Page 90 - EW-January-2026

Special Report

Dr. Wattal’s list In this globally renowned book, Hungarian-American psy-
chologist Csikszentmihalyi explores ways and means to at-
DR. AMEETA MULLA WATTAL tain “state of flow” — deep, focused engagement in which
is Chairperson and Executive individuals lose self-consciousness and perform at their
Director of Education at DLF best. He explains how deep engagement stimulates sus-
Foundation Schools, Gurgaon tained focusing, intrinsic motivation, creativity and arouses
and member of the governing student attention.
board of Delhi Teachers Univer-
sity. Dr. Wattal sent her recom- Presencing by Otto Scharmer (with Katrin Kaufer)
mendations with this small note: (Berrett-Koehler, 2025)
“These days, neither principals MIT, Boston professor Scharmer intro-
nor teachers read. Here are my duces the concept of “presencing” — a
suggested book titles for whatever they are worth.” blend of “presence” and “sensing,” that
enables individuals to connect deeply
The Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer (Jossey- with their authentic self, to move beyond
Bass, 1998) habitual thinking to stimulate profound
American author and educator, Palmer individual and systemic change. The book
argues that good teaching emerges from helps individuals and communities to co-
the identity, integrity and inner life of create a regenerative future, making it particularly relevant
teachers, not merely from curriculum de- for educators seeking to build future-ready learning envi-
sign and pedagogy. He urges educators to ronments.
reconnect with their vocation, cultivate
classroom communities rooted in care and Maya Menon’s picks
dialogue, and teach in ways that integrate
intellect and emotion. This book will help teachers align An alumna of Delhi and
teaching practice with student-centred learning, wellbeing, Leicester (UK) univer-
values education and the holistic development mandate of sities, MAYA MENON is
the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. founder-director of The
Teacher Foundation, Ban-
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol galore (estd.2002), which
S. Dweck (Random House, 2006) has trained over 100,000
In this seminal book, Stanford University teachers countrywide.
psychology Prof. Carol Dweck introduces
the concept of the growth mindset — the Clever Lands by Lucy Crehan (Unbound, 2016)
belief that one’s intelligence, capabilities This is a highly readable book by an
and talents can be developed through author who is a qualified teacher who
dedication, hard work, and perseverance. taught science and psychology at a sec-
This book will help educators understand ondary school in London before switch-
how their language, feedback and assessment practices ing to research and policy. Clever Lands
enable children to develop perseverance, resilience and a is the outcome of Crehan’s ethnographic,
growth mindset. educational exploration of the world’s
‘top-performing’ education systems. She
Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organisa- volunteered in and observed schools in Finland, Canada,
tional Excellence Every Day by Daniel Goleman Singapore, Japan and Shanghai, spending a month living
(Harper Business, 2024) with educators in all these countries. If teachers in Indi-
Goleman, often referred to as the “father of emotional in- an schools want to understand how their counterparts in
telligence,” examines factors that enable individuals and ‘clever lands’ teach effectively, this is a must-read book. The
organisations to perform optimally consistently. He goes Economist acclaimed it as one of the ‘books of the year’
beyond emotional and social intelligence and focuses on within a week of its release.
ways and means to sustain excellence in complex school
systems. It’s recommended reading for teachers seeking to Bricks and Mortar for Educational Reform by Mu-
balance performance, wellbeing and professional growth. riel Wasi (LG Publishers and Distributors, 2021)
This is a posthumous compilation of articles written by Mu-
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by riel Wasi, a former education adviser to the Government
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Harper & Row, 1990) of India. The foreword has been written by Prof. Krishna

90 EDUCATIONWORLD JANUARY 2026