300 Words (or less)

Quick Book Reviews for Busy Minds

Lets face it, if you like to read, finding time to do it can feel like a luxury.

For educational leaders, teachers, and professionals, it's often even more challenging to dive into the rich learning books have to offer. That’s where these reviews come in. Each book featured here is thoughtfully (I hope) summarised in 300 words or less.

The goal here is simple: to spark curiosity rather than dictate what to read. Each review honours the unique contributions of these authors, aiming to celebrate their insights without giving away the full experience of the book. I hope to give you just enough of the book’s essence to inspire you to explore it further, should it resonate with your interests and goals.

So take a moment to browse, enjoy the quick insights, and perhaps find your next great read waiting to be discovered.

June 2025
- Jun 11, 2025 The Next Word Jun 11, 2025
- Jun 8, 2025 Leading on Pastoral Care Jun 8, 2025
- Jun 4, 2025 Nuance Jun 4, 2025
- Jun 1, 2025 What Works May Hurt Jun 1, 2025
May 2025
- May 28, 2025 Creating Trauma-Informed, Strengths-Based Classrooms May 28, 2025
- May 25, 2025 Find Your Why May 25, 2025
- May 21, 2025 Dare To Lead May 21, 2025
- May 18, 2025 The Advice Trap May 18, 2025
- May 14, 2025 The Coaching Habit May 14, 2025
- May 11, 2025 Thriving Together May 11, 2025
- May 7, 2025 When You’re the Adult in the Room May 7, 2025
- May 4, 2025 Now You Are A Principal May 4, 2025
April 2025
- Apr 30, 2025 Hidden Potential Apr 30, 2025
- Apr 27, 2025 The Infinite Game Apr 27, 2025
- Apr 23, 2025 Deep Work Apr 23, 2025
- Apr 16, 2025 Grit Apr 16, 2025
- Apr 13, 2025 Think Again Apr 13, 2025
- Apr 9, 2025 Data-Informed Learners Apr 9, 2025
- Apr 6, 2025 The Buzz Apr 6, 2025
- Apr 2, 2025 The Awkward Questions in Education Apr 2, 2025
March 2025
- Mar 30, 2025 Start With Why Mar 30, 2025
- Mar 26, 2025 Who Moved My Cheese? Mar 26, 2025
- Mar 23, 2025 Quit Mar 23, 2025
- Mar 19, 2025 Our Iceberg is Melting Mar 19, 2025
- Mar 16, 2025 Deep Thinking Mar 16, 2025
- Mar 12, 2025 Between the Idea and the Reality Mar 12, 2025
- Mar 9, 2025 Sapiens Mar 9, 2025
- Mar 5, 2025 The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Mar 5, 2025
- Mar 2, 2025 I’m Not a Numbers Person Mar 2, 2025
February 2025
- Feb 26, 2025 Good to Great Feb 26, 2025
- Feb 23, 2025 Ten Survival Skills for a World in Flux Feb 23, 2025
- Feb 19, 2025 Radical Candor Feb 19, 2025
- Feb 16, 2025 So Good They Can’t Ignore You Feb 16, 2025
- Feb 12, 2025 Last Child in the Woods Feb 12, 2025
- Feb 9, 2025 Drive Feb 9, 2025
- Feb 5, 2025 Unserious Careers Feb 5, 2025
- Feb 2, 2025 The Thinking Classroom Feb 2, 2025
January 2025
- Jan 29, 2025 Why Don’t Students Like School? Jan 29, 2025
- Jan 26, 2025 Wellbeing Leadership Jan 26, 2025
- Jan 22, 2025 The Impact Cycle Jan 22, 2025
- Jan 19, 2025 The Sustainable Teacher Jan 19, 2025
- Jan 15, 2025 Shoe Dog Jan 15, 2025
- Jan 12, 2025 Classroom Vibe Jan 12, 2025
- Jan 8, 2025 Atomic Habits Jan 8, 2025
- Jan 5, 2025 So You Want to be a Principal Jan 5, 2025
- Jan 1, 2025 Ferocious Warmth Jan 1, 2025
December 2024
- Dec 22, 2024 Passion, Guts & Leadership Dec 22, 2024
- Dec 18, 2024 Grounded Dec 18, 2024
- Dec 15, 2024 Creating Connections Dec 15, 2024
- Dec 11, 2024 Harnessing the Science of Learning Dec 11, 2024
- Dec 8, 2024 Game Changers Dec 8, 2024
- Dec 4, 2024 Keeping Up With Teaching Dec 4, 2024
- Dec 1, 2024 Teaching One-Pagers Dec 1, 2024
November 2024
- Nov 27, 2024 The Leadership Game Nov 27, 2024
- Nov 24, 2024 Teacher Wellbeing Nov 24, 2024
- Nov 20, 2024 The Pruning Principle Nov 20, 2024
- Nov 17, 2024 The Anxious Generation Nov 17, 2024
- Nov 13, 2024 Co-Intelligence Nov 13, 2024
- Nov 10, 2024 The Connected Species Nov 10, 2024
- Nov 6, 2024 The Natural Advantage Nov 6, 2024
- Nov 3, 2024 Mentoring for Talent Nov 3, 2024
October 2024
- Oct 30, 2024 Stolen Focus Oct 30, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 Emotional Agility Oct 27, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 The Art of Skimming Stones Oct 27, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 Educate to Self-Regulate Oct 27, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 Leading Positive Classrooms Oct 27, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 Head and Heart Oct 27, 2024
- Oct 27, 2024 Difficult People Oct 27, 2024

