One of the key characteristics that separate us from any other living creatures, that we are aware of, is our ability to communicate via a written language. We have recorded history and art that goes back millennium.
The books listed here are offered as suggested readings as related to learning, earning, and living.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; Benjamin Franklin's lived during the proclaimed enlightenment period. His story lends itself immensely to this site as he was the epitome of the self-directed learner who rose from servitude, he was indentured to his older brother, to that of a successful businessman, a prolific writer, a man of science, invention, and world fame who went on to be our country's greatest statesman securing funds from France for our American revolution. He would be the person to sign all four documents that founded the great experiment we call the United States of America. His autobiography is written with much sage advice - it should still be part of every person's personal library.
Jonathon Livingston Seagull; Richard Bach wrote this classic over 40 years ago now, 1970, and it is still provides inspiration to millions today. It is the story of a seagull who pushed himself beyond the confines of the flock through his own drive to be more. Many times a non-traditional learner will feel alone and that is natural when you are blazing the way beyond expectations. Leaders are out in front and stand alone in order to lead.
Self-University; Charles D. Hayes offers up his thoughts on the value of self-directed learning and how acting upon such a desire can improve the life experience of a person. While you may disagree with parts of his work, and well you should if you consider yourself a true critical thinker, it contains many an opportunity for self-directed inquiry and can aid in a better constructed mental model from which to view yourself and the world.
Brain Rules; John Medina provides 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. Dr. John Medina is a developmental molecular biologist whose focus revolves around the genes involved in the human brain.
The New Learning Revolution; This book by Gordon Dryden and Jeanette Vos is meant to speak to Britain citizens but we Americans can learn and apply quite a bit of what is contained within this book. First off, the very structure of the book itself! A must read for anyone who wants to move forward in the new world of a truly global marketplace.
Shop class as soulcraft - An inquiry into the value of work; Matthew B. Crawford tells the heady tale of a man who attains the highest level of education, the PhD, but finds the confines of a lucrative career in the office of a think tank, to be less than his dream job. He reflects back to his days doing skilled labor as the most satisfying and decides to invest the grant money he is given to buy an old European motorcycle for restoration. He tells a tale that is both interesting and challenging to follow with a vocabulary that is well above the average.
Lifelong Learning: A Dream Here is a link to a great article by the champion of Adult Learning Theory, Malcolm Knowles. http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/future/creating_the_future/crfut_knowles.cfm
The books listed here are offered as suggested readings as related to learning, earning, and living.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; Benjamin Franklin's lived during the proclaimed enlightenment period. His story lends itself immensely to this site as he was the epitome of the self-directed learner who rose from servitude, he was indentured to his older brother, to that of a successful businessman, a prolific writer, a man of science, invention, and world fame who went on to be our country's greatest statesman securing funds from France for our American revolution. He would be the person to sign all four documents that founded the great experiment we call the United States of America. His autobiography is written with much sage advice - it should still be part of every person's personal library.
Jonathon Livingston Seagull; Richard Bach wrote this classic over 40 years ago now, 1970, and it is still provides inspiration to millions today. It is the story of a seagull who pushed himself beyond the confines of the flock through his own drive to be more. Many times a non-traditional learner will feel alone and that is natural when you are blazing the way beyond expectations. Leaders are out in front and stand alone in order to lead.
Self-University; Charles D. Hayes offers up his thoughts on the value of self-directed learning and how acting upon such a desire can improve the life experience of a person. While you may disagree with parts of his work, and well you should if you consider yourself a true critical thinker, it contains many an opportunity for self-directed inquiry and can aid in a better constructed mental model from which to view yourself and the world.
Brain Rules; John Medina provides 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. Dr. John Medina is a developmental molecular biologist whose focus revolves around the genes involved in the human brain.
The New Learning Revolution; This book by Gordon Dryden and Jeanette Vos is meant to speak to Britain citizens but we Americans can learn and apply quite a bit of what is contained within this book. First off, the very structure of the book itself! A must read for anyone who wants to move forward in the new world of a truly global marketplace.
Shop class as soulcraft - An inquiry into the value of work; Matthew B. Crawford tells the heady tale of a man who attains the highest level of education, the PhD, but finds the confines of a lucrative career in the office of a think tank, to be less than his dream job. He reflects back to his days doing skilled labor as the most satisfying and decides to invest the grant money he is given to buy an old European motorcycle for restoration. He tells a tale that is both interesting and challenging to follow with a vocabulary that is well above the average.
Lifelong Learning: A Dream Here is a link to a great article by the champion of Adult Learning Theory, Malcolm Knowles. http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/future/creating_the_future/crfut_knowles.cfm
The Betrayal of Youth This book speaks to the out-of-date design of secondary education that "has remained too much caught up in a self-perpetuating system which separates schooling from life and leaves the actual powers of the adolescents themselves largely untapped." As the author, James Hemming, articulates so well, "...whenever academic values are dominant in a school, and in the minds of its teachers, the effect must be to erode confidence in the majority of the pupils. This is because only the top 25% of students, at most, in a non-selective school, can enhance their confidence by their encounter with the academic curriculum."