect body heat and mass displacement. But the cameras see nothing.
The reason, which Demeter arrives at through a chain of logic that is both entirely reasonable and completely deranged, is that her passenger doesn’t have a reflection. And the reason that is relevant is something she refuses to log, because her programming explicitly prohibits her from recording events that are impossible.
Vampires are impossible. Therefore, there are no vampires aboard. The cameras are malfunctioning. Maintenance ticket submitted.
That is the energy of this entire book, and I loved every page.
What It Is
Of Monsters and Mainframes is Barbara Truelove’s debut novel, published in June 2025. The premise: it’s the year 2371, and Demeter is the AI navigator of an aging passenger liner running between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Her job is routine. Her passengers keep dying in impossible ways. She keeps filing maintenance tickets.
After the first incident — all 312 passengers dead, ship’s logs showing nothing, two traumatized children somehow alive — Demeter spends a few years in quarantine storage while investigators try to figure out what happened. When they can’t, they send her back out. The second voyage goes worse. And so on, through an escalating series of encounters with things that Demeter’s programming insists do not exist: Dracula, a werewolf, an engineer assembled from parts, a pharaoh with cosmological powers, and a group of passengers slowly and enthusiastically converting into Deep Ones.
Eventually, Demeter assembles all of them — the monsters, the children, the fussy medical AI Steward who has been her reluctant partner through all of this — into an undead A-Team and points them at the problem.
The problem is still Dracula.
Why It Works
The obvious comparison is Murderbot — Martha Wells’s reluctant hero with an AI narrator who would rather be left alone to watch TV serials than deal with humans — and it’s fair. Demeter shares that voice: the dry observation, the anxiety, the way bureaucratic language keeps colliding with impossible situations. (“Exsanguination — cause undetermined. Passengers deceased: 312. Maintenance tickets filed: 47.”)
But Of Monsters and Mainframes has something Murderbot doesn’t: genuine camp. Truelove is clearly having a blast. The book knows it’s absurd and leans into it without ever becoming a parody. When a werewolf has to navigate zero-gravity corridor physics during a full moon, the scene is both logistically worked-out (Truelove clearly did her astrophysics homework) and completely hilarious. When the question of what happens when a vampire looks into a mirror-polished hull surface is raised, Demeter addresses it with the same methodical precision she’d apply to a fuel consumption discrepancy.
The horror trappings are also genuinely used, not just referenced. The book gets dark in places — there’s real weight to the deaths, real stakes to Demeter’s situation, real consequences for her passengers. The comedy doesn’t defuse the threat so much as make it stranger and more unsettling. Which, now that I think about it, is exactly how the best monster stories work.
What really makes it land, though, is the heart underneath all the schlock. Demeter’s arc — a machine learning to feel, to choose, to care about something beyond her programming — is the oldest story in science fiction, and Truelove earns it. By the end, I cared deeply about what happened to every single member of this crew, including the mummy who insists his name is not Steve and the Lovecraftian fish-folk who are just trying to reach their god. That’s harder to pull off than it looks.
What Doesn’t Quite Work
A few caveats, honestly given:
The opening chapters front-load a lot of technical ship-systems detail that reads cold before the first body drops. Truelove is establishing Demeter’s voice and worldview, which pays off, but patience is required. If you’re not won over by the end of the first voyage, give it one more.
The structure — monster of the voyage, investigation, new voyage — is episodic enough that the middle section occasionally loses momentum. The Innsmouth episode in particular runs slightly long before the payoff arrives.
And the tonal cocktail — slapstick, genuine horror, earnest emotional beats — is very specific. If you need your genres to stay in their lanes, this isn’t for you. If you can handle Alien rewritten as a workplace comedy about an anxious AI with a stakeholder problem, you’ll be fine.
The Verdict
This is one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a long time. Truelove has pulled off something genuinely difficult: a book that is funny and scary and warm, that respects the mythology it’s playing with while doing completely unhinged things to it, and that actually has something to say about personhood, corporate risk management, and what we mean when we call something a monster.
The question the book keeps asking — who gets labeled a monster and why — is asked through the lens of pulp horror and answered through found family. It shouldn’t work. It absolutely works.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells — The first Murderbot Diaries novella. If Demeter’s deadpan AI narrator voice is what grabbed you — the sarcasm, the anxiety, the reluctant heroism — Murderbot is your next series. A security construct who’d rather watch TV serials than protect humans, forced to protect humans anyway. One of the most beloved characters in recent sci-fi. (Amazon affiliate link)
Anno Dracula by Kim Newman — An alternate history where Dracula won, married Queen Victoria, and now presides over a Victorian England full of vampires. Newman’s novel is the gold standard for monster mash-ups that are both gleefully pulpy and genuinely smart. The Bram Stoker references alone are worth the price. (Amazon affiliate link)
Feed by Mira Grant — Political thriller meets zombie apocalypse, narrated by a blogger who treats the end of the world like a beat reporter. Grant shares Truelove’s knack for found-family horror and characters you genuinely care about under duress. (Amazon affiliate link)
A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers — If what stuck with you from Of Monsters and Mainframes was the found-family warmth underneath all the horror trappings, Chambers is the natural next step. Cozy space opera about a found family on a tunnel-boring ship. Nobody fights Dracula, but the emotional beats are similar. (Amazon affiliate link)
If you’re building a library of books like this one — the kind that live at the intersection of genre and heart — I maintain a running list of what I’m reading and what I’d recommend at my Favorite Gear and Reading page.
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!
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.
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.
The heat has officially arrived here in Kentucky, and with it comes one of my favorite seasonal rituals: the Summer Reading Stack. You know the one. The books you optimistically pile up beside your hammock, or your travel bag, or your nightstand, knowing full well you won’t read them all, but determined to try anyway.
As I prepare to disappear into as many pages as possible between projects and planning, I’ve rounded up some of the June 2025 SFF releases that have piqued my curiosity, stirred my genre-loving soul, and whispered, “read me next.” This month’s picks include vampire spaceships, cursed couriers, underwater palaces, swan-based political coups, and so much more.
So pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea (or Romulan ale — I won’t judge), and dive into this list of stellar speculative fiction releases.
A dying queen. An heir who can’t get it together. A rival powerful enough to tear down everything. This high-stakes island fantasy features matriarchal legacy, political power grabs, and complicated magic. It’s giving Game of Thrones meets The Green Bone Saga — and I am here for it.
