Book Recommendations: Q1 2025
As we close out the first quarter of the year, I wanted to share four standout books that have not only captured my attention but meaningfully informed my work as a school leader. Each offers something unique—whether it’s political insight, a hopeful view of our future, a model of radical Christian community, or a deeply literary meditation on faith and suffering. I believe all four have something essential to offer those of us working to lead schools with purpose and courage. Anyone interested in what else I've read, and will be reading throughout the year, can follow my progress on Goodreads.
1. Show Me a Hero by Lisa Belkin
Belkin’s masterful narrative about the battle over public housing in Yonkers during the 1980s is as gripping as any novel, but what makes it essential reading for school leaders is its exploration of political courage—and its absence. Through the story of Mayor Nick Wasicsko, we witness how institutional change collides with fear, prejudice, and the grinding machinery of bureaucracy. For anyone in education trying to implement equity-centered reforms, Show Me a Hero is a sobering reminder that moral leadership comes at a cost, and that meaningful change always requires standing firm in the face of public pressure.
2. Abundance by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson
Klein’s newest work is a hopeful, research-driven argument for what’s possible when systems are designed to scale progress instead of bottleneck it. While not written specifically for educators, his core message—that abundance, not scarcity, should shape our policymaking—has deep implications for school systems. Leaders of under-resourced schools will find inspiration in his vision and a framework for reimagining what we consider feasible. Abundance challenges us to think big, build broadly, and refuse to accept artificial limits when human flourishing is at stake.
3. Circle of Hope by Eliza Griswold
Griswold’s Circle of Hope offers a compassionate and clear-eyed account of a progressive Christian community in Philadelphia navigating questions of faith, justice, and belonging. Her reporting highlights the bold ways this church reimagines what it means to live out the gospel in urban America—focusing on shared life, radical inclusion, and deep engagement with the city’s marginalized. For Christian school leaders, the book invites reflection on how educational institutions can embody similar values: building communities marked by courage, compassion, and a commitment to transformation from the ground up.
4. James by Percival Everett
Everett’s reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim is both a literary tour de force and a profound act of narrative justice. This isn’t just a clever retelling—it’s a searing meditation on voice, identity, and the moral cost of systems built on dehumanization. For educators, especially those working to make curricula more inclusive and historically honest, James is a powerful reminder of the importance of whose story gets told—and who gets to tell it. Everett’s writing is precise, layered, and deeply moving.