Educators Books

This was the first book I've read by Zig Ziglar. This very charming book details his childhood in America's rural South in the midst of the Depression, his early adult years, and adulthood. I'll write about the book in reverse chronological order.

I especially enjoyed the part about his early adulthood, where he writes honestly about the uncertainty he went through. His adulthood part was interesting as well, although he tended to compress the 40+ years a little too much. After chronicling his childhood so meticulously, the later parts of the book seem a bit lacking in detail.

His writing about his early childhood was very entertaining, a little sentimental, and excessively moralizing. Zig had a lot of mentors and learned valuable lessons, but he tends to stretch them too thin and draw almost too many morals to them. That he learned a lot about character and whatnot is unsurprising (he is a motivational speaker, after all), but it gets somewhat boring, a contrast to his humorous and vivacious "See You at the Top!

For this, I give Zig an "excellent rating", which corresponds to 4 out of 5 stars in my humble book.

Zig is a very humble man. He tells the story of his life in stages that are inspirational in that the mundane things in life are all part of the whole that we experience. The early years in his life are full of mishaps in his opinion, yet lead to a logical place that may not have existed otherwise.

His story of his older daughter's (Suzan's) illness and death, and the reaction of some of his mentors and partners in understanding, is one of the most touching renditons I have ever read and it is beatifully preserved by his younger daughter (Julie - you kind of feel the hominess of the family in the reading of this book) who edits his writing.

Also, "The Wall of Gratitude", and how each person on it influenced him is another unselfish display of how he has become who he is. It is as if these mentors of his should have their pictures hung in many more dens/offices throughout the country because of their influence to him that he has passed to so many others.

I met Zig and felt his sincerety in his conversation with me that I hope to duplicate in all I do - that's how good the meeting was! I can see why God called him to do what he does. In his autobiography he states all of the facts (and faults) of his personal life unashamedly. I do not think I could have shared some of the things he shared; too personal, but, his humility is seemingly endless.

I first saw Zig in a sports motivational video in high school in the seventies. I got a lot of motivation out of it. It has stuck with me for all of these years: yet I was amused and amazed me to read about the experiences he had around that time and to the time at the end of this book.

Obviously this review has come three years after the last one, yet it should show how timeless this story is, and, like Zig's salvation, it truly is "better late than never."

Zig's life was a great testament to what he teaches. He walks the walk. His life is in balance, and even through tragedy, still reached out to make a difference for all lives he touched through his motivational seminars. His character is outstanding, and his level of integrity speaks for itself.

This book shows the good, the bad, and the ugly. Life has not always been rosy for Zig, but he is living proof that you can overcome anything. As he always says: "you can have anything you want if you just help enough people get what they want".

This book shows that Zig has faults just like the rest of us, and he makes that really clear in this book. He is humble and in some cases ashamed of some of his past behavior. No sugar coating in this one. The fact that he is such a strong christian is also satisfying to those of us who are believers. He makes it very clear who gets the credit for all of the blessings in his life.

This book is a great read, and will be hard to put down if you are a fan. True to form, it's humorous with only a hint sorrow in some parts. He really is an amazing person.

I was exposed to Zig's philosophy some years ago and have read See You at the Top more than once. His "Check up from the Neck up" and the need to prevent "Hardening of the Attitudes" and "Stinkin Thinkin" are well ingrained. This was an interesting read and learning about his background and history was very well laid out and informative.

If you ever need an inspirational help of great success in life then I would recommend Zig Ziglar. Ziglar is author of best-seller, 'I'll See You At The Top' and many other motivational books, has helped thousands improve their lives to achieve that success in every aspect of living. As you read his auto-biography you'll learn about his remarkable story how he beat the odds and applied it to the teachings of Jesus Christ. You will learn to take the next step in your plan and keep God's plan at the center of your plans just as Zig did. His approach is a down-home, wholesome manner with the business savvy of a wise, honest salesman. Most of what he learn of being successful and the importance of networking with honest and wise mentors. The first part of the book tells of his early life and the family that shaped his destiny. In his early adult years he was hard-working and used his knowledge to make money and there were times he made financial mistakes as a result of foolish decisions. This was a time God wasn't a part of his life where his life had no meaning or purpose. The last part of the book, is about his change in life when he reflected back on the moral values in his early childhood and his mother. He then gave his life to Christ. He then found his purpose as a public speaker. From then on instead of his self-centered ambition he gave it all to God. And Zig has been successful ever since. Like Norman Vincent Peale, Zig applied biblical principles to the goals he has with the plans God manifest in the center of his life. Zig's secret is never quit, have faith in God and a whole lotta love. He's a mentor you can trust with a solution. Wish there were more like Zig.

