My Top 10 Prime Day Book Deals

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Yes, it’s Prime Day once again. I do my best to avoid giving them too much money on these two days each year, but some things are too hard to pass up.

I’ve done a little digging and spied some great deals on a few great books that I think you’ll enjoy.

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Master the art of negotiation with former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. Discover unconventional strategies to get what you want in any situation. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their bargaining skills and achieve better outcomes.

Think Again by Adam Grant

Challenge your assumptions and embrace the power of rethinking. Adam Grant’s insightful book encourages readers to open their minds, question their beliefs, and foster a culture of learning and growth. A must-read for lifelong learners and innovators.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Unveil the timeless strategies of history’s greatest power players. Robert Greene’s compelling guide provides readers with essential laws for gaining and maintaining power in any arena. Ideal for those seeking to navigate complex social dynamics and achieve success.

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Dive into the fascinating world of human decision-making with Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. This groundbreaking book explores the dual systems of thought that shape our choices, offering profound insights into how we think and why we make mistakes.

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Join Matthew McConaughey on a wild and reflective journey through his life. This candid memoir is filled with humorous anecdotes, life lessons, and inspirational moments that reveal the actor’s philosophy on how to catch and ride life’s “greenlights.”

The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene

Unlock the mysteries of human behavior with Robert Greene’s comprehensive exploration of what drives us. This enlightening book provides readers with a deeper understanding of themselves and others, helping to navigate social complexities with greater wisdom.

Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday

Discover the power of self-control and how it shapes our lives. Ryan Holiday’s latest book emphasizes the importance of discipline in achieving greatness, providing practical advice and historical examples to inspire readers to cultivate this vital virtue.

The Daily Stoic Box Set by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

Embrace the wisdom of the Stoics with this beautifully packaged box set. Featuring daily meditations and reflections, it offers timeless insights and practical guidance for living a more mindful, resilient, and fulfilling life.

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

Explore the secrets of great leadership with Simon Sinek. This compelling book reveals how leaders can create environments of trust and cooperation, leading to more successful and fulfilling organizations. It is essential reading for anyone aspiring to inspire and lead others.

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Learn from one of the most iconic figures in modern history as Arnold Schwarzenegger shares his seven indispensable tools for a successful and meaningful life. Filled with personal stories, practical advice, and motivational insights, this book is a powerful guide to unlocking your full potential and achieving greatness in any endeavor. Perfect for anyone seeking inspiration and actionable steps to transform their life.

Each of these books will impact your life if you take the lessons and apply them. All are fantastic reads.

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The End of the Experiment

Greetings Starfighters,

It’s mid-July, and the sun is beating down on my old Kentucky home with an intensity that I don’t have the words to describe. The new school year is coming, and already, the calendar fills with meetings, conferences, and all the usual trappings.

The past weekend provided what may prove to be the turning point in the 2024 US presidential election.

I still don’t know how to describe my religious upbringing. While I’m not sure it was a full-blown cult, it certainly echoed many of the telltale signs of Christian cults. And those groups have only grown in size and number in the past twenty years, especially since a black man was elected president.

I am disturbed by the growing number of people who are assigning former President Trump almost godlike status, emphasizing that he is untouchable and ordained to lead.

It sounds an awful lot like what good Christians are supposed to be on watch for to know the arrival of the Antichrist, if you believe such things.

All I know is that, after this weekend’s assassination attempt, I’m inclined to agree with John Naughton’s assessment that the American experiment with democracy is ending.

A dark cloud hangs over this country, and my mind turns to my daughter and all the students I serve. What will happen next, and how will it affect their future?

Quote of the Day

“But most of the terrible things that happen in this land don’t happen because of evil men, not really. They happen because of people who just don’t know any better.” (Sebastien de Castell, Traitor’s Blade)

Musical Interlude

This summer’s Dave Matthews Band tour has seen the resurrection of several older songs from the band’s catalog. One of those making regular appearances is one of my favorites, The Last Stop.

Here’s a live version from this past May:

Long Read of the Day

Last week at a conference, an interesting session asked two teachers to dribble a basketball for 30 seconds without stopping. When they failed, the only feedback given was “try harder.”

How many times have we heard that? How many times have we been the ones telling students that? Does it really work? Can’t they just be more resilient and try harder?

