5 comments about Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time.

1. I wish Greg Mortenson had come to me to write this book. I could have saved him thousands of superfluous adjectives. He is built up to be a hero for our times....perhaps he is, but David Oliver Relin's prose is so sickening and (to a fellow aspiring writer) embarrassing that the reader wishes to be done with the story ASAP. Save the money from buying the book and instead send it to Greg's charity, the Central Asia Institute, or Pennies for Peace. You can get the book free at your local public library.



2. This book should have been called: "Three Cups of Me: The Auto-Hagiography of a Modern Day Secular Saint & Savior"
   
   Three Cups of Tea is an over-rated book, with a definite political agenda, about an obsessed, but capricious man who does good things for little brown girls, far, far away. He is the "white savior" found in popular American TV programs of yore, such as "The White Shadow", "Welcome Back Kotter", and "Different Strokes", to name but a few.
   
   The author and hero, er, I mean "saint", Greg Mortenson, and his co-author, David Relin, waste no in time establishing his (Greg's) bona fides liberal credentials. Although he was born with three of the greatest original sins - i.e., being white, American, and male, he quickly demonstrates how he has been purified by penance and how he has made amends for those transgressions against humanity. We learn that he is 1) a multiculturalist 2) a multi-linguist 3) an admirer of Che Guevara and Bill Clinton 4) a disdainer of Donald Rumsfeld and George Bush 5) that he eschews financial security and the creation of wealth 6) that he cares passionately about helping people of color, especially women of color, most especially poor, foreign young girls of color 7) that he cares passionately about "saving the planet" and living in tune with nature 8) that he talks freely with his severely handicapped younger sister about premarital sex and birth control and 9) that he is equally respectful of all religions, but moved by none. For example, he has no qualms about bowing to Mecca five times a day, or uttering Buddhist incantations, so long as that's what the people around him are doing, and also want to see him do as well. But he is silent about his own religious convictions, having been raised by a Lutheran pastor. The perfect "NPR/NY Times liberal" - except for the part about the creation of wealth! This pedigree of his literally has his followers demanding his secular canonization to sainthood, commonly known as The Nobel Prize for Peace! This would place him in the pantheon of other Nobel Laureates and saints such as Al Gore, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Yasser Arafat.
   
   I must state for the record that I do indeed admire the work he has done, i.e. building schools - that is a good thing. However, he seems to view the primitive peoples of the Pakistani Himalayan Mountains, to include, since 9/11, Afghanistan, in the "noble savages" category, a school of thought popular in the mid-19th Century colonial era. For example, he avers that they need his (modern, Western) help, but at the same time he also views their culture and mores as superior to our own (being a good multiculturalist). So, he offers them just a little bit of help; enough to make himself and his financial backers feel good, but not enough to bring them out of grinding poverty, ancient tribalism, and isolation.
   
   The help he offers, which will keep them beholden to him for everything else, is that he provides them with rudimentary, roughly hewn school houses, with poorly trained teachers and "culturally sensitive" textbooks. You may say to me, "Well, at least it's better than nothing!", and I would agree with you. However, Mr. Mortenson, or "Doctor Greg", as he likes to be called, even though he is not a doctor, is very scrupulous to ensure that their culture and way of life is not "ruined" by the introduction of indoor plumbing, heating, and ventilation, or electricity, or television, or automobiles, or computers, or cell phones, or modern agricultural techniques, or the rule of law, or democracy, or a myriad of other "de-humanizing" aspects of modern civilization. According to Mortenson and Relin, not only do most of those things de-humanize us, but they also require energy to power them, and thus they create pollution, and that will destroy the planet. So, it's best if they don't have those things. That's right Doctor Greg, burn Al Gore's "bridge to the 21st Century" behind you!
   
   He bestows more redundant praise for himself and disdain for the United States when he explains that he is working for peace by building schools, in places like Afghanistan, while the U.S. (George Bush) is simply dropping bombs. That claim is either purposely misleading, or willfully ignorant. Again, while building 50+ schools in the villages of the Himalaya's is a laudable accomplishment, it is certainly dwarfed by comparison to the billions and billions of dollars the U.S. has spent in Afghanistan paving roads, putting in water and sewage treatment facilities, building electrical grids, setting up communication links, providing security forces, constructing court houses, sanitation plants, prisons, community centers, and yes, even schools - all, while dropping bombs on international terrorists! But those facts don't jibe with his messianic complex, or with his political leanings, and those of his panting disciples. Only "Doctor Greg" is doing good in Afghanistan.
   