Jill Ker Conway leaves her native Australia for a doctoral program at Radcliffe College not only to further her career, but perhaps even more to break free from her co-dependent birth family's stifling ties. For the first time in her life, Jill lives among people who believe that it's not only acceptable - but mandatory - for a woman to develop her intellect to its full potential. People who find ideas exciting, and who encourage Jill to treat her own emotional well-being as an absolute priority; not as a luxury to be sacrificed for the "good" of her mentally ill mother. In this new and amazingingly nurturing environment, she thrives.

When it's time for her to start instructing undergraduates, something she's already experienced in her Australian university, Jill falls under the supervision of Harvard professor John Conway. This Canadian war veteran is a generation older, witty, brilliant, and immensely attractive to a woman in love with intellect. Before Jill's stay at Harvard ends, they're married. The next year is spent in Europe, learning how to be a couple (not the easiest of lessons for either partner, since both are sufficiently mature to be set in their ways) and preparing for John's return to his native country. For he, too, is putting Harvard into the past.

Jill's years as a Canadian professor of American history open up yet another new universe, as she takes leadership - by default, not choice, at first - in the 1970s rise of women's history as a topic for scholarly study. Her personal and professional growth through this period doesn't come easily, and it's fascinating reading.

True North picks up where The Road from Coorain left off, and carries this remarkable woman through to her move from Canada back to the United States, to take up her duties as the newly appointed president of Smith College. For me this book is a memoir of an era I remember well because I, too, lived it. For readers younger than my generation and that of Jill Ker Conway (who is my oldest sister's contemporary), it should make a fascinating look at an era when working women still had to deal with limited expectations and blatantly limited compensation structures. A great read from first chapter to last!

AND I FELT REALLY CONNECTED TO THE AUTHOR

I really can't explain my feelings in words. Look at the subject first then read on. They are all by Dr. Jill Ker Conway (shes a phd). The titles are The Road from Coorain (also a Exxon Mobil Masterpiece Theater movie as well), True North, and A Women's Education. Is she orginally from New South Wales, Australia. Came to the United States for graduate school, but stayed there after that, but was Canada as well for 6 years. Boys you will also love reading them as well. Thank you.

Jill Conway's True North did little to answer the question as to how a talented, ambitious, learned female copes with a manic-depressive husband. Actually, I was disappointed in finding out very little about John who must have been an incredible intellect, bon vivant, and wifely challenge. Jill may want to fulfill a need of many spouses dealing with a bipolar mate by writing a sequel.

Since I did not read the first volume of Conway's now-three-part memoir, I have nothing to compare this to. But I liked her light and tasteful touch with personal details. Conway wasn't dealt the easiest hand in life, but here readers will find no self pity. This is not a book for the empty-headed. But as a former history student and current college instructor, I can identify with much of what Conway writes about; I'm nowhere near as intellectual as she is, however. But this is a great book if you want to explore a woman's coming of intellectual age.

This "sequel" to Road From Coorain was not a disappointment. It is beautifully written, sensitive and so clearly represents what it was (and still is) like for women in academia. As a young woman in higher education, I know that I will read this book again and again. It affirms the experiences of women who are climbing the tenure ladder in an old boys network that does not welcome women and provides the mentorship that we so desperately need.

[...]

I will say, as a life-long educator and former high school coach, even if Mr. Courneya is not guilty of criminal activity (which I believe he probably is), he is guilty of extraordinarily poor judgement and unprofessional behavior.

As a male coach, you don't give backrubs to students, you don't touch a girl's thigh, and you certainly don't ask a young girl to "give you some lovin'." Any teacher with half a brain knows that. In the appeal it states that "...he admitted to touching students frequently, either by feeling their muscles or rubbing their backs. He recalled making statements to L.G. such as 'your boyfriend's lucky' and admitted two nicknames he had for C.H."

If he does not have any more common sense than that, he has no business working with young people.

In addition, the book is not very well written.