They can, but trying harder doesn’t always accomplish the goal, and, more often than not, it just frustrates you. Resiliency isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Soraya Chemaly talks more about The Resilience Myth…

Over years I had really absorbed the idea that resilience was 9/10th the ability to persevere, be gritty, try to stay optimistic, etc. and 1/10th having a supportive social circle. When my family was thrown into the deep end of a crisis, it became clear that nothing I could do as an individual could compare to what we all needed, which was a combination of love, friendship, compassionate listeners, and actual material resources, such as access to good health care and medicine.

Video of the Day

Can AI create a documentary film? Maybe…

Artistic legend Brian Eno is featured in a unique documentary that changes every time it’s watched. The film uses special software to create countless versions of Eno’s story, a story that the producers are constantly adding more content to. I’m sure it’s a trip, as most anything associated with Eno always has been. But, the ideas behind the film’s creation echo much of Eno’s own ideas about the constantly changing nature of the world around us.

Final Thoughts

Maybe we should rethink our facts of life…

Transforming Schools with Cutting-Edge Systems Thinking: Unlocking the Secrets of New Science in Education

an artist s illustration of artificial intelligence ai this image represents the role of ai in computer optimisation for reduced energy consumption it was created by linus zoll as part — Photo by Google DeepMind on Pexels.com

Are you curious about how modern science can revolutionize education? Let’s explore the world of systems thinking and see how it can transform schools into thriving, dynamic ecosystems.

Finding Order in Chaos

Where can we find order in the chaos of school life? It’s not about rigid rules but about the natural patterns that emerge from interactions among teachers, students, administrators, and parents. We can create a more harmonious and effective educational environment by fostering these natural connections.

How Do Complex Systems Change?

Change in education isn’t just about big reforms. It’s the small, strategic tweaks that can lead to significant transformations. Think of it like a ripple effect – introducing a new teaching method or technology can change classroom dynamics, boost teacher collaboration, and increase student engagement. Recognizing these interconnected changes helps manage and amplify their positive impacts.

Creating Flexible and Adaptive Structures

Rigid systems can’t keep up with the fast-paced world of education. We need flexible structures that can adapt to change. For example, a curriculum that allows teachers to tailor lessons to their students’ interests can make learning more engaging and effective. Similarly, professional development that encourages experimentation can foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Simplifying Without Losing Complexity

How do we simplify education without losing its richness? By focusing on core principles and values while allowing for diverse expressions of these principles. This could mean emphasizing foundational skills but giving teachers the freedom to choose how to teach them. Concentrate on essential outcomes and allow for creativity in achieving them.

Sale

Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World

Wheatley, Margaret J. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
248 Pages – 09/03/2006 (Publication Date) – Berrett-Koehler Publishers (Publisher)

Balancing Autonomy and Accountability

How can we balance teachers’ need for autonomy with the school’s need for accountability? We can create a sense of ownership and satisfaction by involving teachers in goal-setting and decision-making. At the same time, clear goals and metrics ensure that the school remains focused on its mission. Collaborative goal-setting, transparent evaluations, and supportive leadership are key.

Embracing New Science in Education

The “new science”—insights from physics, biology, and chemistry—emphasizes holism and relationships over isolated parts. Schools should be seen as ecosystems where every role and interaction matters. This perspective encourages leaders to consider the broader impacts of their decisions and create environments that nurture positive relationships.

Imagine a school where teachers are not just cogs in a wheel but vital, dynamic components. Where students’ learning experiences are shaped by a web of influences – home life, peer interactions, and community resources. This holistic approach can lead to more comprehensive and effective educational strategies.

Conclusion

We can transform schools into adaptive, resilient, and thriving communities by applying systems thinking and insights from new science. This approach addresses the complexities of modern education and harnesses every individual’s potential to contribute to meaningful, sustained improvement. Embrace the interconnectedness of educational ecosystems and watch as natural order, constructive evolution, and balanced autonomy emerge, creating a better future for education.

Must-Read: Margaret Wheatley’s Leadership and the New Science

If you’re intrigued by the idea of using cutting-edge science to transform education, Margaret Wheatley’s Leadership and the New Science is a must-read. Wheatley explores how quantum physics, biology, and chaos theory principles can revolutionize our understanding of leadership and organizational dynamics. She shows how we can create flexible, adaptive, and thriving organizations by shifting from a mechanistic view to a holistic perspective. This book is packed with insights that will challenge your thinking and inspire innovative approaches to leading and learning. Dive into Wheatley’s groundbreaking work to unlock the secrets of new science and transform your educational organization.