   This book would have been so much more enjoyable to read had Mortenson not co-written this panegyric account of his own
   life; even though he tried, unsuccessfully, to come across as just a humble servant. He must be familiar with the axiom, "The surest bait for flattery is humility". Also, if he had avoided the minefield of left vs. right politics, in which he clearly inhabits the left lane, I would have been far more sympathetic to his cause. But he insisted on lobbing those political bombs. And what is his cause? It's teaching young Pakistani and Afghan girls (and boys) how to read, write, and do simple math (hooray!) - and then sending them back to their un-electrified mud huts, which are heated by goat dung, and continue to keep them inoculated from the evils of the First World (boo!)
   
   And what fuels his unquenchable drive to help these people? Is it his faith in Christ, or Allah, or Buddha? No! Remember, he's a secular savior. His followers claim that world peace is his goal. He claims that he is merely trying to raise up brown-skinned, Muslim women and girls. I think he does what he does because he believes the mountain people need him, and he needs them (to need him) and it's a wonderful saintly, salvific, symbiotic - and un-breakable cycle.



3. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
   
   A most amazing look at the world of Pakistani culture, schools..or lack of
   and the story of a man who has chosen to do something about them.
   It gives the reader insights into the the conflicts and complications
   of war time in Pakistan and introduces her or him to what is really going
   on over there. It is not a political view, it is a very well written
   humanitarian and "heartarian" look at a brave and struggling people.



4. An outstanding example of what one person can do when they pay attention to what they are being called to do. Greg Mortenson is doing more to promote world peace than any single country. I really wish I could give my tax dollars to him to build more schools.



5. Read this Book!! I picked this book up at the airport and couldn't put it down. The storyline is engrossing and exciting while the message is heartfelt and so necessary right now. We need more people like Mortenson. His story of failure followed by a long struggle to educate and enlighten the peoples of pakistan and afganistan even made me tear up a couple times; not for its sadness but for how hard he has worked for so long to finally make a huge difference in the lives of these people and the world. If we truly are at war with terror, we need to start by educating, not terrorizing those we fear.

5 comments about Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson.

1. I don't read a lot for leisure but this book came highly recommended. This book touched me so strongly that I could not put it down until I was finished. I have recommended this book to others and will be buying more copies for gifts.



2. Tuesdays With Morrie
   Danny Cubberly
   One could describe Mitch Albom in many ways. He's a good listener, a good student, and an emotionally deep human being. But most importantly, he was the student of someone he described as "a man who loved dancing and having a good time." This man was Morrie Schwartz. Mitch Albom wrote down the lessons that Morrie would talk to him about every Tuesday. Through those inspiring life-lessons came this story that teaches us all to live life to the fullest.
   All the lessons in this book were inspirational. Although Morrie was slowly wasting away with only months to live, he never felt depressed about his condition because he knew that this was his time to die. There were several half-page chapters that could be interpreted as meaningless in others, but if one reads between the lines, they can interpret the message being sent by Morrie. For instance, in one chapter, Morrie told Mitch that if he could be any animal, it would be a gazelle because they are "graceful and fast." This message can be interpreted as Morrie wishing that he could still have that energy he possessed before his diagnoses.
   This book has several strengths, but with it come a few weaknesses. Anyone who loves tear-jerkers and philosophical books should consider picking up this one-of-a-kind book. This book will make anyone think back and remember that one special person who influenced them the most throughout their life. Still, young people would most likely find this book sappy and dull, as it does not connect with the young, but more with adults and the elderly. Whether it be the healthy or the unhealthy, the young or the old, this book will convince anyone that life is something that we need to love because it is all we have. As Morrie's most famous quote says: "When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."



3. I had been given multiple recommendations from friends and family to read this simple, but heartwarming book, and I didn't decide to sit down and read it until recently. The author decided to take his career as a sports writer, and use his writing to tell the words of an inspiring man. Mitch Abom wrote sports highlights in the Detroit Free Press, and tried to write novels about sports instead. After not becoming successful with his first few novels, he decided to try a different type of book.
   