'Sudden Death, Overtime' was one of the most inspirational books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It was colorfully written and so attaching that I read for hours just to realize I had finished the book in one sitting.
It not only depicts the life of Dennis Courneya, which is so intriguing and inspirational that it deserves its own story, but the book also incorporates a tragedy.
Anyone that read this book who knew of the TRUE 'Sudden Death, Overtime' and believed justice was served, and still believes that justice was served, has as horrible a moral character as some of the characters you will read about, but they also depict what is wrong in our society today. I challenge those who believed it to be a justice and have not read the book, to read the book, and walk away from it with a clean conscious.
I was not only honored to be among some of the first readers to read this book, but I was also thankful that I did. A must read!

My wife and I both just finished Sudden Death, Overtime. Despite quite a few typographical errors, it is the most compelling and best book I have read in years. Why? My bias may show, but 1. I am a teacher; 2. I know Dennis Courneya; 3. I lived in the town of Hancock for 3 years and could picture almost all the people he wrote about; and 4. my wife's father was the superintendent of schools in Hancock at the time Dennis was hired. I found this book to be straight forward (although, at times the trial transcripts were a bit confusing--the girls, like, really, like should like get rid of, like, too many "likes" in their vocabulary) and not an over glorification of the author. After reading the book I really felt like I was smacked in the face because, unfortunately, this could happen to any of us. I was appalled at the lack of action and concern by the teacher's union (yes, I am a member!), as well as the judge, the jury, and everyone else that was involved in this travesty. I also lost a lot of respect that I had for superintendent Larson and the school counselor, Carol Johnson. I applaud Dennis and his fortitude in surviving the trial, the prison, and everything else he has been subjected to. I'm not sure I would have survived it. I would LOVE to see this as a TV movie!

Sudden Death Overtime is a spellbinding, compelling book that illustrates what should be unacceptable behavior by those involved in the legal system, including citizens on the jury.
If "you" were Dennis Courneya, you would have expected far better by our judicial system. It is clear in the book that "intent" was never proved and that this man has been unjustly accused. The innocence and love with which he approached his teaching and coaching was rewarded with immature, youthful retaliation.
While this incident is focused on teachers as coaches, it would be recommended reading for anyone who manages people. We could all be unfairly accused and find ourselves thrown into the black hole of Lady Justice, with no way out.

I just finished reading the best book I have read in a long time: Sudden Death, Overtime! It is poignant and straightforward. Does this town really exist? I have always believed that the justice system needs an "overhaul" - this book just makes me more adamant in my belief. Hurray for Coach Courneya... stand tall. This book is a wonderful tribute to home, family, and those who try to teach our youth - an awesome responsibility. I am humbled by what Courneya had to endure.
This is a must-read for everyone. Put it on your Christmas list.

An audio version of this book is desparately needed! Please make this book, and others that address ADD, LD and issues that young adults with these issues face available in audio. These young people are overwhelmed by the printed page, in many cases. The books have relevant, important information that they will absorb if they have access to it in a version other than the printed, overwhelming page. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Hello. This is the 2nd Dr. Levine book I've purchased and read. The scenarios are simple enough for me to read with my 5 year old son (diagnosed with fine motor/graphomotor dysfunction.) Some reviewers were not satisfied that this is a book geared for children. It's far better utilized if the book is used with the "Guidelines for All Kinds of Minds" which is sold separately. The guidelines present the lesson format that instructors should use when teaching with All Kinds of Minds. Even though I'm not a teacher, I am able to use the suggestions in the Guidelines to help my son through a difficult learning period. I am so much more well informed now. Thank you Dr. Levine!

After 5 1/2 years of intensive phonics training, vision therapy, private tutoring and stress beyond belief, I picked up this book at the library. It was the answer to a prayer.

Using the info presented in this book along with "A Mind at a Time" also by Levine, we were able to finally get my son on the right track. If you have a child with a learning problem of any kind I couldn't recommend these books any more highly.

I saw a reviewer mention that the book is written to children and so they found it boring, but I think that reading this book helped me see what I had been missing all along, my child's perspective.

A wonderful, funny, informative and helpful book. The magic is in the details, introducing first the strengths and then the weaknesses of each child, the names of the kids and dogs and the procedure for diagnosis and treatment. My son finally gained a vocabulary of the different kinds of minds, so now he can say I may have ADHD but I may also be as grate as "ever ready Eddie".