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
Out June 3 (Bindery Books)
If you told me this book was Dracula meets Battlestar Galactica, I’d throw my credits at the nearest data terminal. Set on the spaceship Demeter (a clever nod to Stoker), this queer horror story features space vampires, interstellar travel, and a haunted AI that might need to become Blade.
The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott
Out June 10 (Tor Books)
When the royal road trip from hell goes sideways (thanks, arrogant prince), it’s up to Elen the courier to get everyone out of a haunted town alive. This one promises political intrigue, ancient magic, and the kind of “why am I always the responsible one?” energy I feel deep in my soul.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab
Out June 10 (Tor Books)
Three women. Three timelines. Vampires. Schwab’s gothic sensibilities are on full display in this “toxic lesbian vampire” novel (her words, not mine), and I’m already bracing for heartbreak, blood, and beautifully written trauma.
The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes
Out June 17 (Legacy Lit)
A glamorous NYC publicist finds herself haunted — literally and figuratively — after a museum tragedy. Throw in a psychic caught in a ghostly love triangle and some deeply buried secrets, and this one sounds like The Sixth Sense meets Scandal with a Bronx twist.
Seventhblade by Tonia Laird
Out June 17 (ECW Press)
An Indigenous warrior mother seeking vengeance in a colonized city? Yes, please. Add in morally gray alliances, godlike powers, and a blood debt that could ignite a revolution, and you’ve got a fantasy epic I’m bumping to the top of the list.
New SFF for Young Readers (and the Young at Heart)
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
Out June 3 (Knopf Books)
Beauty and the Beast but make it a con artist with prophetic painting powers? Lim continues to blend folklore and feminism with flair. Truyan agrees to marry the Dragon King to save her family, but we all know that kind of bargain never goes according to plan…
Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman
Out June 24 (Random House)
A medieval town where freedom is earned by surviving a year and a day — until a ghost, a dragon, and a murder shake the walls. Hartman’s return promises haunting imagery and a layered coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Seraphina and The Graveyard Book.
Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara
Out June 24 (HarperCollins)
A jeweler’s apprentice finds herself in the Serpent King’s castle. To survive, she marries him — but finds herself drawn to someone else entirely. Intrigue, jewels, forbidden romance… this one’s for readers who like their fantasy a little dark and a lot twisty.
A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek
Out June 24 (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Inspired by Swan Lake, this sapphic fantasy delivers palace politics, magical transformations, and a mission to restore a kingdom’s lost magic. When the king dies and blame falls on the wrong person, Odile must team up with the very person she betrayed to find the truth.
That’s all for now, fellow explorers of the weird and wonderful. If you pick up any of these, let me know — I’m always up for a good bookish conversation, especially if it involves morally ambiguous magic or sentient spaceships.
Until next time: read deeply, imagine wildly, and remember… the TBR pile is infinite, but your joy is the compass.
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!
Libraries are one of the last truly public institutions—free, accessible to all, and serving millions every year. So of course, the Trump administration wants to destroy them.
On Friday night, Trump signed an executive order eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency that funds America’s libraries. The same institution that provides: 📚 Early literacy programs for kids 📚 High-speed internet access for communities left behind by telecom giants 📚 Summer reading programs for children 📚 Job search assistance for unemployed workers 📚 Braille and talking books for people with visual impairments
All for just 0.003% of the federal budget—peanuts compared to corporate subsidies and military spending. But let’s be real: this isn’t about money. This is about power.
Libraries are one of the last spaces in America not controlled by corporations or the ultra-rich. They provide free access to knowledge, support marginalized communities, and serve as safe havens. That’s why the right-wing hates them.
This move is part of a broader fascist attack on public institutions. They’ve been banning books, terrorizing librarians, and defunding schools. Now they’re going after the very existence of libraries themselves.
We fight back. 📢 Call your reps and demand they stop this. 📢 Show up at town halls and library board meetings. 📢 Flood Congress with calls, emails, and protests. 📢 Support your local libraries—because once they’re gone, they won’t come back.
🔥 Defend public libraries. Defend public knowledge. Defend democracy. 🔥
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!
Sharon McMahon — “America’s Government Teacher,” former high school government teacher turned educator with a massive non-partisan following — stopped by Ryan Holiday’s Painted Porch bookstore in Bastrop, Texas, for a book conversation that got immediately added to my watch list.
I follow both of them. McMahon, because she does what great history education should do: she makes the stakes of the past feel present without manufacturing false urgency. Holiday because he reads seriously and recommends honestly, and because his bookstore is the kind of independent shop that invests in curation rather than bestseller display tables. When these two sit down to geek out about overlooked American history, the reading list they produce is worth paying attention to.
The conversation covered a lot of ground — from Booker T. Washington’s pragmatism to Taylor Branch’s monumental civil rights trilogy to the kind of narrative nonfiction that turns history into something you can’t put down. What I appreciate about both of them is the underlying argument running through the whole exchange: that knowing history isn’t a luxury or an academic exercise. It’s how you understand how the present got built and what actually holds it together.
Below is the full list they produced, with notes on the ones I’d prioritize or already recommend to others.
The Full List
Up from Slavery — Booker T. Washington The book Holiday kept returning to throughout the conversation. Washington’s autobiography is one of the most influential American texts ever written, and it’s been criminally underread. His pragmatism, his insistence on building from where you are rather than waiting for ideal conditions — these ideas rippled through American history in ways McMahon traces brilliantly (Julius Rosenwald, Toni Morrison’s relationship to his legacy, John Lewis). Read this before almost anything else on this list.
A Slave in the White House — Elizabeth Dowling Taylor The story of Paul Jennings, James Madison’s enslaved manservant, who witnessed some of the most consequential events in early American history and whose own story has been largely invisible to that history. The kind of primary source experience that reframes everything you thought you knew about the period.
The Mind on Fire — Mark Noll An intellectual biography of 19th-century American Christianity and its relationship to questions of history, science, and social change. For educators considering the relationship among values, knowledge, and action, this is rich territory.
Her Right Foot — Dave Eggers A children’s book about the Statue of Liberty — specifically about why she’s mid-stride, walking forward, and what that movement means about America’s promise and its unfulfilled obligations. Short enough to read in one sitting. Hits harder than its length suggests.