   Tuesdays With Morrie is about Morrie Schwartz, a retired history professor at Brandeis University who is dying of ALS, which is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Diesase. A former student of his named Mitch Albom hadn't seen his old professor in years but he saw the old man on Nightline. Albom decided to visit Morrie. After a few visits, Morrie and Mitch decided to meet every Tuesday to discuss the meaning of life and how to embrace life. More specific things like family and love were discussed and to be honest, hearing a dying man say such things was a little depressing. However, the morals that Morrie taught made me think more about life and how to live it to its fullest. In reading this book (which was a quick read by the way) I learned an interesting viewpoint on life. Considering the fact that the book is about a dying man, you can figure out how it ends, but it surely finishes strong, and with a powerful message. The writing was easy to understand, but at times, the book became tedious and depressing. Overall, the message overweighed the depressing parts of the book.
   
   Tuesdays with Morrie was published ten years ago, yet it was a multiple award winning novel. The story of Morrie Schwartz has been and will continue to be remembered by many.



4. Mitch Albom documents the final days of his favorite college professor, Morrie Schwartz. In Tuesdays With Morrie, Albom discusses the acceptance of dying and appreciating loved ones. Morrie poses as both the model of acceptance and a coach to Mitch on life's greatest challenges.
   Albom is a former student of Morrie Schwartz. He drifted away from the professor after college. Albom became a journalist. He wrote for various newspapers across the country and got caught up in a materialistic world. Then, Albom saw a Nightline episode where Morrie was being interviewed and decided to reacquaint himself with his old professor.
   Morrie Schwartz has ALS, and there is no question that Mitch knows he is going to die. Therefore, the inquisitive Albom asks about dying and other tough questions. All of the points are insightful and important. They connect to the main idea clearly. Morrie often discusses creating a personal sub-culture. He believes that the modern world's culture is materialistic, and those who follow it have their priorities mixed up. In a sub-culture, a person surrounds themselves with loving relationships and creates their own personal values and beliefs. "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live." Morrie was making the point that when he found out he has ALS and was going to die, he began to focus on the "essentials" in life. Instead of worrying about his "purchasing power", Morrie spent time with friends and family, and therefore began to learn how to truly live.
   Tuesdays With Morrie gives insights into some of life's deepest questions and challenges. There are chapters on the Nightline interviews and stories between the friends demonstrating Morrie's humorous demeanor and lightening the book's mood. The book has numerous examples and stories to explain Morrie's points, with only a few being redundant. The book offers a collaboration of Ablom and Morrie's insights and has an endearing way of presenting them with utter honesty.



5. Tuesday's With Morrie is a masterpiece written by Mitch Albom. Mitch Albom explains what he thought life's greatest lessons were in the book Tuesday's With Morrie. He tells how his life changed once he started meeting with his favorite old college professor, Morrie Schwartz after he realizes Morrie was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Albom expresses the lessons he was taught in the final class taught by Morrie Schwartz.
   Mitch Albom started writing when he became a sports columnist on the Detroit Free Press newspaper. Mitch Albom was a guest on some Detroit radio talk shows that focused on sports. Mitch Albom has also started three charities in the Detroit Area. The three charities include "The Dream Fund" which helps underprivileged children get involved with the arts, "A Time to Help" in which volunteers unite to help out with various projects around Detroit and "S.A.Y. Detroit" which helps fund shelters for the homeless people living in Detroit.
   In Tuesday's With Morrie he reveals how his life changed when he revisited his dying professor. Morrie Schwartz was a truly remarkable person. He lived his life the way he wanted to, but still managed to not offend anyone. Morrie Schwartz was a sociology professor at Brandeis University. Being knowledgeable of sociology, Morrie was able to invent aphorisms while lying in his study when he lost control of his legs due to ALS. These aphorisms are what he would teach Albom plus more. Mitch and Morrie had fourteen sessions together in which they conversed about subjects Mitch had overlooked after graduating from Brandeis University. All the subjects Mitch overlooked were topics that many people in today's society fail to notice.
   This book explains many life lessons that people need to be reminded of when living their lives. Mitch Albom would record his sessions with Morrie so the details and quotes in the book are exact. If you can accept that even you have overlooked the subjects covered in Tuesday's with Morrie, this book should become one of your favorites.

5 comments about Teacher Man: A Memoir.

1. If Angela's Ashes is about the struggle for raw survival, Teacher Man is about the struggle for happiness in the affluent if alienated world of the latter half of the Twentieth Century. McCourt is wonderfully honest about his strengths and weaknesses as a teacher, and his story to survive and excel as a teacher has real drama.
   
