Book-Lovers Month — The 7 Best Books for Teachers

Some could say reading is essential when being a teacher. It’s true — teachers must read endless resources for professional development, follow their curriculum, grade exams and assignments, and much more. However, with so many tasks to follow through on, both in their personal and professional lives, reading for pleasure might take a backseat now and then.

They wouldn’t be the only ones. A recent report revealed that one-third of readers in the US are reading fewer books, predominantly because they’re too busy or other distractions compete for their attention. The state of reading affairs isn’t looking its brightest, but this shouldn’t be one more excuse for those trying to pick up a book during lunch break or right before bed but struggling to find the will.

In fact, reading for pleasure has enormous benefits that can motivate people to make it a habit and their preferred hobby. According to experts, it can improve cognitive performance and sleep, and is linked to fewer mental health problems. Plus, it’s consistently cited as a great way to learn empathy and to connect with others.

As Book-Lovers Month, August, comes to a close, we’ve compiled a short list of books for teachers to pick up entirely for pleasure: some to take their minds off their days, others to better connect with the people surrounding them, and some to rewire how they think about their profession. Ultimately, giving any of these recommended books for teachers — a selection of new releases and established must-reads — a try will surely help shift a teacher’s routine and potentially brighten their day. Let’s dive in.

Best Books for Teachers To Unwind

Perfect for forgetting about the day that passed and positively postponing thoughts about the day ahead, these fiction picks will immerse readers in worlds full of fascinating characters and all sorts of unthinkable entanglements.

1. A Bad, Bad Place – Frances Crawford

Set in the gloomy yet enchanting landscapes of Glasgow, this murder mystery set in the late 1970s follows Janey Devine, a working-class woman whose dog, Sid Vicious, leads her to find a dead body. Matters are made worse by the fact that the deceased is the daughter of a renowned gangster, who joins the police, Janey’s worrisome grandmother, and the neighboring community in pressing the protagonist for answers she tries desperately to find. 

In her search, she finds much more than just answers about this mystery, but also about herself. Frances Crawford’s debut novel is a coming-of-age story that, despite its dark theme, is handled with humor and tact, making it easy to lie back and enjoy this recently released whodunit.

2. Discipline – Larissa Pham

Christine is a writer touring her latest book based on a ruinous relationship she had several years prior with her former college mentor. This tour elicits interesting conversations about people’s relationship with art, and the separation of art and artist, but something unexpected happens as she connects with her readers. The person she wrote the book for as revenge, her mentor, comes out of the woodwork to let her know he’s read it and wants to reconnect.

This highly psychological novel takes the reader through the journey of creation as a form of release, but also an attempt to control their own narrative. For teachers seeking a thrill that will keep their eyes peeled on the page after hours, Larissa Pham’s Discipline is the way to go.

3. The Correspondent – Virginia Evans

This epistolary novel, a genre seldom explored in recent years but equally as enticing, follows the quiet life of Sybil, a woman in her 70s who primarily communicates with her loved ones through letters. Sweet, direct, irascible, her multifaceted personality shines through in each letter, which she sends to her brother, her best friend, and even real-life public figures such as Joan Didion. 

As the letters go by, we learn about Sybil’s life story, the grief she carries, and how her golden years unfold through her choices. Although a more subdued read, The Correspondent never feels drab or stagnant, as the reader gets to know, through beautifully written letters and a few responses, about an accomplished woman’s life.

Best Books To Connect with Colleagues and Students

Everyone has that one person they look forward to entirely avoiding during their day: the teacher they keep making awkward small talk with, a student that’s difficult to stomach, or a school principal that threatens everyone’s sanity on a daily basis. 

As inevitable as these individuals are, they don’t have to stay a nuisance forever. In fact, literature might help teachers see them through a new lens or supply the tools to improve their interactions. Here are two to choose from.

4. How to Work with (Almost) Anyone – Michael Bungay Stanier

This short read feels less like a self-help book and more like the relief people look for when dealing with difficult partners and colleagues at work. At the end of the day, it’s one’s working relationships that make the job enjoyable or not. By asking five questions, it encourages the reader to reimagine how they connect with peers through having better conversations and developing effective work dynamics. 

What’s great about How To Work with (Almost) Anyone is that, as its title suggests, it stays realistic. Not every working relationship can be salvageable, but at least a teacher can try! For those struggling to deal with a puzzling boss or coworker, Michael Bungay Stanier’s book is a great starting point.

5. Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions by Guy Kawasaki

From one of the leading forces behind Apple’s success in the 1980s, Enchantment helps readers find ways to change people’s perspectives for the better — to enchant, but definitely not manipulate. By appealing to their preferences, becoming trustworthy, and relating on a more personal level, Kawasaki teaches the path toward better interpersonal connection.

Whether to market a product or simply appeal to a colleague or a classroom, this timeless read holds the expertise of a master marketer who has made a living out of bonding with others, which can be a lifesaver as a teacher dealing with all sorts of characters throughout the day. 

Recommended Books for Teachers To Improve The Classroom

Teachers are no strangers to overthinking ways to improve their classroom management. And, at some point in their careers, the intrusive thought of quitting and branching out to a new industry pops up. But fret not — this is clearly a universal experience. Here are two recommended books for teachers to enhance their own relationship to their profession when morale is low, or simply when seeking more inspiration.

6. The Reasons Teachers Stay – Douglas B. Larkin and Suzanne Poole Patzelt

It’s no secret that the education industry isn’t necessarily known for its retention rates. Now and then, it becomes too familiar to lose colleagues to burnout and the search for different horizons. Instead of asking why they leave, this book explores why teachers stay, backed by statistics.

The Reasons Teachers Stay is a six-year longitudinal study of US schools with excellent management and retention rates, exploring what sets certain districts apart when it comes to building a strong workforce of happy and thriving teachers. For teachers finding themselves struggling to stay and looking for concrete solutions, this read — a perfect teacher’s book club piece — can help find the answers.

7. Creating Innovators: The Creation of Young People Who Will Transform the World – Tony Wagner

The difference between teaching and creating a long-lasting impact is big, and teachers know this. Sometimes, even despite teachers’ best efforts, it’s difficult to compel students and inspire the classroom. Creating Innovators asks how they, along with parents and other mentors, can forge a generation of innovators, and finds its answers in real-life examples of people propped up by their communities to innovate.

One of the best books for teachers seeking to spark their students’ most creative ideas and have a positive influence in their lives, Tim Wagner’s book provides a useful path to kickstart this vision. 

Rather than a hefty reading list to get through before the end of the year, this collection of books for teachers should be a starting point for teachers to get their reading mojo going if they’re looking for inspiration to pick it back up. Starting by choosing the one that tickles you the most can unleash the chain of a long and successful reading streak!

Beyond reading gratifying literature that will surely improve your daily life, if you’re looking for a tool that can streamline test creation and grading, Quizli has your back. And our platform goes even further, making it easy to analyze class performance through reports, help students with learning disabilities with integrated accessibility tools, and create rubrics for more personalized grading.

If you’re interested in being part of the first batch of teachers enjoying Quizli, contact our team to get started!