NASA, Voyager, and long-term project-based learning

The premise for the first Star Trek film featuring the original series cast proposes that a probe from Earth, Voyager 6, traveled so far and accumulated so much information as it traveled the cosmos that it achieved sentience. And when it did, it wanted to return to “The Creator” and deliver all that information.

Trust me, that first Star Trek movie is the most “sci-fi” of the entire series, except maybe Star Trek: Beyond.

While no probe named Voyager 6 ever launched, the idea of a probe transmitting data back home after traveling billions of miles is still very much a reality and not science fiction.

However, you may have heard that Voyager 1, launched nearly 50 years ago, began transmitting gibberish back to NASA a few months ago. Many feared the worst. Voyager kept transmitting data, signifying it was alive, but something happened to the data transmissions.

After five months of work, the Voyager team worked some coding magic to restore the code and restart regular transmissions.

“When the time came to get the signal, we could clearly see all of a sudden, boom, we had data, and there were tears and smiles and high fives… Everyone was very happy and very excited to see that, hey, we’re back in communication again with Voyager 1. We’re going to see the status of the spacecraft, the health of the spacecraft, for the first time in five months.”
Linda Spilker, project scientist for NASA’s two Voyager spacecraft at JPL

Talk about project-based learning at work…

Perhaps there’s no better example of the importance of project-based learning in schools than a story like this. When has anyone tried to change the code on an object over 15 billion miles from the Earth?

Never. There’s no guidebook for a project like this, no curriculum to refer to, no content standards. Just a group of experts trying everything they know to solve a problem.

And this project has been going for nearly 50 years. Share that with your students when they think they’ve been working on a project for too long.

There is no audience

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Stop worrying about what you think other people think of you and what you do. They don’t care. They’re too busy worrying about themselves.

Years ago, when I was in my 20s, a bold and artistically daring older friend who has since passed on gave me what I often think was the best advice I have ever gotten. I was worrying what 'people would think' of a decision I had made, and she said, "Amanda, There is no audience."
— Amanda Fortini (@amandafortini) March 18, 2024

Teachers and students, this is your call to get busy doing your own thing, and don’t worry about what anyone thinks.

On finding time to be creative

This semester, I’m in a class called “Leadership for Creative Problem Solving,” with the ever-impressive Mary John O’Hair leading our group. We’ve talked a lot about what it means to be creative, specifically in the land of educational leadership, but my conversations always come back around to finding ways to be creative and flexing those muscles.

In my attempts to follow Austin Kleon’s advice and show my work, in our final discussion board post–something else I’ve tried to spice up this semester because oh my god can discussion boards be an absolute pain in the you know what and I wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy but understand why we have to do them–we were asked to share an article or video we found in our studies on creativity and leadership.

Like the good oversharer and curator that I am, I linked to this blog, specifically to my tags on creativity, leadership, and creative leadership.

It’s not a great usage case for setting up your own public commonplace book, but it works.

One of my peers, an excellent educator and union leader, made a comment about not knowing how I do it all.

I don’t know either, I just do it. And I think that’s the key.

Creativity is an act of repetition and drudgery. Rarely, if ever, do the clouds of your mind part, allowing rays of glorious creative inspiration to bombard your brain with ideas. Nor is there an “idea factory” in Schenectady, NY, offering a subscription idea service–but that never stopped Harlan Ellison from telling people there was.

No, creativity is backbreaking, mind-numbing, and difficult. It should be difficult. It should be work. It should take something out of you and make you pause multiple times throughout the act of creating. It should make you think and it should make you question your life choices.

But, creating is what we were born to do. And everyone has something different to create, something different to express their unique gifts.

And being creative is something we must do often. Daily, as a matter of fact. Stephen King talks about writing 2,000 words a day, no matter what. Ryan Holiday says to “two crappy pages a day” to progress toward your goal.

One of the best rules I’ve heard as a writer is that the way to write a book is by producing “two crappy pages a day.”

It’s by carving out a small win each and every day—getting words on the page—that a book is created.
— Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) October 7, 2022

It isn’t all going to be pretty–trust me, it’s not–and you’re going to get frustrated. Teachers, you’ll always be improving lessons. Students, you’ll always be thinking about how you can improve that last bit of work.

Each of us has a gift and someone is waiting for us to share that gift with the world.

Let’s do this.