   McCourt is able to show the crushing burdens and limited rewards of his profession. But his humor and his ability to show how he ultimately connects with his students make this book in some ways more emotionally rewarding than Angela's Ashes.
   
   The story can be a bit desultory at times, and greater detail, particularly regarding his later years at Stuyvesant High, would have made this a better book. While administration is painted as the great obstacle to teachers, McCourt's treatment of this issue is a bit one-sided and superficial. He may be right, but he does not make his point effectively.
   
   The strength of the book is its emotional honesty and the vividness with which he can portray his own internal conflicts as well as the connections he is able to make with his students.



2. Frank McCourt writes about his teaching years and the students he remembers most. When I finished the book, I had the same question as with his previous books - "and then what happened next?" In other words I never want the stories to end, I could keep reading forever. His writing is unique, exciting, and brings to life everyone he writes about. I especially recommend the audio version - he records them himself in his wonderful Irish accent - they are just a joy to listen to.



3. I only picked up this book one day when I was bored at work and a co-worker lent it to me. After reading the first chapter, I got up from my desk walked 5 blocks to the nearnest Barnes & Noble and bought the book. I had to finish reading it and I couldn't wait til she finished to borrow it. I could only wish to have had a Teacher Man like Frank McCourt when I was in school.



4. Before gaining worldwide fame and acclaim for writing his memoir of a terrible Irish Catholic childhood, Frank McCourt used the stories of his life to teach high school English for thirty years. "Teacher Man", his third foray into memoir writing, examines those years spent teaching from the very beginning to the bittersweet end. Scattered in between stories of the classroom are bits of Frank's life at those times, some comic, some searing, all of them evocative of his colorful life.
   
   After serving in the U.S. Army, Frank McCourt went to New York University on the G.I. Bill and decided to become a teacher, knowing that people back home would be amazed and respect him. He chronicles his struggle to get (and sometimes keep) a teaching job in the various high schools in New York, and his time wondering if he really wants to spend the rest of his life worrying about grading those 175 essays of 350+ words each. McCourt is a wonderful storyteller, and readers can easily understand how he could captivate classrooms, even the unruliest, with tales of his childhood. Anyone who has taught will appreciate his raw admission that he often felt like a fraud in front of the classroom, wondering why certain things (like how to handle unruly kids) isn't taught in those college education classes, and whether or not to admit they don't know the answer to something. Readers can also recognize the struggle that is common to everyone, of finally figuring out what they want to do in life, and where they finally belong.
   
   "Teacher Man" is a quick, honest, and sometimes brutal examination of teaching. So many are quick to dismiss teachers since they have the summer off, and teachers are treated as the lowest of the low on the professional totem pole. McCourt nails these feelings exactly, especially the image of his schoolbag full of ungraded papers sitting in the corner with eyes that follow you everywhere. Some people may find it hard to believe that he can recall the names of these students and aspects about their lives so many years later, but McCourt is right on when he talks about your life as a teacher: these lives stay inside your head, whether you want to give them that room or not. The struggles and glories of the classroom remain even as you try to go to bed at night, and will remain for years on end.



5. If you enjoyed either of his other two books, you will no doubt enjoy this one. He writes in the same witty manner and gives you a decent insight into how difficult teachers have it when trying to deal with high school brats :)

5 comments about There Are No Shortcuts.

1. ... and I'm quite positive that Rafe Esquith stands firmly on the "insanity" side. This was an interesting read, though I would never use it as a guideline for how to teach, which is how it was presented to me. More of a how not to, or a jumping off point for thinking about the demands of education today.



2. This book is clearly written by a teacher who is proud of his noteworthy achievements and who invests an immense amount of time and effort in his job. As his first book, it suffers from some self-centeredness and a desire to share stories of failures and successes within the public school system with his readers. The anecdotes are generally interesting, but he doesn't go far beyond them into specific classroom methods. Most discussion of methods happens at a high level. His second book, "Teach Like your Hair's on Fire," is much more interesting to read overall, but I'm glad to have read both.
   
   As a private school teacher myself, he makes it sound like public school teachers must be masochists to put up with the many obstacles keeping them from success in the classroom. I have experienced precious few of the obstacles he describes, but my public school teacher wife assures me that his stories are ever so representative. This book is likely more applicable to public school teachers, especially new ones to the profession.
   
