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Last year, my friend Jennifer Wood wrote an excellent article for Edutopia titled 6 Non-Education Books With Lessons for Teachers. Inspired by her thoughtful recommendations, I’ve curated my list of non-education books to build on her ideas. As I reflected on my choices, a common theme emerged: each of these books explores the power of language and communication—how we speak to ourselves, collaborate with colleagues, and design meaningful learning experiences.
If you’re looking to expand your professional reading (or listening) list this holiday season, these titles might inspire you to reflect and grow. For each, I’ve paired an education-focused book to deepen the connection.
For Yourself: The Power of Perspective
Featured Book: Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal
Ali Abdaal – a doctor, YouTuber, and now author – invites readers to rethink productivity in his first book, Feel-Good Productivity. Through a series of practical “experiments,” he tackles topics like habits, implementation intentions, burnout, energy, and joy, all with an emphasis on making productivity a source of fulfillment rather than stress.
I especially love his first chapter, where he connects productivity with play. Drawing on Dr. Stuart Brown’s work on play personalities, Abdaal encourages us to include “side quests” throughout our week—opportunities to follow our curiosities and inject moments of joy into our routines.
One experiment I now use constantly is asking myself, “What would this task look like if it were more fun?” Abdaal offers simple yet impactful strategies like adding music, injecting humor, or tackling tasks with friends. This playful reframing has transformed my attitude toward challenging tasks and motivated me to tackle my to-do list with more energy.
Abdaal also highlights Albert Bandura’s research on self-efficacy—the belief in our ability to succeed. He encourages readers to ask, “What would this look like if I were really confident at this?” This experiment has helped me take on new challenges with a more empowered mindset. Pairing this with his advice to act as your own “hype team” by repeating positive affirmations has been a game-changer for me this year.
Education Pairing:
Tina Boogren and Timothy D. Kanold’s Wellness: A Guide for Sustaining Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Social Well-Being also emphasizes the role of self-efficacy in shaping our mental wellness. Their research underscores how the language we use when speaking to ourselves can impact both our productivity and overall sense of well-being.
By cultivating a positive inner dialogue, we can shift our perspectives and strengthen our capacity to navigate challenges. As we build these habits for ourselves, we can also extend these insights to how we communicate with others.
For Your Team: Understanding and Connecting
Featured Book: The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is one of my favorite thought leaders (and Jen included her Life in Five Senses on her book list), but it’s The Four Tendencies that has profoundly shaped how I work and interact with colleagues and clients.
This personality framework provides insights into how people manage inner and outer expectations. Rubin identifies four tendencies: Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, and Rebel. As an Obliger, I excel at meeting external expectations but often struggle with internal ones. For example, if a teammate needs me to complete a task, it’s guaranteed to get done on time. However, personal goals may fall to the bottom of my list unless I build in some kind of external accountability.
Equally transformative has been learning how to adapt my communication to support teammates with different tendencies. For Questioners who need a rationale before committing to external expectations, I’ve learned to add a clear “because” and explain the why behind my requests. For Rebels, autonomy and choice are essential.
Gaining insights into our colleagues’ tendencies and our own strengthens communication and collaboration. Whether you use The Four Tendencies or another framework, understanding how others operate helps build trust and fosters stronger, more effective teams.
Education Pairing:
Allison Rodman’s Still Learning complements Rubin’s framework beautifully by emphasizing the progression from understanding ourselves to working effectively with teams and, ultimately, cultivating organizational capacity. In her chapter on Attunement, Rodman highlights The Four Tendencies as one of several tools for aligning our inner and perceived selves. By fostering self-awareness and self-efficacy, she shows how we can strengthen not only team dynamics but also the way we communicate and collaborate, building stronger, more adaptive organizations.
As we grow in self-awareness and learn to connect more effectively with our teams, we can take these lessons a step further: how do we communicate with and inspire the learners we design for?
For Your Learners: Designing with Intention
Featured Book: Magic Words by Jonah Berger
While listening to Jonah Berger’s interview on the Curious Minds podcast, I immediately connected his research to professional learning. In his book Magic Words, Berger shows how small language tweaks can create big impacts—helping us become better listeners, presenters, and communicators while deepening our ability to connect with and influence others.
One of my favorite takeaways is the concept of identity-based language. By shifting verbs into nouns, we can help learners embrace an identity, e.g., saying, “I am a bread baker” instead of “I bake bread.” In professional learning sessions, I adapt this idea by offering participants “identity options,” such as Explorer, Worker, Newbie, or Reviewer. These roles not only validate different learning approaches but also encourage ownership and purposeful direction in the experience.
Another gem from Magic Words is the subtle shift from should to could. Using could “encourages us and others to take agency, consider new paths, and turn roadblocks into opportunities.” For example, during independent exploration time in my workshops, I say, “During this time, you could…” and offer several options for participants to try. This phrasing invites choice and flexibility, transforming what might feel like a directive into an empowering suggestion.
Berger also highlights the impact of verb tense. I now consciously write and say, “he discusses in his book” rather than “he discussed” because the present tense implies that the information is enduring and still relevant. Subtle shifts like these help ensure that the learning feels timely and dynamic.
With just a bit of practice, these intentional changes in language can transform the learning experience, making it more engaging and meaningful for participants.
Education Pairing:
A. Keith Young and Tamarra Osborne’s Training Design, Delivery, and Diplomacy is a concise but impactful resource that complements Berger’s ideas. Their intentional use of language is evident throughout the book. For example, their term activator inspires strategies to “activate” learning, an idea I explored further in a recent blog post. Additionally, their “Clarity edits”—including editing stories, visuals, activities, and the learning environment—demonstrate the power of thoughtful refinement. Together, these techniques reinforce how intentional language and design choices can amplify the impact of professional learning.
Bonus Insight: Rethinking Everyday Questions
Kat Vellos’ work has profoundly influenced how I approach conversations, both personally and professionally. In her insightful article on alternatives to “How are you?” she highlights how this common question can feel hollow or even harmful, and she offers over 40 alternatives that foster more meaningful connections. Her suggestions have changed the way I start my conversations and sessions, encouraging deeper engagement and authentic communication.
One of my favorite takeaways is how small shifts in the language of connection can build trust and rapport. I keep a photo of her alternative questions on my phone as a quick reference, and they’ve helped me approach every interaction with greater intention. This simple practice underscores how rethinking the words we use can transform relationships and elevate learning experiences.
Share Your Learning (and Reading) Inspirations
What non-education books have inspired you to learn, grow, or rethink your communication? Share your recommendations in the comments or on social media. Let’s expand this list together and continue to learn from every corner of the bookshelf!
🎧 Listening Bonus:
I’ve discussed many of these titles and topics in the Digital Learning Radio podcast’s Inspired to Learn series. Although the podcast ended in 2023, these episodes remain timeless resources for exploring these ideas further. You can find them wherever you listen to podcasts:
Kathryn Laster brings over 30 years of education expertise as a math teacher, instructional coach, and digital learning consultant. Now, as an independent consultant, Kathryn creates and facilitates transformative learning experiences through intentional, human-centered, tech-infused design. Connect with Kathryn at Refined Learning Design.
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