I have observed that other bloggers with an audience of educators have been suggesting books for summer reading. I have decided to do the same. My first set of recommendations concerns what I would describe as an attempt to broaden the context for educational practice. The notion that educators can keep their heads down and ignore the political and economic context within which they work drives me crazy. The following recommendations concern issues I think are major factors in establishing the context for the future of education. I have made a conscious attempt to ignore books about political processes. Of course, these books concern issues that some have politicized. I believe the issues addressed are important no matter how politicians choose to spin them.
Friedman. Hot, flat and crowded: Why we need a green revolution. I have read all of Friedman’s books and this is perhaps the one that summarizes most of his key ideas – we must accept our interdependence (globalization) to address the most serious problems we face; e.g., climate change, population growth.
Goldsmith and Wu. Who Controls the Internet: Illusions of a borderless world. I have long hoped that Internet access would be a way to give more individuals more power and opportunities. This book argues against this hope and explains what those of us who are advocates might do about the direction we are heading.
Brynjolfsson and McAfee. The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. I would describe this as a description of the future of work (AI, robots, skills influencing employment opportunities) and the disruption why must work through in getting from here to there.