I am a psychologist that works with children and adults. I read Dr. Levine's self disclosure to on of my kids. It is important for people who are not classifyable within the Special Education system to get help before the bright star of learning burns out or explodes into anger. My experience over the past 28 years has caused me to develop a similar approach. I suggested to a psychologist friend who has ADD to read this. It wasn't me talking to him but a book. Dr. Levine writes for "Everyman." His target is not the professional but the customer. It is a way to become an informed motivated consumer of intervention for children and adults. I have been inspired to write my own book. Wonder if I can be half as effective?

I read this book a little over a year ago, so it is not exactly fresh in my mind, but I must say I disagree with most of the other reviewers here.

If you looked at every book's page on Amazon, you would see that the vast, vast majority of books have an average user ranking of 4 or 5 stars. I think this is because someone who picks up a book and think its junk won't bother to finish it, and rarely would bother to write a review. What ends up happening is that only those people who like a book rank it, and therefore almost everything gets a high ranking. Well, I didn't like this book, but I will take the time to write a review.

Parts of this book are entertaining, especially those dealing with moving his boat from SE Alaska to Bristol Bay, and some of the discussion on fishing. Overall, however, it seems that the author does a poor job of describing the natural majesty of his surroundings nor about the internal conflict of a man embarking on a new life.

Most annoying, however, is the author's slippage into the 3rd person when he describes drinking and 'adult partying' (don't know what words amazon will let me use here) when the rest of the book is in the 1st person. The narrator shows up at a party, and then all of a sudden it is someone else who is sleeping around on his wife.

Anyway, if you want to read a good book about fishing up in Alaska, check out Joe Upton's 'Alaska Blues'.

Great read for anyone who wants to get a flavor of the Alaska life and great figurative return for those who have lived it. It is also great literature because he was an English professor.

While this is a better book that the second one, there is still something lacking. Depth I suppose. The fishing stories are good but I'm afraid the actual techniques and day-to-day trials are glossed over with tales of drunkeness. The characters are accurately portrayed, but each year is a rerun of the last, a quick summary of the same. Frankly, for all of Durr's qualifications this is the one theme that I can't help but think carries on to this day: The acid Leary professor drops out and stays out. But life is what happens between the parties. During this period, at least I know how he made a living, which is what dismayed me with the Coldman Cometh: thirty-five years of successful bush living on imaginary income, from the readers' perspective. He doesn't share finances here either though so we don't know what he made from the fishing trips.

Staying in Alaska without money is tough. And with a family to support even more impossible, yet Durr seems to go about it as if there's nothing to it; the path of least resistence he describes to Pope, but in Alaska there is a great deal of resistence always. I can hear him try to justify the scheme to his late wife who never says anything or gives him a hard time about the difficulties of living on the edge like that, but Durr rarely reveals anything of this nature. He's very much secretive, which is a motivating force for the retreat to Chase and Back-Lake. I found the Durrs to be stand-offish in 1976, suspicious of newcomers to the land, even fellow "hippie" brothers. This may be due to personal paranoia and the more-people-coming fear, which is the message I got. As it turns out Durr managed to outlast the other '70s settlers in Chase of which I was one, albeit briefly. That evidently was what he wanted in the first place.

This is a great little book and a fun read. It takes a lot of guts to do what Bob Durr did. His descriptions of the Alaskan bush and the people who live and work there are wonderful. Everyone should meet a person like Pope at least once in their lives. The philosophical discussions on board the fishing boat were sometimes tedious and less than believable, but somehow it all works. I hope Durr will write another book about the rest of his life in Alaska.

This book is a describes a man's struggle to break from the "creature comforts" world to live and fish in Bristol Bay, Alaska. It told a story that was captivating because when reading, you always wanting to know what was going to happen next. The story tells of a man who achieves having the best of both worlds ands puts the utimate dream to the test. I would highly recommend this book to all adventurists and those who would like to "escape" to the alaska frontier; if not in reality, then through this book.

Myles Horton's autobiography is an excellent source of how to reach and teach adult learning groups. The Highlander methods used can be applied to many situations where traditional teaching styles either may not work or an unconventional method is required. While the examples used are for union organizing and civil rights movements, it is the utilization of the learning and "non-teaching" methods that make the text.

Great book. Insightfully and eloquently written. Interesting viewpoints. Great for a new look at politics.