   The audio version of this book is, unfortunately, not aided by the author reading it himself. It makes an already self-centered text come across as almost arrogant, at times. His intonation is somewhat monotone and his rhythm is strangely strained for such a stalwart shakespeare fan.



3. Wow. This guy is amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone aspiring to be a teacher because his teaching methods are truly inspirational. I'm planning to use many of his methods in my classroom when I start teaching. Wonderful book. I'd highly recommend getting his other book "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire." Both great books. Enjoy!! =]



4. I read Rafe Esquith's newer book (Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56) and loved it. So I started reading this book as soon as I could get my hands on it.
   
   Having so enjoyed his other book and getting so much practical advice out of it, this book was quite a disappointment. Since writing this book, Mr. Esquith has obviously learned how to sound humble - one of the things I loved about Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire was that he wrote with humility - he was lucky and wanted to share what had happened to work for him in his class. In this book he constantly lists the habits and beliefs of "people who think they're good teachers" and then immediately explains that they are, in fact, not good at all. It can be hard to pick out the kernels of good advice that ARE present in this book when you're feeling that your hard work and sacrifice are being judged and insulted by someone you've never met.
   
   Another thing I loved about Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire was that it contained very practical advice that "real" teachers could actually - if with some difficulty - put into use in their classrooms. This book is more theoretical and focuses more on feelings and goals and the journey to becoming a good teacher.
   
   I have to say the thing that bothers me the most about this author is that he completely ignores the world of amazing children's literature that exists especially in this country. He may have success reading Steinbeck and Shakespeare with his 5th graders, but the truth is that most teachers will not meet with the same results. There is nothing wrong or shameful about using Mr. Esquith's methods and philosophy with truly high-quality, meaningful children's literature, yet he does not even concede this fact.



5. Anyone who has children, cares about how we educate them, proposes to teach, MUST meet Rafe Esquith. Achieving his level of dedication may be impossible for most, hut he can inspire us all to greater performance. His imaginative insights to helping fifth graders to new levels of self-esteem and real accomplishment is astonishing. Unafraid of bureaucracy, indeed scornful of it, he has managed to do things most classroom teachers only dream of. In addition to breaking old molds, he offers considerable hope, as he clearly tells us that the fault is not in the children, but in ourselves.

5 comments about 'Tis: A Memoir.

1. This book was great and was definitely more light-hearted than Angela's Ashes. You don't need to have read his first book (Angela's Ashes) to enjoy this part of his memoir; in fact reading the first book made me enjoy this one less simply because there was just no way for it to compare to the first.



2. although this book is long, and often times it shows the mundane life of a teacher, it truley makes me want to move to ireland! i love this book! it's so hard for me to put it down.



3. This book is a continuation of the story, Angela's Ashes. I enjoyed the writer's style and insight into Irish immigrant life. I recommend these two novels to anyone interested in real Irish life.



4. Many reviewers have noted that the first two-thirds of this book is strong, while the final third falls flat. I'd agree, and I think I know why: by the time the memoir reaches the late 1960s, McCourt has become a New Yorker and the book loses the premise: the fun of seeing New York and American society in general through the eyes of a naive outsider. The first two thirds are like all of Angela's Ashes: insightful, funny, bittersweet, tragic, and the book finds the power of its voice in the ironical gap between the perceptions of the naive young man and the understanding of the knowing older man who wrote the memoir. In the last third of the book, McCourt is not a stranger in a strange land -- he's your average New Yorker in a midlife crisis, with an increasing estranged wife, the difficulty of caring for an aging mother, questions about his career choice, etc. Nice to know how some of the story lines played out, but the final third is not really of any inherent interest in itself, and since there's less of a gap between what McCourt perceived at the time and what he perceives now, it is lacking in that quirky ironical voice that made what went before so captivating. On the basis of the first 2/3rds, I recommend it highly. The last 1/3 may be significantly less interesting, but is not objectionable.



5. 'Tis is a wonderful follow up from Angela's Ashes. One of the differences from 'Tis and Angela's Ashes is that the tone is different. Angela's Ashes is told from Mr. McCourt's view from childhood to adolescence where as 'Tis is told from an early adulthood voice. Mr. McCourt is trying to learn the norms and customs of America because he has been away for so long. He makes mistakes and stumbles through this phase of his life without anybody to really guide him.

1 comments about History Lesson: A Race Odyssey.