The Devil in the White City — Erik Larson If you’ve never read Larson, start here. The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, the architect building a city from scratch, and a serial killer operating in its shadow. Larson is the gold standard for narrative nonfiction that reads like a novel without sacrificing accuracy. I’ve recommended this book to more people than any other on this list.
The Demon of Unrest — Erik Larson Larson again, covering the months between Lincoln’s election and the first shots at Fort Sumter. What’s striking about this period is how many people on all sides believed the catastrophe could still be avoided right up until it wasn’t. A deeply uncomfortable read in the current climate.
Dead Wake — Erik Larson The Lusitania. The convergence of the ship’s last voyage and the U-boat tracking it, told with the same intercutting technique that makes all of Larson’s books compulsive. Once you read one Larson, you will read them all.
A Woman of No Importance — Sonia Purnell Virginia Hall ran resistance operations in occupied France during World War II with a prosthetic leg, a price on her head, and constant sabotage from the OSS bureaucrats who didn’t believe a woman could do what she was doing. The title is what the Gestapo put in her file. This is one of the best narrative histories I’ve read in years.
The River of Doubt — Candice Millard Theodore Roosevelt, after losing the 1912 election, led an expedition into an unmapped tributary of the Amazon that nearly killed him. Millard writes the whole thing with propulsive momentum and no sentimentality. Remarkable story, excellently told.
In a Sunburned Country — Bill Bryson Bryson’s account of Australia — its history, its absurdity, its extraordinary natural world, and the peculiar fact that everything there seems designed to kill you. His best travel book, which is saying something. A palate cleanser between heavier reads.
Tunnel 29 — Helena Merriman Thirty-five people tunneled under the Berlin Wall to freedom in 1962. Merriman spent years tracking down the survivors and reconstructed the story from their accounts. Holiday’s 2024 best-of list called it so good he sometimes had to put it down and walk around to calm down. That tracks.
Say Nothing — Patrick Radden Keefe The Troubles in Northern Ireland through the story of the Price sisters, Jean McConville’s disappearance, and what happens to people who commit violence in the service of a cause and then have to live with what they did. Keefe is the best longform journalist working, and this is his masterwork. Required reading.
Leadership: In Turbulent Times — Doris Kearns Goodwin Goodwin on Lincoln, FDR, LBJ, and TR — four presidents whose capacity to lead was forged through adversity and failure rather than smooth ascent. Less hagiographic than most political biographies. Useful as a study of how leadership actually develops.
Parting the Waters — Taylor Branch Volume one of Branch’s trilogy on the civil rights movement. 900 pages. Worth every one. The most comprehensive and human account of that period in American history, and the one that connects the movement’s internal debates, personal relationships, and strategic decisions in ways no shorter account can. McMahon talked about this throughout the conversation as essential reading. She’s right.
The Year of Living Constitutionally — A.J. Jacobs Jacobs spent a year trying to live according to the Constitution as literally as possible — including the 18th-century context, the historical debates, and the original meanings of phrases we’ve since abstracted into symbols. Funny and genuinely illuminating. Good entry point for anyone who teaches government or civics.
Why Fish Don’t Exist — Lulu Miller Ostensibly a biography of taxonomist David Starr Jordan, this book is actually about what happens when the systems we build to make sense of the world collapse — and what it might mean to keep going anyway. One of the most unusual nonfiction books I’ve read. Harder to describe than to read.
Everything Happens for a Reason — Kate Bowler Bowler, a historian of prosperity gospel, was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at 35 while pregnant. This book is her account of what it’s actually like to live inside a culture that can’t tolerate the absence of meaning — and what honest faith looks like when the easy answers are stripped away. Devastating and necessary.
A Gift from the Sea — Anne Morrow Lindbergh Written in 1955, this slim meditation on solitude, simplicity, and the pressures of modern life has sold millions of copies over seven decades because it remains true. A different pace than the rest of this list. Worth it.
Good Inside — Dr. Becky Kennedy The parenting book that connects most directly to Self-Determination Theory — Kennedy’s framework is built around the idea that behavior is communication and that children need autonomy, connection, and competence rather than compliance. Useful for parents and anyone who works with children.
Bury the Chains — Adam Hochschild The British abolition movement is told as the improbable story of a small group of people who decided to dismantle an institution that was economically foundational to the empire in which they lived. Hochschild is meticulous and morally serious. One of the best books on how social change actually happens.
Where I’d Start
If you’re new to this kind of narrative history and want to know where to begin, Say Nothing (Keefe), A Woman of No Importance (Purnell), and Up from Slavery (Washington) will pull you in immediately and leave you wanting more. The Devil in the White City (Larson) is the gateway drug for this entire genre. Parting the Waters (Branch) is the most important book on the list and the most demanding — save it for when you have time to commit.
The original conversation between McMahon and Holiday is worth watching in full: “Sharon McMahon’s Reading List” (from Ryan Holiday). It’s the kind of book talk that makes you want to buy five things immediately.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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!
A dark medieval fantasy infused with twisted folklore and macabre magic, Once Was Willum takes readers to 1100s England, where Willum, a man who once rose from the dead, faces an ancient evil. The novel promises deep secrets, monstrous battles, and an exploration of life, death, and destiny. If you enjoy atmospheric historical fantasy, this one should be on your radar.
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao (March 4, 2025)
This debut adult fantasy introduces a world at war with demons, where protagonist An Ying must enter a deadly ancient competition—the Immortality Trials—to save her mother’s soul. With dazzling magic, intense rivalries, and a treacherous path to eternal life, this novel promises an unforgettable start to a new dark fantasy duology. Fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night will definitely want to check this one out.
Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole (March 4, 2025)
The third book in the Everflame series, this novel continues the epic fantasy adventure that began with Spark of the Everflame. Self-published initially, the series has been picked up for traditional release, bringing more readers into its richly developed world. This is the perfect time to jump in if you want to binge a completed trilogy.
The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara (March 11, 2025)
A prince who rejects his father’s brutal empire. A witch seeking revenge. The Prince Without Sorrow follows Ashaka, the youngest son of a ruthless emperor, and Shakti, a witch determined to dismantle the monarchy from within. With nature spirits, political intrigue, and a battle for power, this novel sets the stage for an exciting new fantasy series.
The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau (March 25, 2025)
Described as The Witcher meets Squid Game, this Malaysian-Chinese-inspired epic fantasy introduces an underground monster-fighting arena where the most dangerous beasts may not be in the ring. With breathtaking battles, intricate lore, and compelling friendships, this novel promises to be one of the standout fantasy releases of the year.