Miles Horton's The Long Haul an Autobiography was a book I could not put down. This book inspired me to take a look at my own life and where I am going and to really evaluate the expectations I have for myself. The book details Miles Horton's struggles to achieve his life long goal to develop a form of education that will result in a change in society. The path he takes to fulfill his dream is not an easy one but seeing his determination to open the Highlander School was an inspiration to me. Throughout the book, Mr. Horton gives insight to his practical way of thinking about problems and people. I have had my eyes opened to what really motivates people to do what they do and why they do it. Although I try to stay away from politics as I have never been interested, this book gave me a desire to learn more about the political system as I read how Mr. Horton, often humorously, viewed and dealt with the political issues that seemed to follow him throughout his life. After reading that Martin Luther King and other strong leaders were influenced by Mr. Horton, it is no surprise that I too have been changed by reading his book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to see a change in society and is willing to look inside to begin the transformation.

This book gave me a sense of clarity regarding my own values and beliefs when it comes to creating and sustaining learning relationships with others. It also lit a fire in my heart for the work...the work of developing learning and instruction in ways that are truly empowering of others. It was a jolt of energy in my own life journey. I'm humbled and grateful to have been introduced to the ideas and life of Mr. Horton - as well as the story of the Highlander learning community. Social change will always be a natural outcome of true learning and instruction in a world that confirms its being alive through the ever-changing, interdependent evolution of its cultural soceity. Change is good.

I was first introduced to THE LONG HAUL as a consequence of teaching a community organization course for which I had not been assigned for over 20 years. I felt I was out of my element. In seeking to prep myself for this course, I consulted key people in the US and my local community. I was prodded to read THE LONG HAUL. I must admit I was not enthusiastic. BIG MISTAKE!

After 30 years of reading social science research monographs, research proposals, dissertations, MSW theses, and textbooks, I would say that THE LONG HAUL is one of the most (and perhaps the most) profoundly important piece of literature I have read addressing the social service arena. Although it is an autobiography, it offers critical insight into the failure of social service delivery. Prior to reading THE LONG HAUL, I believed that the major failure of sociology and social work was the inability to construct a meaningful theory of cultural diversity. Social work's failure to shepherd recipients off of TANF is associated with a lack of cultural understanding. Clearly, what we need is a theory for guidance.

In his autobiography, Myles Horton takes us to the threshold of theory construction. Much of what "works" is counterintuitive. For example, if the police are monitoring Horton's actions because the authorities fear he will instigate a communist upraising, Horton will seek out the police. He would thank them for escorting him to his destination and explain to them his plans. The police move into a state of utter confusion. They are put in a position where they must walk with him rather then concealing themselves. Clearly, he knows what he is doing, but is unable to explain his actions that would enable readers to generalize these actions. The capacity of generalize and to use this generalization for an alternative environment is the heart of sociological theory. We learn how society functions by identifying patterns and see if they exist (or work) in other arenas.

Perhaps theory construction is not possible. Perhaps cultural influences are so uniquely situated that a generalization from one arena to another is not possible. What is the common theme found in all of Horton's successes? I think the answer is LISTENING. However, Horton's form of listening is not the type of listening I was taught nor the kind of listening I read in cutting edge research and respected textbooks. It is, in fact, NOT the empathic listening. I do not believe that words exists which capture the essence of this type of Horton's listening, but I believe the concept of "blind" listening comes close. In addition, sociological frameworks such as Interactionalism and Phenomenology employ terms like "bracketing." Bracketing comes close, but does not hit the bull's eye. Social workers must spend more time understanding Horton's methodology of listening, analyzing what he heard, and acting upon his analysis.

I do not recall reading any book that had such a profound effect on my thinking. This autobiography is not merely the story of Myles Horton's life but rather a roadmap for improved social service delivery and empowerment. Every social worker should read this book -- even clinicians. In fact, I would say that any social work student who does not thoroughly enjoy this book, needs to change majors.

This is a very poorly written personal tale that was obviously never actually edited. The error-filled writing, immature perspective, and ridiculous story spoil any help this "writer" could have given to others who would like to live and work in Japan.

"Rising Sunsets" is an excellent first novel exploring love and survival in a new and unfarmilar environment. The reader is captivated by the main character's jorney in facing a series of challenges, and, just as in life, David is sometimes successful and sometimes fails. The reader is surprised by the challenges and alway kept in suspense wondering how David's challenges will next be met. The romantic side of the story is realistic and deep and paints a beautiful picture of a a true affair of the heart. In sum, "Rising Sunsets" is a promising novel, that inspires and provokes the reader to think and seize the moments that make life worth living.