1. This brilliant, cogently written book details the agonies classical scholar Mary Lefkowitz encountered when she endeavored, over a 5-year period, to stand up and fight for ancient history to be taught at Wellesley college from evidence, not from the wishful thinking of Afro-centrists. (Truth in reviewing: I am a Wellesley alumna, and I never dreamed such a surreal, bizarre conflict could take place at my school.) When Lefkowitz, a mild-mannered, well-spoken professor, pointed out that all the evidence pointed to Greek philosophy being invented by Greeks, not Egyptians, she was branded as a racist, and was the subject of anti-Semitic rants. Thank God Lefkowitz stuck to her guns, although clearly, the fight took a toll on her. This book is an absolute MUST READ for anyone interested in the messes academics now find themselves embroiled in. We ALL must fight for the TRUTH to be taught in classrooms; otherwise, we will have no common ground on which to engage in learned discourse. I unqualifiedly recommend this book, and have bought SIX copies to send to friends.

5 comments about The Water is Wide.

1. While reading The Water is Wide, I experienced exactly the kind of heart-warming, comical, enjoyable reaction Pat Conroy had in mind while writing the book. Several themes are apparent throughout, and it was easy for the reader to recognize the most important one. Pat Conroy taught his students and readers that no matter a person's race, literacy level, age, or gender, everyone matters, and everyone is equal.
   Pat Conroy moved many times as a child, since his father was in the military. His first job was teaching English in Beaufort, South Carolina. He then found himself teaching on the remote Daufuskie Island, which was referred to as Yamacraw Island in the novel. This teaching job provided the inspiration and plot for The Water is Wide.
   Pat Conroy, referred to as "Conrack" by some students, has an excellent way of teaching readers the importance of acceptance and equality. He does not preach or lecture his message, but his delivery of it through countless situations is just as effective. Sometimes his point is concealed by the amusement of the Yamacraw students, but by the end of each chapter, the reader will be reminded of the seriousness at hand.
   The Water is Wide never failed to entertain me. The book takes countless turns in the plot, and each turn results in comedy, sincerity, or amusement. The reader finds him or herself relating to each character, even though the lifestyle on Yamacraw Island is much different from most of the United States. Pat Conroy made me realize how lucky I am to live in a society where education is important and emphasized. This book opened my eyes to how people in other, less fortunate areas of the world live. I recognized that education is imperative, and how much the average student takes for granted.
   While Pat Conroy had no problems capturing my attention with plenty of interesting stories, he sometimes overwhelmed readers with his personality. Several parts of the book were filled with Conroy's strong opinion on characters and school rules. This sometimes interrupted the plot. Other than the occasional rant by Pat Conroy, the book flowed smoothly.
   The Water is Wide was an excellent read for teenagers and adults, especially those interested in teaching. I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover, and it influenced me in ways only exceptional literature can.



2. The author has an excellent command of words in describing characters and action. Unfortunately, they are not used to good effect in this autobiographical novel.
   
   For me the book lacked interesting characters, a fascinating plotline, and impending danger and escalating conflict. Consequently it lacked ongoing suspense, failing to involve and absorb me in this so-called story.
   
   I say so-called because the book seems more like a a series of isolated incidents, hardly focused on a particular end or goal, and therefore take on a rambling, babbling, numbing quality, one which I, for one, found increasingly boring.
   
   There was no point in the book where I felt I couldn't put the book down and wonder or care about what was going to happen to the main, or even the subordinate, characters. It was all ho-hum. To me, a good book compels me to keep reading, even if I have to stay up all night doing so. Not this one--if anything, it threw me into an uncaring state of somnolence. And many of its points that are continually repeated contribute to this
   
   At page 115 I tossed the book into the trash can so that I could better use my time by reading something better, hopefully a book that is more involving and fascinating.



3. I was really impressed with this book. Not only did I enjoy the story, which is true, but I also enjoyed the writing of Pat Conroy. This is the first book I have read by Conroy. This is about the experience Conroy had in the early 70's teaching in a one room school house on Yamacraw Island (which is the pseudonym for Daufuskie Island), an island off the coast of South Carolina. This island was populated by mostly African Americans. The experience was truly eye opening . It really depicted the society of that time: Civil Rights, Segregation and Southern Culture and it's resistance to change. Conroy took a true life experience and put in down on paper in such a way that the reader felt like they were there on the island with him. Add to that an exceptional sense of humor that was drizzled throughout the story and you have yourself a masterpiece. I have added all of the rest of Conroy's books on my wishlist and I feel a little bit more with the program after finally reading one of his works.



