Page 94 - EW-January-2026

Special Report

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Obama's favourite books of 2025
People by Stephen R. Covey (Free
Press, 1989) very December,
Before it evolved into a global industry, Eformer US Presi-
7 Habits was a thoughtfully written book dent Barack Obama
— one of the earliest and best guides to releases his much-
personal effectiveness and purposeful liv- anticipated annual
ing. Simply written yet conceptually rigor- reading list. His ‘most
ous, it offers practical suggestions to develop efficiency and favourite’ books of
efficacy. Its enduring relevance lies in the fact that it has 2025:
withstood the test of time, continuing to resonate across 1. Paper Girl by Beth
generations and professions, including education. Macy
2. Flashlight by Su-
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Char- san Choi
lie Mackesy (Ebury Press, 2019) (missing) 3. We the People by
This gentle, illustrated narrative offers valuable reflections Jill Lepore
on kindness, vulnerability, courage and friendship. It pro- 4. The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
vides quiet, powerful insights that can help teachers un- 5. There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone
derstand and respond to the emotional challenges children 6. North Sun by Ethan Rutherford
face in their everyday lives. Its spare words and evocative 7. 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
drawings make it especially valuable for parents and teach- 8. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran
ers seeking empathy, reassurance and perspective. Desai
9. Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith
Rishikesh's go-to books 10. What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
11. The Look by Michelle Obama
RISHIKESH B.S. leads the hub for Ed-
ucation, Law and Policy at the Azim
Premji University, Bengaluru, ranked derstand the invisible social and cognitive processes that
India’s #1 private social sciences uni- drive academic mastery.
versity in the EW India Higher Educa-
tion Rankings 2025-26. What Did You Ask at School Today: A Handbook of
Child Learning Book 2 by Kamala Mukunda (Harper
Shaping School Culture by Ter- Collins, 2019)
rence E. Deal & Kent D. Peterson Book 2 builds on the first volume to ex-
(Jossey-Bass, 1999) amine how children develop and learn
Drawing on decades of research and school stories, the au- in everyday settings. It revisits popular
thors show how everyday rituals, values, and relationships ideas about learning, questions easy
shape learning. It makes a strong case for developing school explanations and imported myths. It
leadership that pays attention to meaning, trust, and shared also addresses contemporary issues
purpose. such as teaching for understanding
and the role of digital technology in
Teach Like a Champion 3.0 by Doug Lemov (Wiley, classrooms.
2021)
This updated edition distills classroom Ordinary People, Extraordinary Teachers: The
practice into clear, usable teaching tech- Heroes of Real India by S. Giridhar (Westland, 2019)
niques grounded in real teaching. A prac- Drawing on the author’s experience of
tical book that focuses on what teachers working with government schools, this
can do to improve mentoring and teach- book presents intimate portraits of
ing-learning. extraordinary teachers and their daily
work. Through these stories, we learn
The Hidden Lives of Learners by Graham Nuthall how teachers respond to difficult con-
(NZCER Press, 2007) ditions with care and resolve, adapt-
Based on decades of classroom research, this book reveals ing teaching-learning in government
how learning is uneven, private, and often invisible to schools in some of India’s most disad-
teachers. Essential reading for educators aspiring to un- vantaged districts.

94 EDUCATIONWORLD JANUARY 2026