I couldn't put it down! In fact, I havn't! I am on my third read and can not wait to start on it a fourth time! The book is an expertly woven work of love, life and how the two intertwine with one another! Of all the countless books that I have read in my lifetime this one ranks at the top of the list. It is definately one that is on my all time favorite recomend list AND on top of my gift list for people of intellect that like to read as much as I do! If you are looking for a great read to sweep you away from the every day doldrum of life as we know it today...I highly suggest that you latch on to this book as quickly as you can!

A sweet touching story that reminds everyone what it was like to face the real world as an adult for the first time.

"Rising Sunsets" is a captivating story about a college graduate's first adventure into the real world of working for a living. Although his hopes for the career of his dreams seemed to have been thwarted, David Fletcher fortunately finds new opportunities in a teaching career in a foreign land. This adventure leads David along many torturous paths of life, with unexpected episodes involving personalities of cultures foreign to David, and tumultuous times working within the framework of this foreign culture. This book is rich with dialog and expression of emotion, and this makes for fascinating reading. The reader is kept wondering what in the world will happen next, and many surprises keep the action moving rapidly along. The interplay of several personalities in the book is vidid, and very realistic, making the personalities come to life. All in all "Rising Sunsets" is a very enjoyable and entertaining novel, which has many moments of action causing deep introspection and enjoyment for the reader.

I read this book twice and I was extremely upset over the false accusations that I read. I have seen the dedication, devotion and love that the staff displays to the children. Also, as a mother, I send my child to this school because of the wonderful reputation that follows this school. Please note that the teachers work afterschool, Saturdays and even vacations so that the students have an opportunity to succeed in school. I find it totally inappropriate for someone who only saw a snapshot of the school and community to make all these assumptions without really seeeing what goes on. The children and parents of the community feel welcomed when they enter the building. They address the inner child not the outer with a paid vacation. I find it apalling to read all the criticism that the author and main character state about the school. You cannot compare the customs of one country with another. You can't use one vacation with the students as a basis for all the lies that were written. This book is poorly written.

This is an exceptionally well-written work of non-fiction. The author, a noted columnist and reporter for the New York Times, distinguishes herself further with this book, which is her first. Writing with all the assurance and polish of a first class investigative reporter, the author, having covered education for five years for the New York Times, is in her element with the subject matter of this book.

The book focuses on Johanna Grussner, a young Finnish woman, whose love for music took her from her native Aland Islands, an archipelago in the Baltic Sea located between the coasts of Finland and Sweden, to the United States, ultimately landing her in New York City. While furthering her quest to become a professional jazz singer, happenstance found her working as a music teacher in the Bronx at P.S. 86. There, in an inner city school that was run like a tight ship by its principal, a man who cared deeply for the school in his own rigid, uncompromising way, she was to defy all odds and make an impact that many will remember for years to come.

Ms. Grussner would demonstrate to all what a determined, though idealistic, person can do to bring joy into the lives of children who may have their options for such limited by their own personal circumstances, as well as by a society that looks to pigeonhole students as if one size does, indeed, fit all. The author grounds Ms. Grussner's efforts to form a school choir in the context of the political and racial milieu of the New York City public school system, replete with all the political chicanery and requisite skullduggery involved in the running of a school in such an environment.

The author's narrative is seamless and unsentimental, letting the strength of the story itself soar, rewarding the reader with a richness of detail about the school and those involved in its day to day activities. She provides the reader with three dimensional portraits of those who contributed to the seven days of possibilities, whereby twenty-four of Ms. Grussner's most musically gifted students traveled with her to her hometown in order to perform in a gospel concert. There, they discover that music is a universal language, and the week spent in the Aland Islands would be one that would long linger in their collective memories.

This is truly an excellent book, beautifully written and immensely readable. It is a book that will keep the reader turning its pages until the very last one is turned. Bravo!

I read this book with great interest after having lived eight months myself in Finland back in the mid-1980's. My own upbringing in San Francisco in the 60's/70's was only in the Catholic school system, which had a hodgepodge of first-generation European kids, mostly Irish, Italian, some French and Polish, but all with strong ethnic identities at home.

