Five Books You’ll Love That Teach you Something Too!
I’ve always loved to learn. Perhaps that’s part of the reason I became a teacher. I especially love learning through one of my favorite hobbies: reading. A book can be great for a lot of reasons, but if you’re looking for a book you’ll enjoy reading that will also teach you something, I have a list for you! I hope you’ll check these out!
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The Art Forger
I’ve always had an appreciation for beautiful art, but I can’t say I ever knew very much about it. This book changed that for me. The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro, follows Claire, who paints reproductions of famous artworks while she’s experiencing a slump in her own artwork. She is approached about painting a reproduction of a stolen Degas painting called After the Bath (that was actually stolen in real life!). She agrees but eventually realizes that the one she has is fake and the stolen one is still out there somewhere.
It’s a great mystery and a true page turner. But what I’ve carried with me since reading it is a lot of knowledge about the art world. I found myself researching the actual theft of the painting and learning more about art restoration and reproductions. I’ve also become a big fan of Degas’ work. So if you want to learn more about art and enjoy a great book, check this one out!
Click here to buy it!
Just Mercy
Ever since I was a kid in Sunday school, I’ve heard the verse about “Seek Justice, Love Mercy.” But those words took on a new meaning for me after reading this book. Here, Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer who specializes in defending death row inmates, examines with startling scrutiny the justice system in America. It’s very readable and, surprisingly, a page-turner, especially if you have any interest in the subject of criminal law.
In this book, Stevenson presents the true stories of people who are sentenced to death, some of whom were innocent. He does a good job of explaining how the legal system actually works in a criminal trial, gives a lot of historical data about incarcerations in America, and provides some insights from his decades of legal experience. He’s definitely presenting you with ideas here that will make you think. In some cases, he changed my views. In others, I disagree with him. But now I’m more knowledgeable about what I think the ideas of “justice” and “mercy” mean after reading this book.
Click here to buy it!
A Walk in the Woods or Becoming Odyssa
My family and I love hiking, but until the last few years I didn’t know a lot about one of the most famous hiking trails: The Appalachian Trail. I actually can blame this one on my brother-in-law Michael, who has actually hiked part of The Appalachian Trail. He talked so highly of his experience that I found myself wanting to know more about it, so I read A Walk in the Woods, one of the most famous books about the Appalachian Trail. It’s funny and informative and just a really enjoyable read all the way through. Bryson is a little irreverent, and some of the silly antics in the book are off-putting to those who would prefer a more introspective read.
If you’d rather read a book centered around a woman or someone on a faith journey, you might prefer Becoming Odyssa. Michael recomended this one to me after I read A Walk in the Woods. I like both books, so pick the one that sounds most like you!
Click here to buy A Walk in the Woods!
Click here to buy Becoming Odyssa!
The Good Knight
I love a good mystery and this series is one of my recent favorites. The Good Knight is the first book in the series, and it takes place in the 1100s and introduces us to Gareth, a respected knight, and Gwen, a spy for Hywel, the second son of the King of Wales. Suddenly, there’s a dead body, and these two get thrust into positions as Medieval CSIs.
Sarah Woodbury is actually a historian, so there is a layer of truth that these books are built on. Hywel and the other members of the royal family were real people who lived in the 1100s. And the murder victim actually died the way it was presented in the book. I’ve read 10 of the 14 books in this series and loved them all. They are exciting mysteries and the writing is smart and clean. And they have taught me a lot of actual history about a place and time I knew nothing about. If you are a history buff or love mysteries, I hope you’ll check them out!
Click here to buy it!
Thirteen Reasons Why
I know this is a controversial book, but it has so much to teach. Thirteen Reasons Why follows high school student, Clay, who receives tapes from Hannah Baker, a classmate who took her own life weeks before. Hannah used these tapes to tell her story, and sent them to the first person on a list of 13. Each person passes them on to the next, each person filling in a piece of the puzzle as to what happened to Hannah.
I can’t say I felt good after reading this book. But I was so glad I read it. It really helped me to understand the way a teenager’s mind can work when dealing with thoughts of suicide and emotional trauma, and I think I have a better read on what those warning signs can look like. This book was eye-opening for me, and as a high school teacher, that knowledge is so important. Hannah was definitely a compelling character, but it was Clay who resonated with me. If you’ve ever lost someone to suicide, you’ll feel his guilt and grief and understand his questions and frustrations. I recommend that anyone with a teenager in your life read this book.
Click here to buy it!
I hope you find a book on this list that has something to teach you. I think it’s important in life to never stop learning. So, if you have a book you love that has something to teach, drop a comment below!
And check out some of these other great posts with book recommendations:
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