Jukebox heroes and $20 fiddles

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Greetings Starfighters,

Faster than the fleetest hoof ever struck the pavement or a wheel ever turned upon an axle, the magnificence of Spring Break lies upon us in the Bluegrass State. There is, perhaps, no better time for a break than right now, as many of our schools haven’t had a long break since January 2, baseball makes its annual return from the doldrums of winter, and the sun shines ever brighter each day.

I digress…

Yes, I’m in a good mood, partially because I’m off work for a few days and have a chance to catch up on my doctoral work (which never seems to end), but also to spend a few days with my kiddo (my apologies to all spouses who don’t get a break when their teacher partners do), do some reading (I’m so far behind on my yearly challenge), do some housework, and overall get ready to wrap up another school year with gusto.

Also, my virtual learning academy students just finished recording season one of their podcast, which I’ll be sharing very soon. They did a great job, even if they were freaking out the entire time they recorded.

So now, dear travelers, I present you with 10 things I thought were worth sharing with you this week…

10 Things Worth Sharing

I see more reasons to keep arts programs in our schools every day. When we involve students in the arts, we give them a chance to tap into the creative realm and expand their imagination. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll get a $20 violin that will take them everywhere…
I read Ron Berger’s excellent An Ethic of Excellence this week after staring at it on my bookshelf since last summer. I should have read it sooner. Hat tip to good friend Scott McCleod for the recommendation. Here’s a video of Ron from PBLWorks a few years ago. He starts with his philosophy that “we vastly underestimate the capacity of kids to do beautiful work.”
When you have ideas, put them down on paper. Share them. Get them out in the open and let them breathe. Get feedback from others and then, get to work on those ideas. If you let them, ideas rot.
Admittedly, I’m a huge Carl Sagan fan. I mean, why shouldn’t I be? His Cosmos TV series was an instrumental part of my childhood-yes, I was raised on public television-and his ideas still grip my brain today. However, I’m not sure I could handle his undergrad reading list from the 50s. It’s pretty stacked.
I love movies. Always have, always will. However, I will admit that I have not always taken the time to view artistic and important films. Yes, friends, I have been a populist movie watcher and enjoyed every minute of it. But, I’m doing my best to expand my horizons and, as such, have apparently become part of the cult of Criterion.
I’ve heard of some school districts adding student members to their school boards but I’d love to see more of it. Students need someone to speak directly about their experiences in schools and stop relying solely on the opinions of us old folk to make decisions.
Can art help people? I hope so…
Radiohead’s Creep serves as an anthem for anyone who has ever felt self-conscious or suffered from imposter syndrome. Or maybe that’s just how the song makes me feel. Regardless, I shed a tear or two every time I hear Creep, and if I’m alone in my car, I’ll likely scream much of the lyrics as I weep. Maybe you do, too. I’m not sure, but perhaps there are a few folks in this crowd of 1,600 doing the same as they sing Creep together.
Oklahoma is adding more virtual charter schools for the coming school year, even as some in the state believe that virtual schools have reached a ‘saturation point.’ Working with and researching virtual schools, I’m interested anytime news like this shows up as I hope that we are able to maintain virtual learning as an option for many students who haven’t found success in the traditional classroom.
Finally, did you know that KOOP radio in Austin, TX, has a Sunday afternoon Joystick Jukebox show? And that they have an archive online? Yes, you, too, can enjoy an hour of video game music spanning over 50 years of the genre every Sunday. It’s wicked cool and, you know, for kids!

PS: Next week, I’ll talk about the importance of this book and my thoughts about the stories inside.

That $20 fiddle has taken me everywhere…

Much of my teen years and into my twenties revolved around music. I played trumpet from 6th grade onward–and wasn’t too shabby–I eventually learned a bit of piano–I can chord and keep a rhythm like nobody’s business–and a bit of signing.

My wife has a music degree and is an excellent flautist. And my kiddo is already falling into the world of musical theatre with all her heart.

While I’m no longer actively involved in the music scene, I’ll always be a musician and hooked on the power of music. I love it and always will, and love sharing great music I stumble upon through my yearly playlists.

Music can bring us all together and inspire us to be more than we believe. For some, it can take you outside of your circumstances into a new world filled with sights and sounds beyond imagination. A new world of hope and promise.

I’m a huge believer in keeping arts programs in our schools. My time in the band kept me sane in my middle and high school experiences. Without the connections I made and the love of music that gave me a place to go and hide when things got rough, which happened regularly as a chubby, geeky kid in the late 80s and early 90s, I’m not sure what I would have done, but it probably wouldn’t have been great.