In Finland, poverty has haunted the people's memories for generations, going hundreds of years back under Swedish and Russian rule. The recent prosperity of the post-war years is a novelty for most, unless they were born in the 1970's and beyond. In this story, a girl from above-average priviledged rank in Aland, a Swedish-speaking (therefore, snobbier than the rest of Finland) island. Johanna grows up thinking herself better than others, and is heavily insulated from the rigors of life outside Aland, or outside Finland, good God. I disagree with Johanna's statement, through the journalist/narrator's words, that the Finns have a long-standing love of American black-sung blues. The Finns are much more lovers of classical music, their own mournful melodies and folk songs, and for dancing, there's always been the Finnish tango, waltz and polka, surplanted in the 50's by American rock. American Negro music was an underground taste, as it was in Russia, Germany, etc., due to its unsavory lyrics and lewd allusions. Young people in rebellion and city people in degenerate lives gravitated to it. The bulk of the Finnish population would have subconsciously spurned it, or found it an odd, interesting subculture from that big, fat, rich, white country over there, that USA, that land of immigration where Finnish ancestors fled from their poverty.

If Johanna set out to become a jazz blues singer, she was already setting herself apart from the bulk of the population. A girl of her standing would normally attend a nursing, teaching or medical school, and strive for status in the community through the standard channels of higher education. Diplomas and degrees mean a very, very, very great deal in Scandanavia. Even those graduates who don't find work commensurate with their diplomas, who in fact are unemployed for years, are held in high regard, regardless! In AMerica, such lazing about would indeed bring derision, all the more when the person had education.

I met many such young women in Finland, for they would gravitate naturally to me, a foreigner from wild and crazy San Francisco. Their fantasies about a free and easy life, far from the rigors of old-fashioned Finnish values and endless judgments, would run riot in their conversations with me. They would juggle anything, take any parental or governmental help they could, to spend years abroad away from the stifling, highly academic expectations of their families and communities. Those with money, such as Johanna with generous, tolerant and well-off parents, found their way to places like NYC to study music, even such socially approbrated sytles such as jazz singing. Those from her island would certainly think she is going through a young-years fling with foreign ideas, but that she would certainly come back when the economic crunch hit her after school years.

So sure enough, here is the book about her economic struggles. If anything this story could be said to be, from Johanna's pooint of view, it was 1. to escape Aland and Finnish restrictions; and 2. to earn enough abroad to avoid going home. Her signing up for teaching a bunch of kids from the lower classes was just a fling, a slumming. She knew her parents would be able to take her back in a flash and pay all her medical bills. She was subsisting on that teacher's salary, knowing well she was no more fit to survive in the NYC than these minorities stuck in the Bronx on low wages.

In Finland, with a quiet village school, and a strict, homogenous school culture, the children naturally are obedient and diligent. They are not in need of constant berating, since the whole of Scandanavia raises their children to be quiet, self-effacing, and considerate of others. Meanwhile, back in the Bronx, no matter what infusion of money, teachers, materials and high-minded dreams like Johanna, no matter how many free lunches, new playgrounds, sports uniforms or new buildings, the children themselves cannot succeed because their parents come from anti-intellectual cultures. Their parents value pleasure in the moment, workaday jobs immediately after high school graduation. They're not interested in their children's long-pleasure-deferring climb through university and professional schools. Especially girls are expected to fall straight into sex-related disasters, namely pregnancy, possibly prostitution. These cultures are more primitive and much more lenient. AS the narrator insists, the parents love their children and would give them anything in their power to help them.

However, what do the Bronx Latino and Black parents want to give their children? Discipline, academics and a strong respect for academics and career? Or do they want to give them pleasures of the moment, new clothes, and rollercoaster-type thrills?

There is a reason that Scandanavian children, regardless of relative income status, do well in the world. They were for generations poor, but very hard-working, serious-minded, religious in a Protestant direction, and respectful of others. They believe in SISU, the Finnish word meaning "endurance", not buckling in to obstacles. A Finn is not raised to think that, because his job pays low wages when he is young, that he should turn to drug dealing so he can get the car, the chicks and other thrills unavailable to low income people. Have a look around the USA: do Scandanavian children of last generation fall into such despicable lifestyles? NO, the parents would never allow it, even if they can only afford one pair of shoes for the kid.

If anything this book will illustrate to a reader, it is the great contrast in culture between Finland and the lower-class New Yorkers from the black and Latino cultures. The actual income is not the point, so much as the total disregard for academics and self-control that these cultures breed in children.

IT may be a curse to be born black in America, as it was a curse to be a Finn under the Swedes for generations, but the amount of violence and self-destruction amongst the blacks is clearly not just the doing of others in the USA, themselves immigrants from Europe.