4. This book is inspiring to say the least. I love Pat Conroy and have read every one of his books and this one is by far the best. Perfect for all age ranges especially as a teacher gift. It is funny, sad and just flat out good on so many levels.



5. Enjoyed the book as I had just visited the island less than two weeks passed. Followed the feel of the island very closly as of today. I was a little disapointed in the authors follow up on the charaters. Wished for more closure on some of them since you got to know them so well. Author did a great job in showing how the southern political climate has changed and still changing.
   A very well written book and fun to read.
   Larry Love

5 comments about 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching.

1. Phillip Done portrays life as a teacher in a humorous, enjoyable manner. His writing style is engaging and easy to read. As a teacher, it's easy to relate to many of the stories he shares. I enjoyed the book so much, I bought a copy to share with my co-workers. A fun, must-read for all teachers dedicated to the task of helping children build upon their self-esteem as well as grow academically.



2. As a third grade teacher I just want to say that Mr. Done has put my classroom into words-thank you, it makes me feel good to know that all third grade teachers are in the same boat, and enjoying the ride....most of the time.



3. If you want to laugh until you cry, then read this book! Phillip Done captures all the joys of teaching and expresses it in a way that is hilarious. As I tried to share passages with my family, I couldn't get it out because I was laughing so hard. Anyone who has taught or is starting their first year of teaching should definitely read this. You will be truly inspired!



4. If you teach, this is a MUST read!



5. Mr. Done was my fourth grade teacher. I was positively THRILLED when I realized he had written a book. He was, by far, one of my most memorable teachers to this day. His book is amazing, and brought back a lot of awesome memories I have of elementary school. Excellent read.

5 comments about Teach With Your Heart: Lessons I Learned from The Freedom Writers.

1. Many others have written detailed reviews. This is merely an attempt to throw mine in the ring. I will begin by saying that I do not believe this book was ever intended to be a "How To" manual, but rather it is Erin telling us her story. One reviewer's title stated it was "Difficult to Replicate." I would take that one further and state that it is IMPOSSIBLE to replicate (it is HER story!) and we would miss the point if we tried.
   
   Her ability to take these kids to screenings, and meet screenwriters, and dine at the Marriott, and meet Miep Gies, and attend the Holocaust Museum was due in part to their geographical location. Granted, all of these resources were available to other teachers in the area -- but my understanding is that no one was taking "those kids." So her willingness to take these students to these places was a large part of what changed their lives. However, depending on where you live, some of these things just are not an option!
   
   The bigger lesson is not to replicate (we would all try & fail!) -- but rather to figure out what is it that I can do, where I am, with the resources I have in front of me. Otherwise, we could excuse our inaction for lack of resources. For me this book served as a means of self-evaluation -- and I came away deciding that someone raised the bar, and it's time to step-up.



2. I've seen the movie, read the book. The Freedom Writers Diary, that is.
   
   I found Erin Gruwell to be a touching and inspirational woman and have visited the Freedom Writers website to see what she and her students have been up to since the time of the book's publication. She ran for congress--and, sadly, lost. We'd have done well with someone like her in public office, someone with a love for and sincere concern for today's youth and education.
   
   Since leaving the high school classroom, Gruwell has had her share of changes and obstacles and also, as one would expect, great successes. The book retreads a lot of the information gleaned from the book/movie, but I care about Erin now...I want good things for her. And her students. This was a way to catch up.
   
   If you feel the same way, the book is worth your while, but if you are trying to learn more about educational techniques, this isn't the book you're looking for.



3. A very wonderful tale except the last bit of the book had little to do with teaching. I enjoyed and learned some new methods on gaining the respect and attention from students. however i learned nothing after she got that from her students except that it helps to know a rich ceo.



4. Thank you Erin! You are an absolute inspiration to all future teachers!! I didn't care what kind of writing this book was in. I was just taken back at what this lady went through. Amazing journey! Must, must, read!!



5. Erin Gruwell's memoir illustrates what can happen when you forget to think before you say "yes," AND when you're a person who keeps your word. You work harder than you ever dreamed possible, and sometimes, if you're lucky and have support, good comes from it. It also shows what can happen before a teacher "knows better" than to take time to teach to the moment, not that s/he doesn't want to but because s/he is forced to stick to the test prep curriculum.
   
