Rapid-Fire Question from Season 2: Book Suggestions
Looking for inspiration to expand your knowledge in Learning and Development or education? This article summarizes the responses to our EdTalks podcast rapid-fire question from season 2: “What book or resource would you recommend on L&D or an educational topic?”
From practical handbooks like Map It by Cathy Moore to thought-provoking reads like Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, and even unconventional picks like Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, our featured experts share their favorite book suggestions 2025. Discover their insights, learn about impactful books, and find tools to elevate your learning journey.
Tamara Perminova
One of the latest books I’ve read is Design for How People Learn by Julie Dirksen. I highly recommend it because it’s very engaging, which might sound surprising for a nonfiction book. It has a great structure with lots of pictures and visuals.
Diana Oliveira
I’d recommend a resource since things are changing all the time. Following L&D Shakers is a great option—they recently shared 800+ L&D resources that are organized and categorized. I think it’s a great resource to use.
Giuseppe Perrone
I’ll go with a book I recently found fascinating: Actionable Gamification by Yu-kai Chou. It explores the drives that make people interested in something. While it can be applied to many fields, its application to education is especially relevant. I think there’s a lot we, as educators, can take from it.
Ren Narciso
I’d recommend the book Map It by Cathy Moore. It’s about action mapping, and it’s very practical—it’s practically my Bible! It helps me design and prioritize training interventions effectively.
Anastasiia Naumenko
My recent favorite book, though not strictly about L&D, is Get Together by Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh, and Kai Elmer Sotto. It’s about building communities. Community is such a big part of any process—building trust and a sense of belonging is critical for learning. I highly recommend this book.
Mike Taylor
One of my favorite books, which has influenced my mindset in many areas, including learning design, is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It’s about how our brains work, diving into cognitive foundations. The book explains two thinking systems—fast, intuitive thinking (System 1) and slow, deliberate thinking (System 2). It’s rooted in psychology and behavioral science, making it highly relevant for capturing attention and influencing behavior.
Dr. Steve Ritter
One book I recommend is Failure to Disrupt by Justin Reich. It’s about how educational technology hasn’t always delivered on its promises and what edtech creators need to do to make a real impact in schools. Another great resource is The Learning Engineering Toolkit by Jim Goodell. It’s an excellent guide, especially for technical professionals working on educational technology and learning engineering.
Unekwu-Ojo Shaibu
I’d echo Dr. Steve Ritter’s recommendation of Failure to Disrupt—it’s a fantastic book. Another I’d recommend is How We Learn: The New Science of Education and the Brain by Stanislas Dehaene. It examines learning from a neuroscience perspective, exploring questions like “What is learning?” The book discusses four pillars of learning—active engagement, error feedback, attention, and consolidation—and how these enhance the learning process. Another great resource is E-Learning and the Science of Instruction by Ruth Clark and Richard Mayer, which focuses on designing effective online learning solutions.
Anna Danylenko
I’ll be honest—I don’t read a lot, not because I don’t enjoy it, but because I struggle with time management. However, I’d recommend two books: No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. As for resources, I’d suggest the L&D Academy and L&D Community YouTube channels. The latter is particularly great for Ukrainian speakers.
Imran Tanveer
This question often comes up, especially about transitioning into L&D. A handy starter guide I recommend is L&D Essentials: A Starter’s Handbook, written by Inna Horvath! I’ve read it and started recommending it to others. It’s an excellent resource for anyone looking to grasp the fundamentals of L&D and make the leap into this domain.
Anser Aly
The first book that comes to mind is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s unconventional for L&D, but I consider it the “mother of all books.” It gives a profound understanding of humanity, from our origins as hunter-gatherers to forming societies and how storytelling shaped us. It’s a must-read, not just for learning design but for understanding us as a species.
Tim Logan
I’d recommend The Age of Experiences by Benjamin Klein and Joseph Pine. While I don’t identify strictly as an L&D professional, this book, centered on experience design, is highly relevant. It delves into the rise of experiences over the last 50 years and incorporates positive psychology, making it invaluable for creating impactful learning experiences.