Johanna Grussner, semi-idealistic Finnish singer, knew well that it is not a question what she brings from her Protestant and strict country. If the children themselves go home each night to a lowbrow, victimologized home culture (let's not even bring up the lack of fathers in the houses, since that's just part of the self-desctructive black and Latin culture), no amount of exposure to higher values and self-discipline for a few hours of school time will help them.

Amusing book!!! I would say that Johanna's quest to inject black American values into her home country through its "poor ol' me" spirituals may backfire if her own children think of themselves as victims in the next generation. When they refuse to study, rebel, get pregnant, take drugs and kill each other, because they think that it is the only way to "deal with life", God help Scandanavia, contaminated in such a way.

I approached this book with some trepedation, worried that it might be just another pat, feel-good story. What a surprise and pleasure to find myself immersed in an enaging, memorable read, filled with characters who came alive and stayed with me. It was also a carefully wraught cautionary tale of all that's not right (and a bit that is) in inner-city public schools. I've since recommended it to friends and colleagues, all of whom have shared my enthusiasm.

In this beautifully written and very moving book, Ms. Hartocollis not only tells the story of a young woman from Finland who, through her character, talent, and personality affected many children--and others--in a short time; she also, with a talent that many novelists would envy, captures inexorable human conflicts that, despite good instincts, can poison even the closest relationships. Anyone who cares about education, anyone who wants to be a teacher, and most of all, anyone who's looking for a great story about the most interesting people in the world--real people--should not miss this book.

very timely delivery. product came just in time. Thank you.

Theoretically complete, but doesn't help practically. You can learn about adult learners, but how to develop an actual program... I don't know, it's not enough!

This book is in logical order and is well written but it lacks visual aides and clearly labeled examples. For these reasons, it appears to be incomplete and hard to follow.
I will be happy to review adult education text book or manuscripts for a fee.

This book is a great read for anyone who is interested in the programming aspect of any type of organization or educational setting. The author explains the somewhat complex programming process in a simplistic manner that novel and experienced program planners can comprehend. There are numerous workesheets and tips to guide you to presenting a great program. It is trull an excellent source of knowledge.

This book provides a good model and checklist for program planning. We used it in my Program Planning class and it helped streamline the processess used to make new programs in my company.

The book,Ms. Moffett's First Year, Becoming A Teacher in America, was exactly as presented by seller. Title of the book is misleading, due to the fact, there was too much rhetoric in the beginning of the book about politics and finance in NYC school system.

This book, like most cheerful teacher writing, suffers from an overabundance of mushy anecdotes and 'tug at you heart strings' bathos.

Perhaps if the author had focused the spotlight (critically) on herself and on the dubious policies that placed her in these troubled 'inner-city' NYC public schools-without so much as one day classroom training-we as readers would be saddled with one less memoir, and policy-makers, parents, and concerned citizens would understand the importance of re-professionalizing teaching and taking it out of the hands of hobbyists and corporate managers.

This book is written in a breezy, popular style that kept me turning pages right to the end. However, the content is serious, and should be of interest to parents, prospective teachers, and to anyone who cares about children. The book is partly the story of one woman's initiation into the challenging work of teaching in a troubled city school. It is also a book about the politics of education. The author does a good job of explaining the many and varied political forces at work within the world of public schools. I think this book is a fair-minded and very readable introduction to a very complex subject.

I, too, was a New York City Teaching Fellow, and this book tells it like it is in America's urban schools.

If you are already a teacher, this book will reaffirm everything you already know about the ups and downs of this most challenging and rewarding job. When your friends and loved ones ask what you do every day, just give them this book to read.

If you are not a teacher, then you need to read this book to see what's really going on in our country's most troubled schools. It's all here -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I was a new teacher in a difficult Baltimore school, and this book was very unrealistic and only scratched the surface of the problem. Ms. Moffett is an angel and to be admired, but the author Abby Goodnough Hollywood-izes her experience and really waters down the problems in inner city schools.

I felt the author didn't really understand the experience of new teachers. She doesn't get into the student's lives at all. She doesn't seem to be upset or outraged by the terrible treatment of Ms. Moffett by the administration. And-- at the end-- she glosses over the fact that most of Ms. Moffett's colleagues leave the profession within a couple of years, meaning that hundreds of students still won't have teachers. This is deeply unfair to the students, but this book skims right over that injustice.

This book is a simple, nice read, but it was not hardhitting enough and it gives no concrete advice or guidance to new teachers.