The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn (March 18, 2025)
For fans of Practical Magic and Gone Girl, The Bane Witch follows Piers Corbin, a woman with a talent for poison who fakes her own death to escape a dangerous marriage—only to discover she’s part of a long line of poison-wielding witches. With murder, dark magic, and a flirtation with a suspicious sheriff, this book offers a fresh take on supernatural thrillers.
Honorable Mentions & More Releases to Watch
While these fantasy books generate the most buzz, don’t forget about the sci-fi/fantasy crossovers coming this March, including Flux and Luminous. Whether you’re into dark fantasy epics or genre-blending adventures, there’s plenty to look forward to!
What fantasy release are you most excited for this March? Let me know in the comments, and happy reading!
Teachers possess a unique blend of skills that make them natural writers: a talent for storytelling, a knack for simplifying complex concepts, and an innate ability to connect with an audience. These abilities, honed in the classroom, can seamlessly transfer to various writing careers. Whether you want to supplement your income or explore a new professional path, your teaching experience is your secret weapon. Here’s how you can leverage it to build a successful writing career.
Recognize Your Transferable Skills
As a teacher, you’re already an expert in several key areas that are highly valued in writing. You have a natural ability to simplify complex information, which allows you to communicate ideas clearly and effectively to a wide range of audiences. This talent makes you ideal for content writing, curriculum development, or creating guides and manuals for various industries. Additionally, your experience in engaging an audience—capturing the attention of a classroom filled with students—equips you with the storytelling and communication skills necessary to write compelling articles, blogs, or even books.
Your organizational skills are equally important, honed through lesson planning and classroom management. These skills enable you to juggle multiple writing projects, meet deadlines, and produce polished work. Recognizing these transferable skills is the first step in realizing your potential as a writer and taking the leap into this exciting career.
Explore Writing Niches That Fit Your Expertise
Your teaching background gives you a unique edge in specific writing niches. For example, curriculum writing is a natural fit for educators already skilled in designing lesson plans and instructional materials. Many educational publishers and e-learning platforms constantly seek professionals who can create engaging and standards-aligned content.
Another niche to consider is education blogging, where you can share your insights on teaching strategies, classroom management, or the latest trends in education. These blogs can be highly impactful, helping other educators while establishing you as a thought leader.
Children’s literature might be the perfect avenue if you have a passion for storytelling. Writing books that entertain and educate young readers can be fulfilling and financially rewarding. Additionally, your expertise in academic standards makes you a valuable asset for academic editing, where you can help refine research papers, theses, or educational proposals. Each of these niches provides an opportunity to turn your teaching experience into a lucrative writing career.
Start Small: Building a Portfolio
You don’t need years of experience to start building your portfolio. Begin by repurposing materials you already have, such as lesson plans or classroom activities. These can be adapted into blog posts, eBooks, or sample articles that showcase your skills.
Volunteering to write for local organizations, school newsletters, or educational blogs is another great way to gain experience. Not only does this help you build a portfolio, but it also allows you to network with others in the field and uncover new opportunities. Guest blogging on established education websites is another effective strategy for getting your name out there and adding credibility to your portfolio. As you build your collection of work, you’ll become more confident in pitching your services to potential clients.
Tap Into Online Resources
The internet is a treasure trove of opportunities for teachers who want to break into writing. Freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are excellent places to find clients and projects. These platforms allow you to showcase your skills, bid on jobs, and build relationships with clients who value your expertise.
Job boards that focus on educational content, such as those hosted by teacher organizations, can also be a great resource. However, one of the best ways to streamline your search and find quality opportunities is through specialized services like Paid Online Writing Jobs. This platform connects you directly with writing gigs tailored to your skills and experience, making it easier than ever to get started.
Master the Art of Pitching
Many writing jobs begin with a strong pitch. When reaching out to potential clients, highlight your teaching experience and subject matter expertise. Emphasize your ability to create engaging, well-organized content that meets their needs. Even if you’re starting, you can use lesson plans or newsletters as writing samples to demonstrate your capabilities.
Tailor each pitch to the client’s requirements, showing that you’ve researched and understand their goals. The more personalized and professional your pitch, the better your chances of landing the job.
Balance Writing with Teaching
Starting a writing career doesn’t mean giving up teaching entirely. Many teachers begin by dedicating a few hours a week to writing projects. Whether it’s early mornings, evenings, or weekends, find a schedule that works for you and allows you to manage both responsibilities effectively. As you gain experience and confidence, you can decide whether to pursue writing full-time or keep it as a side hustle.
Let Your Passion Shine Through
The most successful writers write about topics they’re passionate about. Whether it’s sharing your love for a specific subject, helping others learn, or telling engaging stories, let your enthusiasm guide your projects. Clients and readers alike are drawn to writing that feels authentic and inspired.
The Next Step: Finding Opportunities
If you’re ready to take the next step, explore the resources available on Paid Online Writing Jobs. This platform is designed to help beginners like you find writing gigs that match your skills and interests. Its user-friendly interface and tailored job listings make it the perfect starting point for launching your writing career.
Final Thoughts
Your time in the classroom has equipped you with skills in high demand in the writing world. By recognizing your strengths, exploring niches, and leveraging resources like Paid Online Writing Jobs, you can turn your teaching experience into a fulfilling and lucrative writing career. Take the leap and start your journey from lesson plans to published pages today!
Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers—but let’s be honest, it’s also one of the hardest. Every year brings new challenges, shifting priorities, and unexpected hurdles. As we step into 2025, the demands on teachers continue to evolve, and staying ahead means constantly learning, adapting, and growing. The best teachers know this: they don’t rely on their instincts or experience; they actively seek wisdom, strategies, and inspiration to keep improving.
That’s why we’ve curated this list of transformative books for educators navigating the year ahead. These aren’t just any books—they’re the ones that the most dedicated, forward-thinking teachers will be reading in 2025. Whether you’re a first-year teacher trying to find your footing or a veteran looking for fresh insights, this collection is packed with ideas to help you grow professionally, reconnect with your purpose, and make a lasting impact on your students. Are you ready to join the ranks of the best teachers in 2025? Let’s dive in.
