This article appeared as "What Your Colleagues Are Reading " in the Fall 2024 issue of Independent School.
A World of My Own: The First Ever Non-Stop Solo Round the World Voyage
by Robin Knox-Johnston
This incredible memoir chronicles the author’s 1968 record-breaking circumnavigation of the globe at age 29. The reader gets a glimpse into the mind of someone isolated at sea for more than a year with nothing but his thoughts, mariner skills, and a book of British poetry. The harrowing tale highlights the unpredictable weather, the vastness of oceans, and the power of Mother Nature.
A World of My Own offers a new view on what it means to be self-sufficient, and that’s why it’s recommended reading for my sailing students. Robin Knox-Johnston shares his account of what it was like to sail hundreds of miles from land, fixing a broken mast with hand tools, and mending the mainsail with a needle and thread in the middle of a South Pacific tropical cyclone. What an incredible read for teens and adults alike!
—Spencer Burrows, Equity and Civic Engagement Coordinator, Pacific Ridge School (CA)
North Woods
by Daniel Mason
This is the best book I read this year. It begins with two lovers on the run from a Puritan stronghold. Together, they lay the first stone for the foundation of the house that anchors all of the narratives that ensue. Over centuries of American history, their humble lodging becomes the site of amorous dalliances, jealous betrayals, animal invasions, supernatural visitations, and more than a few murders. North Woods shows how these characters stay connected to their environment and to one another across time.
Daniel Mason, a psychiatrist by training, seems both fascinated and amused by the unpredictable machinations of the human mind. His characters have true dimension during their lifetimes, but in the end, they are probably best remembered for the archetypes they come to represent—opportunists and madmen; devotees and charlatans; and loving, lonely, misguided men and women.
Their voices never disappear from the woods they called home—both a compelling fantasy and an homage to the reader’s penchant for gothic tales and ghost stories.
—Jessica Flaxman, Ed.D., Dean of Faculty and Employees, Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning, Rye Country Day School (NY)
The Women
by Kristin Hannah
Recently, while working at a girls’ school, I became curious about the impact of women in wars like Vietnam. My father was an officer in the U.S. Marines and was scheduled to go to Vietnam when the war ended. My curiosity led me to The Women.
This historical fiction novel follows Frankie McGrath, a combat nurse in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and in the aftermath of coming home to a divided nation. Hannah’s vivid storytelling brought to life a chapter of history that many traditional lessons and books often overlook—the significant role of women in Vietnam. Through Frankie’s eyes, we witness the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience of women who served, often unrecognized, alongside their male counterparts.
The Women underscores the importance of remembering and honoring these women’s stories. This is a powerful tribute to their legacy and an essential read for anyone interested in a more inclusive understanding of history.
—Allison Perani, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, The Hockaday School (TX)
Hopes and Fears: Strengthening the Relationship with Today's Independent School Parents, Second Edition
by Robert Evans, Ed.D., and Michael Thompson, Ph.D.
In December 2023, I bought the first edition of Hopes and Fears: Working with Today's Independent School Parents at the NAIS People of Color Conference bookstore and read the whole thing on the flight home. I thought, "This is something our entire community needs." It's full of actionable advice, words to use, and helpful ways to reframe issues with parents, since they're experts in their own homes and we're experts in education. And the new revised edition expands on how to apply the wisdom in a post-COVID world.
Most schools don't offer practical support to the entire faculty and staff on the best ways to interact with parents. Now we will be able to—we're giving every employee a copy as part of our efforts to double-down on our partnership with parents. It demonstrates our commitment to equipping everyone with the tools and language to work with families effectively.
—Scott McLarty, Head of School, Providence High School (CA)
Share Your Review
We know the independent school community is full of readers—and we’d love to hear about what you are reading. Tell us about it in a few sentences: Why did you like it? What made you want to read it? What was your biggest takeaway? It can be nonfiction or fiction, work-related or not, a recent bestseller or a time-honored classic. Email us your 150-word review at [email protected].