   Depending on their experiences, teachers may be heartened by, or feel cynical about, this book, but I know most would be pleased to read about what Gurwell was able to draw out of her students, and the lengths she went to (but not without a cost--possibly her marriage) to help them. Thank goodness for "yes." Thank goodness for teachers.
   
   Note: I have not seen "Freedom Writers" or read THE FREEDOM WRITERS
   DIARY, so my thoughts are based only what I read in this book... and from having been a teacher.
   
   Note: Some reviewers have complained this book is too much about Gruwald, but who else is it supposed to be about? It's a memoir.

5 comments about Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year.

1. This book is a great book for anyone looking at the teaching profession. I used it in an education introduction class and it is very insightful as well as just a great read. This is a real life personal experience in the first year of teaching for Esme, and shows the good and the bad of teaching as well as effective and ineffective teaching strategies. Great for education, thought, or just enjoyment!



2. Everthing that Esme says really hits me hard because I'm a student in the typical public school. I really wish I had a teacher like this, who could make boring subjects interesting, instead of reading everything straight out of the text book.
   I didn't think she was too self-absorbed, as many reviewers have said, I think her need for approval is very appropriate. I mean, I would just scream having to be in the unhealthy enviroment Esme is in. She handled everything with confidence and was always there for her "children."
   This is a great read for anyone who has ever stepped foot in a public school. All of her stories are either entertaining or shocking, and definitely worth reading twice.



3. In our day and age, years equal experience. Well, not in this story! As an educator, I, like Esme, can see the profound lack of capability in American schools. Teachers are expected to follow guidelines and do what the principal suggests with no argument (apparently that is a guarantee of keeping one's job these days). Esme questions the status quo and challenges each of us to do the same. Many of the decisions that are made regarding schools are done by politicians who have never set foot in classroom. I've read some of the other reviews. I think the people who didn't like the book thought so because they are the types of people that Esme bulldozed in the story; those lousy teachers who run any idea into the ground because it wasn't their own-- who have sat all day in front of a class for 20 some years and have yet to come up with an individual thought. She deserves self-promotion. Clearly she's not too bad-- she got asked back for a 2nd year at the same school and won an amazing literary award. I think I would share my excitement with my diary.



4. This book was an interesting read if you want someone who is going to praise herself and narly condemn everyone else in her school. If you take away the vulgar language, confrontations with authority, and her constant praising herself then you are left with an epilogue written by Jim Trelease. MOst entertaining part of the book was the afterward she wrote.



5. Having taught for fifteen years myself, I have a lot of respect for "Madame Esme." Remembering how my own first year passed in a blur of trying to get lesson plans & materials together, not to mention all the other administrative things required of me by my school, I am doubly impressed by her ability to take the time to note down some of her experiences. And then shape them into this at times funny, sad, disturbing and anger-inducing record.
   
   As a fifth grade teacher in a Chicago public school, Madame Esme had plenty of encounters worth writing down. The poverty and violence of her students, the casual disregard of her students by parents and administrators and the active roadblocks to success put up by many of her colleagues are all here in number. And yet, Madame Esme soldiers on and is able to achieve some great things with her students in spite of the obstacles. Her expectations are high and she keeps coming at her kids with clever ideas to help them achieve--bringing in authors, making her students teach each other, Trouble Basket, extra-curricular activities, an so on. Through it all, she supports her students with her entire self.
   
   This, of course, is the biggest challenge of being a master teacher: the need for the commitment of your entire self. There is no excuse for the lack of professionalism among some of Madame Esme's administrators and colleagues; however, teaching is a profession that can suck away your life if you are truly dedicated. Esme's passion and commitment are admirable but it is also what often brings her into (perceived) conflict with some of her colleagues. I would be interested in seeing what Esme's reflections on her first year are when she has twenty years in the classroom. (Which she won't have because she is now a school librarian--also a valuable position but a different animal than being a classroom teacher.)
   
   Still, Madame Esme's memoir fits well into the growing genre of movies and books about teachers who succeed in spite of the odds--Stand & Deliver, Lean on Me, Torey Hayden's One Child and many more. As a record of a first year teacher recorded as it was happening, it adds a valuable perspective that teachers and administrators at all points in their careers would do well to examine.