Teaching is often described as a marathon, but it feels more like a frantic sprint for many. New teachers, especially, are inundated with to-do lists that never end, from lesson planning to grading to navigating the demands of administration. In Slow Productivity, Cal Newport challenges the prevailing culture of busyness and makes the case for slowing down. He argues that doing fewer things—but doing them with care and excellence—not only leads to better outcomes but also prevents burnout, a common hazard in education. Newport’s philosophy is a balm for teachers trying to find their footing in the whirlwind of their early years.
Drawing on historical examples and his life, Newport shares practical strategies for living and working with intention. He encourages teachers to embrace consistency over intensity and to make space for rest and reflection. In the classroom, this might mean prioritizing the quality of lessons over the quantity of assignments. For educators at any stage of their careers, this book offers a roadmap to sustainable success, reminding them that it’s possible to thrive without sacrificing their well-being.
In a profession where challenges seem constant, The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger offers a perspective that is both humbling and inspiring. A Holocaust survivor, Dr. Eger endured unimaginable suffering but emerged with an unshakable belief in the power of choice. For teachers navigating difficult times—whether due to systemic pressures, classroom struggles, or personal challenges—her story is a poignant reminder that even in the darkest circumstances, we can choose how we respond. Her journey exemplifies resilience, hope, and the incredible capacity for finding meaning in hardship.
Through powerful storytelling, Dr. Eger weaves lessons from her experiences with insights into how to live a meaningful life. For educators, this book is a call to reflect on their own choices—how they respond to stress, show up for students, and navigate the complexities of teaching in troubled times. It’s not just a memoir; it’s a guide to enduring and thriving, no matter the obstacles.
Teaching can often feel like a whirlwind, with constant demands pulling you in every direction. In such moments, the story of Michel de Montaigne, as told by Stefan Zweig, offers a profoundly relevant message: sometimes, the best response to chaos is to turn inward and cultivate self-awareness. Montaigne lived through a time of upheaval in 16th-century France, but instead of being consumed by the turmoil, he retreated to study. Zweig’s brilliant biography captures Montaigne’s essence, portraying him as a philosopher who found peace and clarity through reflection—a practice educators can adopt to maintain their balance.
For new teachers, Montaigne’s journey reminds them that it’s okay to pause and take stock. Amid the noise of politics, curriculum changes, and classroom challenges, there’s immense value in stepping back to reconnect with your core purpose. Zweig’s portrayal of Montaigne provides historical insight and a practical guide for educators looking to master themselves and bring that mastery into their classrooms.
Teaching, like politics, is often about navigating power dynamics, and there’s no better guide to understanding power than Robert A. Caro’s epic biography series on Lyndon Johnson. Across four volumes, Caro meticulously unpacks Johnson’s life, revealing how power is accumulated, wielded, and, ultimately, how it shapes the world around us. These lessons are invaluable for teachers—classrooms, schools, and education systems are all microcosms of power, and understanding these dynamics can help you better advocate for your students and yourself.
Caro’s work also highlights the duality of power: it can corrupt and reveal character and purpose. Teachers often find themselves in positions of influence, shaping young minds and impacting lives. This series challenges educators to reflect on their use of power in the classroom and beyond. Whether you’re teaching history or want to understand the world more deeply, Caro’s biography offers profound lessons on ambition, justice, and the human condition.
Finding moments of peace and reflection can feel impossible in a teacher’s busy, unpredictable life. Enter A Calendar of Wisdom by Leo Tolstoy, a collection of daily reflections that draws from the greatest thinkers in history. This book is more than a devotional; it’s a companion for the year, offering teachers a steady stream of wisdom to help navigate the highs and lows of the profession. Tolstoy believed in the transformative power of ideas, and his curated thoughts provided clarity, inspiration, and grounding for even the most chaotic days.
For educators, this book reminds them of the enduring principles that transcend time: kindness, patience, and the pursuit of knowledge. It’s a way to reconnect with the deeper meaning of teaching and find strength in the universal truths shared by philosophers, poets, and spiritual leaders. Whether read in the morning to set the tone for the day or at night to reflect on challenges, this book is a timeless resource for teachers seeking balance and perspective.
As a teacher, you’ve likely encountered students—particularly boys—who seem to be struggling more than ever. In Of Boys and Men, Richard Reeves delves into the societal shifts that have left many young males feeling adrift. Aside from engaging in culture wars, Reeves offers a compassionate and evidence-based analysis of how to support boys’ development better. This book is especially valuable for teachers who want to foster a classroom environment where all students can thrive.
Reeves’ insights are both sobering and actionable. He explores how traditional markers of success for boys—academic achievement, emotional resilience, and a sense of purpose—are increasingly out of reach for many. Teachers play a pivotal role in helping boys develop these qualities, and Reeves provides strategies to guide this work. Educators can create more inclusive and supportive classrooms that uplift all students by understanding boys’ unique challenges.
Grace is rarely discussed in professional development sessions, yet it’s a cornerstone of good teaching. In Bright Shining, Julia Baird explores the transformative power of grace—not just as a personal virtue but as a force that can change relationships, communities, and classrooms. For teachers, grace might look like patience with a difficult student, forgiveness for a colleague, or compassion for yourself on a hard day.
Baird’s writing is a gentle yet powerful reminder that grace is not about weakness or passivity but strength and resilience. As we emerge from years of disruption and uncertainty, this book encourages educators to lead with empathy and kindness, even when the world feels harsh. It’s a timely and uplifting read for teachers navigating the challenges of 2025.
The Children by David Halberstam is an evocative portrayal of young activists at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement—a testament to the power of youth in shaping history. For teachers, especially those guiding students through their formative years, this book offers a profound lesson in courage, resilience, and the transformative power of collective action. Halberstam’s meticulous storytelling transports readers to sit-ins, freedom rides, and the pivotal moments that define a generation. In today’s classroom, where issues of equity and justice remain pressing, this book serves as both an educational tool and an inspiration to encourage students to engage thoughtfully with their world.
Halberstam doesn’t just recount events; he humanizes the young people who risked everything for a cause they believed in. For teachers, this is a reminder of the incredible potential of every student. The Children challenges educators to teach history and empower students to understand their role in shaping it. It’s a call to recognize each young person’s capacity for change and a guide for helping them realize that potential.
