by Dr. James Pingel
Listed below are some books I’ve read recently which I found to be of great value with my own School of Education team and in my personal/professional life.
A bit of a contrarian and provocateur, Rod Dreher (author of the New York Times bestseller The Benedict Option) has written a riveting and immensely important work for every Christian to reflect upon and digest. Having conducted first-hand research with communist dissidents from the former Soviet Union, Dreher carefully and thoroughly compares the realities of communist “hard totalitarianism” with what he calls the “soft totalitarianism” occurring in the United States today. The merging forces of “Woke Nation,” “social capitalism,” consumerism, and big-tech surveillance, he insists, have created this force of “soft-totalitarianism” and the painful consequences which are already coming from it. Already a New York Times bestseller, Live Not By Lies warns that Christians can expect more ostracization, persecution, and suffering—not in some far off land or Third World country, but right here in the United States. Dreher offers criticism of Christians who are trying to have it both ways—keeping a biblical faith and attempting to blend in or go through the motions of supporting “Woke Nation” platitudes and social justice tenets. He also provides several long-term, prescriptive remedies to meet the challenges of our day—intentional Christian family development, small-group ministries and social groups, and courageous truth-telling to name a few. This is already one of the most provocative and talked-about books of the year, and been praised and attacked passionately by supporters and critics alike. You should get a book club together, read it, and find time to unpack the significance and validity of Dreher’s main thesis yourself.
Any of your schools go virtual in the last six months or add a significant virtual component to your education programming? I found Flower Darby and James Lang’s Small Teaching Online: Applying Learning Science in Online Classes to be one of the most comprehensive and succinct works on the topic of online and virtual instruction. The book gives many new and best practices for online and virtual teaching as well as the research behind these teaching applications. At CUW, we are now requiring our adjunct instructors to read and digest this work before they can teach for our university.
The premise or leading question of Ross Douthat’s book is truly intriguing: Has the United States been so successful as a society, especially in the areas of technological advancement and innovation, that we have inadvertently stymied our creativity and innovation acumen today? I was not sure what to expect of this book, but I found the chapters on technology, innovation, birth rates, and demography educational and captivating. Furthermore, Douthat’s work also made me ponder anew the future of education and what schools might do to encourage student creativity and innovation too. With its macro, meta-narrative viewpoint, this book will not be for everyone. Nevertheless, there are few works which really provoke me to think about the future the way this book did.
Have you ever said something like this as an administrator: There is something my teacher has which makes him or her a special teacher but I just can’t put my finger on it? Perhaps these dispositions have been the x-factor which has made him or her a superior teacher.
There are too many education books out there today which only focus on best practices, teaching techniques, or tools/approaches which teachers can use or deploy with their students. What Makes a Start Teacher: 7 Dispositions That Support Student Learning, is a unique book, however, in that it focuses on teacher dispositions. In other words, this book forces teachers to truly ponder the art of their teaching as well as the science which informs their teaching practice. To be sure, this work also provides research and scientific findings on how teachers can improve or enhance the seven dispositions which make a significant impact on student learning. Nevertheless, the authors really take a deep dive on what others might call “intangibles” or x-factors which make someone a compelling and effective teacher.
This is a terrific book for your teachers to read on their own or collectively. Your faculty could focus on one disposition per month and really become more conscientious and cognizant of the dispositions which make a big impact on student learning. We’ve adopted and integrated many of the lessons learned in this book throughout our curriculum at CUW.
Confronting Christianity is an outstanding read on so many current topics which confront the Church today. Personally, I found the chapters which dealt with diversity, equity, and inclusion the most compelling and should be required reading for most Lutheran educators and leaders. Between the LGBTQ+ issues to the tumultuous summer and ongoing racial tensions since the death of George Floyd, Rebecca McLaughlin offers wonderful biblical insights on the issues of race, inclusion, and so much more. For example, she convincingly demonstrates how Christianity is the most diverse religion in the world in a manner which you would never hear the mainstream media discuss. Instead of worrying if Christianity needs to “catch up” on the diversity and equity issues, the Christian reader will feel affirmed in their faith and be reminded how God’s Word is for all people.
[Editor’s Note: Shameless Plug Alert 😊]
Combining a love for historical biography, faith, and leadership all in one book, The Lincoln Way, the Truth, and Your Life provides an innovative and interdisciplinary opportunity to learn about leadership from the life of America's greatest president, the Bible, and candid introspection. Written in a thematic, stand-alone format, each chapter examines a particular aspect or focus of Lincoln's life and explores what the Bible says in regard to each theme. After analyzing each topic from the lens of Lincoln and a biblical perspective, the reader is asked to reflect on the lessons learned in leadership and faith. This "three-in-one" book will not only share how Lincoln dealt with life challenges and opportunities and what God's Word says about each life issue, but equip and inspire the reader to reflect on one's own life and leadership walk moving forward.
This is a great book for any Lutheran administrator or faculty member. You can read the book chronologically or by topic of interest. Check it out and let me know what you think. 😊