Matt Pitman 11/6/25 Matt Pitman 11/6/25

The Next Word

AI & Teachers
Dr Nicholas Jackson and Matthew Esterman

Matt Pitman 8/6/25 Matt Pitman 8/6/25

Leading on Pastoral Care

A Guide to Improving Outcomes for Every Student
Daniel Sobel

Matt Pitman 4/6/25 Matt Pitman 4/6/25

Nuance

Why Some Leaders Succeed and Others Fail
Michael Fullan

Matt Pitman 1/6/25 Matt Pitman 1/6/25

What Works May Hurt

Side Effects in Education
Yong Zhao

Matt Pitman 28/5/25 Matt Pitman 28/5/25

Creating Trauma-Informed, Strengths-Based Classrooms

Teacher Strategies for Nurturing Students’ Healing, Growth, and Learning
Tom Brunzell Ph.D. and Jacolyn Norrish Ph.D.

Matt Pitman 25/5/25 Matt Pitman 25/5/25

Find Your Why

A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team
Simon Sinek, David Mead and Peter Docker

Matt Pitman 21/5/25 Matt Pitman 21/5/25

Dare To Lead

Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
Brené Brown

Matt Pitman 18/5/25 Matt Pitman 18/5/25

The Advice Trap

Be Humble, Stay Curious and Change the Way You Lead Forever
Michael Bungay Stanier

Matt Pitman 14/5/25 Matt Pitman 14/5/25

The Coaching Habit

Say Less, Ask More and Change the Way You Lead Forever
Michael Bungay Stanier

Matt Pitman 11/5/25 Matt Pitman 11/5/25

Thriving Together

A Blueprint for Flourishing Staff and Students
David Kolpak

Matt Pitman 7/5/25 Matt Pitman 7/5/25

When You’re the Adult in the Room

Adding to Your Classroom Confidence
Dr Andrew Wake

Matt Pitman 4/5/25 Matt Pitman 4/5/25

Now You Are A Principal

Navigating the Leadership Labyrinth
Dr Paul Teys

Matt Pitman 30/4/25 Matt Pitman 30/4/25

Hidden Potential

The Science of Achieving Greater Things
Adam Grant

Matt Pitman 27/4/25 Matt Pitman 27/4/25

The Infinite Game

From the Bestselling Author of Start With Why
Simon Sinek

Matt Pitman 23/4/25 Matt Pitman 23/4/25

Deep Work

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Cal Newport

Matt Pitman 16/4/25 Matt Pitman 16/4/25

Grit

Why Passion and Persistence are the Secrets to Success
Angela Duckworth

Matt Pitman 13/4/25 Matt Pitman 13/4/25

Think Again

The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
Adam Grant

Matt Pitman 9/4/25 Matt Pitman 9/4/25

Data-Informed Learners

Engaging Students in their Data Story
Dr Selena Fisk

Matt Pitman 6/4/25 Matt Pitman 6/4/25

The Buzz

Creating a Thriving and Collaborative Staff Learning Culture
Tracey Ezard

Matt Pitman 2/4/25 Matt Pitman 2/4/25

The Awkward Questions in Education

Unpicking the Elephants in the Room from AI to Teacher Retention
Al Kingsley

300 Words (or less)

MATT PITMAN