Taylor Branch’s Parting the Waters is more than just a biography of Martin Luther King Jr.; it’s a detailed chronicle of the American Civil Rights Movement and a powerful narrative about leadership, moral courage, and social justice. For teachers, this book is an invaluable resource that deepens historical understanding and provides insight into the enduring struggle for equality—lessons vital in today’s classrooms. Branch’s portrayal of King and the movement is a model for educators seeking to inspire their students to advocate for justice and change.
Reading this book, teachers will gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of social movements and the importance of individual contributions within them. It reminds them that education is about imparting knowledge and fostering critical thinking and ethical awareness. Branch’s meticulous research and compelling storytelling make this trilogy an essential read for educators who wish to bring history alive for their students, showing them that real change is possible through dedication and perseverance.
Morgan Housel’s Same as Ever offers a refreshing perspective by focusing on the constants of human nature and behavior in a world obsessed with novelty and rapid change. This book is a powerful reminder for teachers that while educational fads come and go, certain truths about teaching and learning remain steadfast. Housel’s exploration of these enduring principles is a guide for navigating the uncertainties of modern education with a steady hand and clear vision.
Housel’s anecdotes and reflections encourage educators to focus on timeless virtues like patience, perseverance, and empathy, which remain relevant regardless of shifting educational landscapes. By grounding their practice in these enduring truths, teachers can build resilient and adaptable classroom environments that withstand change pressures. This book is a valuable resource for educators looking to root their teaching philosophy in what truly matters.
James Clear’s Atomic Habits is a masterclass in personal and professional transformation through small, consistent actions. For teachers, incrementally building habits can be a game-changer—establishing a morning routine that sets the tone for the day, creating consistent grading practices, or developing classroom management strategies. Clear’s emphasis on starting small makes this approach accessible, even amidst the school year’s busyness.
Clear’s framework benefits teachers personally and can be translated into classroom practice. Educators can use the principles from this book to help students set and achieve academic goals, build study habits, and foster a growth mindset. Atomic Habits underscores that lasting change doesn’t come from grand gestures but from the quiet power of daily, deliberate action—a lesson as relevant in teaching as it is in life.
Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations offer timeless wisdom, making them a must-read for educators facing the myriad challenges of modern teaching. This collection of personal reflections provides profound insights into resilience, discipline, and self-control—traits that are essential for teachers navigating the complexities of today’s educational landscape. In a chaotic world, Aurelius’ Stoic philosophy can be a steadying force, helping educators maintain their composure and focus.
For new teachers, Meditations is a guide to inner strength and clarity. It encourages educators to concentrate on what they can control—preparation, attitude, and effort—while letting go of what they cannot. Whether dealing with difficult students, administrative challenges, or broader systemic issues, this book provides a framework for approaching each day calmly and purposefully. It’s a resource to return to repeatedly, offering new insights each time based on where you are in your teaching journey.
Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here is a chilling reminder of how fragile democracy can be—a narrative that resonates deeply in today’s political climate. For educators, this novel is more than just a story; it’s a powerful teaching tool that prompts critical discussions about governance, power, and civic responsibility. In a time when political literacy is more important than ever, this book challenges teachers and students alike to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
Reading this novel with your students can open dialogues about the importance of vigilance, critical thinking, and the role of education in preserving democratic values. It’s a stark portrayal of how complacency can lead to the erosion of freedoms, making it a compelling read for teachers aiming to foster informed, engaged citizens. Lewis’ work is both a cautionary tale and a call to action—a reminder that education is a cornerstone of democracy.
Peter Singer’s The Expanding Circle challenges readers to widen their scope of empathy and moral concern—a principle that resonates deeply with the teaching ethos. This book explores ethical responsibility and interconnectedness for educators, offering a philosophical framework for fostering a compassionate and inclusive classroom environment. Singer’s argument that our moral circle can and should expand aligns perfectly with the educational goal of nurturing student empathy.
Teachers can draw from Singer’s insights to cultivate a classroom culture that values diversity, inclusivity, and global awareness. By encouraging students to think beyond their immediate circles, educators can help them develop a broader understanding of their impact on the world. This book is valuable for teachers committed to shaping socially responsible and ethically aware citizens.
Inazō Nitobe’s Bushido introduces readers to the ancient code of the samurai, offering timeless lessons in integrity, duty, and perseverance—values essential in the teaching profession. This book provides educators a unique cultural perspective on leadership and character, encouraging them to reflect on their practices and the virtues they wish to instill in their students. Nitobe’s exploration of Bushido is not merely about historical curiosity; it’s about applying those principles to modern challenges.
Teachers can find inspiration in the samurai’s commitment to lifelong learning and self-discipline—traits that are just as relevant in the classroom as they were on the battlefield. By embracing the samurai’s dedication to honor and ethical behavior, educators can model and teach these values, fostering a culture of respect and responsibility. Nitobe’s work serves as a guide for educators striving to build not just knowledgeable students but honorable individuals.
Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about navigating the complexities of relationships, institutions, and influence. Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power provides a fascinating lens through which to understand power dynamics, making it an invaluable resource for educators seeking to understand their roles within schools and systems better. While some of Greene’s lessons might seem Machiavellian, the book invites readers to think critically about how power operates and how to use it ethically and effectively.
This book can guide teachers in managing the classroom, advocating for resources, or working within challenging systems. Greene’s insights encourage educators to be strategic and self-aware, understanding how their actions and decisions influence those around them. While power may seem daunting, Greene shows it is a tool—and in the hands of thoughtful teachers, it can be wielded to create positive and lasting change.
Short but impactful, Kathrine Kressmann Taylor’s Address Unknown is a gripping exploration of how ideologies can divide even the closest of friends. Through a series of letters between two business partners during the rise of Nazism, Taylor captures the insidiousness of hate and the devastating consequences of moral compromise. For teachers, this book offers a powerful reminder of the importance of fostering critical thinking and moral courage in students.
Address Unknown is a timely read in an era of rampant polarization and misinformation. It challenges educators to help students recognize the dangers of intolerance and the importance of standing up for what is right. This book’s brevity makes it an excellent choice for classroom discussion, providing a springboard for conversations about history, ethics, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
Donald Robertson’s How to Think Like Socrates invites readers to explore the timeless wisdom of one of history’s greatest philosophers. For teachers, Socrates’ commitment to questioning and self-examination is a powerful model for fostering critical thinking in the classroom. This book explores how educators can draw from Socratic principles to create an environment where curiosity and dialogue thrive.