Los Angeles Unified School District is one of the last school districts in the country to provide freely repaired instruments to its students. The Oscar-winning documentary The Last Repair Shop takes us behind the scenes of that work.

More importantly, we learn the stories of a few individuals and what music and this instrument repair program mean to them.

From a mother who works to support her family to a man who caught the fiddle itch so bad he just had to have a $20 violin from a yard sale, these stories will inspire and make you weep.

By the way, that $20 violin took Duane Michaels and his band, Bodie Mountain Express, all the way to opening for Elvis on his biggest night ever and around the world, and then took him to repair woodwinds for LAUSD students.

From the film-

In a nondescript warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain over 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of the recording capital of the world. Watch “The Last Repair Shop,” directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers.

In less than 45 minutes, you’ll see these stories and some of the students touched by this program. Music has a unique power among the arts to unite so many, sometimes without words.

We must keep music in our schools, forever.

Everything I’m writing is s#*%

Greetings Starfighters,

Happy first (partial) week of spring here in the Northern Hemisphere—our southern neighbors rejoice as they head into my favorite time of year…

I’ve walked around most of this week not knowing what day it was or just being off a day. I’m quite certain this is all due to still recovering from the nonsense of daylight savings time (because we’re not saving anything). Yet, we move along into the vast unknown of tomorrow.

Also, has anyone else adjusted their reading goal for the year? I’m really behind and am not sure I can catch up with all that life brings my way. But, recognizing your limits is key and knowing that the only person I’m competing against is myself is also helpful when I feel defeated.

Anyway, here are 10 cool things I wanted to share this week:

10 Things Worth Sharing

Creativity is Humanity
As usual, I’ve gone down another musical rabbit hole that began with finding the amazing Hermanos Gutiérrez and has taken me into some very chill musical vibes. If you need a nice smooth start to your day, I have some great finds for you.
English learners stopped coming to class during the pandemic. One group is tackling the problem by helping their parents.
I’m always on the hunt for new creatives and curious to see their creative processes. This week, I found Jacob Collier by way of Matt Mullenweg of WordPress fame. Collier joins Paul Davids in this video to discuss learning to play the guitar, tweaking the rules, and changing everything to suit your style.
In Star Wars news this week (you knew there was going to be a geeky moment soon), the trailer for the new “The Acolyte” series dropped this week, giving us a first glimpse at the time 100 years prior to anything Star Wars-related we’ve seen on any screen. There’s even a Wookiee Jedi.
How do US teachers teach? We don’t know, and it’s difficult to figure out.
While I’m a huge fan of exploration and creative work that sometimes takes us on grand adventures that aren’t so productive, sometimes there is no other option than to do the work of learning.
Ten books from MIT faculty to expand your knowledge of teaching, learning, and technology
Speaking of doing the work of learning and creativity, what if you made your classroom or workspace a living display of your creativity like Lynda Barry?
Lastly, when you feel like the work you do is complete and utter garbage—don’t we all get that way at times?—remember that you’re not alone. The novelist Percival Everett says, “I’m pretty sure everything I’m writing is shit…I’m just trying to make the best shit I can.”

That’s it for this week. The Spring Break edition will arrive in your inbox next week.

P.S. – I’m going through all my old comics lately and am amazed at some of the ads. Here’s this one with a cameo from Vincent Price to make your own shrunken head…

Creativity is Humanity

"But in the last analysis, it is the people themselves who are filed away through the lack of creativity, transformation, and knowledge in this (at best) misguided system. For apart from inquiry, apart from the praxis, individuals cannot be truly human. Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other." (Paulo Freire, Donaldo Macedo (Introduction), Myra Bergman Ramos (Translator), Pedagogy of the Oppressed)

By our nature, humans were designed to create. It is the high cognitive portion of our mind, that 1% that stirs imagination and inquiry, that distinguishes us from our biological cousins on this planet.

When we don’t participate in the creative process, or, as happens so often in our schools, when we are prevented from participating in the creative process to conform to a preconceived notion of what we should do and how we should do it, we lose our humanity and become mere machines.

Do not waste the creative process. Do not float through your days and add nothing to the world around you.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

“But in the last analysis, it is the people themselves who are filed away through the lack of creativity, transformation, and knowledge in this (at best) misguided system. For apart from inquiry, apart from the praxis, individuals cannot be truly human. Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other.”
Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

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