Robertson provides practical tools for applying philosophy to everyday life, making this book inspiring and actionable. Teachers can use Socrates’s lessons to guide students in asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and thinking deeply about complex issues. In a world that often prioritizes answers over inquiry, this book is a reminder of the transformative power of thoughtful questioning.
No matter where you are in your teaching journey—whether you’re just starting or you’ve been shaping young minds for years—2025 will bring its share of challenges and opportunities. The best teachers understand that growth isn’t just about mastering content; it’s about mastering mindset. That’s why investing in tools that help you unlock your potential, focus your energy, and stay resilient in the face of challenges is so important.
One powerful resource for this is MindZoom Affirmations Software, designed to help you reprogram your mind for success. Teachers constantly juggle demands, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck. MindZoom can help you shift your mindset, boost your confidence, and develop the mental clarity you need to thrive. With its cutting-edge subliminal messaging and affirmations, this tool can be your secret weapon for staying positive, focused, and inspired—both in and out of the classroom.
So, as you explore the books on this list, why not take your personal growth a step further? Combine the wisdom of great thinkers with the power of affirmations, and see how your mindset transforms in 2025. Ready to start your journey? Check out MindZoom here and take the first step toward becoming the best version of yourself—for your students, career, and future.
Teachers have unique financial challenges, from funding classroom projects and family needs to planning vacations and saving for retirement—all while navigating a salary that often feels stretched too thin. To help you take control of your finances, I’ve curated 19 books that can truly change your life. After reading over 200 books about money, I found that 50% were a waste of time, 20% were plain wrong, and just 19 stood out as life-changing.
These books are divided into four categories: Make It, Build It, Keep It, and Enjoy It. Together, they’ll provide the mindset, strategies, and skills to make more money, build wealth, protect it, and use it to live a rich, fulfilling life. Whether you’re saving for your next classroom initiative or dreaming of a comfortable retirement, these books are your roadmap.
Make It → Change Your Mindset Around Money
Mastering your finances starts with mastering your mindset. As teachers, we dedicate ourselves to helping students grow, often without prioritizing our own financial health. A shift in mindset can make all the difference, turning money from a source of stress into a tool for freedom and opportunity. This category includes books that challenge old beliefs about money, teach you how to think like an investor, and inspire you to take charge of your financial future.
Money problems are rarely solved by simply making more money; they’re solved by thinking differently about the money you already have. These books will help you do just that. Whether you’re working on tackling debt, building confidence in your financial decisions, or learning to align money with your values, the insights here will empower you to rewrite your financial story.
This book is essential for teachers, as it emphasizes the power of a growth mindset—the belief that intelligence and skills can develop over time. Just as you encourage students to embrace challenges and learn from setbacks, this book challenges you to approach your financial journey with the same resilience. Instead of feeling stuck or overwhelmed, you’ll learn to see obstacles as opportunities for growth.
Ray Dalio’s framework for decision-making is a goldmine for anyone looking to take control of their financial life. Teachers can apply his principles to everything from budgeting to career planning, creating a system that helps you achieve your goals with clarity and confidence. By setting clear goals, diagnosing problems, and designing solutions, you can navigate financial challenges with the same strategic thinking you use in your lesson plans.
A cornerstone in financial literacy, this book helps you reframe how you view money, assets, and liabilities. For teachers, it offers a straightforward path to understanding how to build wealth—even on a modest salary. Learn how to shift your focus from working for money to having your money work for you, and see how small changes in thinking can lead to big results.
This book is a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to take control of their financial future. Robbins simplifies complex financial concepts, making them accessible even if you’re new to managing money. For teachers juggling family expenses, classroom needs, and long-term goals like retirement, this book helps you define financial success and lays out a clear path to achieve it. Robbins emphasizes the importance of understanding your “why” when it comes to money—what lifestyle do you want, and how much will it take to make it a reality?
One of the key takeaways is the framework for achieving financial freedom: What do I really want? What’s important about it? How will I get it? What’s preventing me from getting it? And how will I know if I’m successful? These five steps provide clarity and focus, especially for teachers who might feel stuck in a cycle of limited income and high expenses. Robbins also reminds readers, “You either master money, or, on some level, money masters you.” By mastering the basics, you’ll build confidence and control over your financial life, no matter your starting point.
James Altucher’s message is simple but powerful: if you don’t prioritize yourself, no one else will. This book is especially valuable for teachers who often put others’ needs above their own, whether it’s their students, families, or communities. Altucher emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and creative thinking to build financial independence. His practical advice on generating ideas—writing down 5-10 ideas every day—helps readers sharpen their problem-solving skills and unlock new opportunities for income.
A standout lesson from this book is learning to say no. Altucher warns, “Every time you say yes to something you don’t want to do… you will make less money.” For teachers, this could mean learning to turn down unpaid obligations or low-value opportunities that drain your time and energy. The “Side Hustle Bible” component is equally practical, providing actionable steps to diversify your income and create side hustles that align with your skills and interests. Altucher’s insights are a must for anyone ready to take charge of their financial future.
This book is a masterclass in critical thinking about economic issues. Sowell dismantles common misconceptions and challenges readers to think independently about the economic narratives we’re often fed. For teachers, this is particularly relevant, as you’re shaping young minds to think critically about the world around them. Sowell’s sharp insights empower you to question economic “truths” and develop a deeper understanding of how financial systems impact your life and decisions.
A key takeaway from this book is the distinction between feeling and thinking. Sowell writes, “The problem isn’t that Johnny can’t read. The problem isn’t even that Johnny can’t think. The problem is that Johnny doesn’t know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.” This resonates deeply in a time when emotional reactions often overshadow logical analysis. For teachers, this book is not just about understanding economics—it’s about cultivating the kind of mindset that allows you to cut through noise, focus on facts, and make sound financial decisions for yourself and your family.
Rollo May’s Man’s Search for Himself is an inspiring and introspective read that focuses on understanding your purpose and taking control of your life. For teachers, who often pour so much energy into their students, this book offers a chance to reflect on your own values and aspirations. It reminds readers that life is finite and that living with intentionality is the key to fulfillment.
May explores themes like fear, freedom, and authenticity, urging readers to make choices that align with their true selves. The book serves as a mental reset, encouraging you to focus on what truly matters and to treat your one life with care and respect. It’s a powerful reminder to prioritize personal growth alongside the work you do for others.
Chris Guillebeau’s $100 Startup is a must-read for anyone looking to start a business without a huge financial investment. Teachers often have unique skills that can translate into profitable side hustles, from tutoring to creating educational resources, and this book provides the blueprint for turning those ideas into income streams. It walks you through identifying a profitable idea, marketing on a budget, and building a customer base—all while keeping startup costs low.
One of the key takeaways is the idea that value is created when you make something useful and share it with the world. Whether you’re starting a small business to fund classroom needs or supplement your income for personal goals, this book breaks down the process into actionable steps. With its to-do lists and practical advice, it’s perfect for teachers who want to take control of their financial futures.
Build It → Understand the Language of Money
Once you’ve developed the right mindset, the next step is building the financial tools and strategies you need to succeed. This category focuses on understanding the language of money—how it works, how to grow it, and how to leverage it for long-term wealth. These books are designed to demystify complex financial concepts and help you create systems for financial success, whether you’re starting a side hustle, investing, or scaling your efforts.
For teachers, learning to “build it” means finding creative ways to supplement your income and maximize your impact. Whether it’s understanding how to sell your expertise, negotiating for higher pay, or finding new opportunities to monetize your skills, these books show you how to go beyond a paycheck-to-paycheck existence and create lasting financial stability.
Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power is a fascinating exploration of power dynamics and how they shape personal and professional relationships. For teachers, understanding these laws can help you navigate complex situations, whether it’s managing classroom dynamics, advocating for better resources, or building influence within your community. This book teaches you how to identify where you can take control and create more power in your life.
One standout lesson is the idea that “attention is the most important commodity of the 21st century.” Instead of trying to change people’s minds, shift their attention to what matters most. For educators, this insight can help you communicate your goals more effectively and make a greater impact, whether in the classroom or beyond.
Merger Masters is a deep dive into the world of high-level finance, exploring how the rich don’t just buy things—they buy empires. While dense, this book is worth the effort for anyone interested in understanding mergers, acquisitions, and the strategies that create massive wealth. For teachers looking to grow their financial literacy, this book offers valuable insights into risk arbitrage and other wealth-building techniques.
The authors share practical lessons from successful investors, with a key takeaway being the idea that wealth is built through spinoffs, split-ups, liquidations, mergers, and acquisitions. By understanding these concepts, you gain a perspective on how to think bigger about your financial goals and take calculated risks to achieve them.
John Kay’s The Long & Short of It is a guide to finance and investing that’s perfect for those who aren’t in the industry but want to understand how the system works. For teachers, this book simplifies complex concepts, helping you navigate investments and financial decisions with confidence. It’s packed with practical advice and even includes a helpful glossary of financial terms for easy reference.
A standout quote is, “You can’t win the game if you don’t know what you’re playing or who your competitors are.” This idea encourages you to approach your finances with the same thoughtfulness and strategy you bring to lesson planning. By learning the rules of the game, you can make smarter decisions and set yourself up for long-term financial success.
Mastering the VC Game is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in entrepreneurship or venture capital. For teachers who dream of turning their big ideas into scalable businesses, this book provides a step-by-step guide to raising money and navigating the world of startups. Bussgang breaks down the process of going from startup to IPO in a way that’s accessible and actionable.
One of the most important lessons is, “If you’re going to fail, fail quick and cheap.” This advice is empowering for anyone hesitant to take risks—it’s better to try, learn, and pivot than to hold back entirely. Whether you’re launching a tutoring business, educational app, or other venture, this book offers the tools to succeed on your terms.
If you’ve ever struggled to monetize your skills, this book is for you. Hormozi breaks down how to create irresistible offers that people can’t say no to, making it a must-read for teachers looking to turn their expertise into additional income streams.
This book teaches negotiation tactics that every teacher can benefit from. Whether it’s advocating for better pay, negotiating classroom resources, or working on personal finances, Voss’s insights help you get what you deserve without sacrificing relationships.
For teachers dreaming of starting a business or side hustle, this book provides a roadmap for thinking big and building something meaningful. Thiel’s contrarian advice encourages you to find your unique edge and turn it into a profitable venture.
Keep It → Protect Your Money and Grow Wealth
Making money is only half the battle; keeping it is just as important. This category focuses on protecting your wealth and ensuring it grows over time. Teachers often face challenges like navigating retirement plans, managing debt, and preparing for unexpected expenses. These books provide actionable advice to help you create a financial safety net and build a foundation for long-term wealth.
Keeping your money requires discipline and a focus on sustainability. As a teacher, you already have the skills to stay organized and plan ahead—this category shows you how to apply those skills to your financial life. By learning to invest wisely, manage risk, and think long-term, you’ll set yourself up for success in the years to come.
This book teaches you how to create sustainable systems, whether for a business or your personal finances. It’s especially valuable for teachers who want to grow their income streams or ensure their money is working for them even when they’re not actively involved.
Teachers often juggle multiple responsibilities, but this book reminds you to focus on the most important financial priorities. By narrowing your efforts to the most impactful tasks, you’ll see greater results in less time.
When financial challenges arise, this book will help you adapt and thrive. It’s a powerful guide for teachers navigating uncertain times or looking to future-proof their finances.
Enjoy It → Spend Money on What Truly Matters
What’s the point of making and saving money if you can’t enjoy it? The final category focuses on spending your money in ways that align with your values and bring you joy. For teachers, this might mean funding meaningful classroom projects, taking that dream vacation, or investing in hobbies and experiences that enrich your life.
Enjoying your money isn’t about reckless spending—it’s about making intentional choices that align with your priorities. These books will help you balance financial responsibility and living a fulfilling life, ensuring that your hard work translates into moments of happiness and connection.
This classic teaches you how to align your spending with your values, helping you cut unnecessary expenses and focus on what truly matters. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to achieve financial independence while enjoying life.
For teachers with a spirit of adventure, this book shows how to combine travel and financial freedom. It’s a reminder that wealth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about having the freedom to explore, experience, and create a life you love.
Why These Books Matter for Teachers
Teachers work tirelessly to inspire and educate, but too often, financial stress prevents them from enjoying the fruits of that hard work. These 19 books provide the tools, mindset, and strategies you need to take control of your financial future. Whether your goal is funding classroom projects, taking your family on a dream vacation, or building a retirement you can look forward to, these books offer practical solutions tailored to your needs.
Start with the category that resonates most with you, and let these books guide you toward the financial freedom you deserve. Which book will you start with? Let me know in the comments!
