Mr. Battle's Book Club

I believe that continuous learning is essential to growth, both as a person and as an educator. Reading self-improvement literature fuels my passion for understanding human potential, leadership, and the craft of teaching. Each book I explore shapes how I approach challenges, connect with students, and evolve as a leader.

Here's a collection of books I'm exploring and have discovered along my journey.

Currently Reading

Culture Code

by Daniel Coyle

Culture Code explores the hidden patterns behind successful teams and organizations. Coyle reveals how the best teams build trust, establish safety, and create an environment where excellence thrives through shared purpose and belonging.

Why it matters to me: Understanding team dynamics and creating a positive culture is fundamental to great teaching. This book helps me build ensembles where students feel safe taking risks, trusting each other, and pushing themselves toward excellence together.

Library

Peak

Anders Ericsson, Robert Pool

Peak dismantles the myth of innate talent and reveals the science of deliberate practice. Ericsson demonstrates how focused, purposeful effort, not genetics, is what separates exceptional performers from the rest.

Why it matters to me: This book fundamentally changed how I approach teaching. I'm captivated by Ericsson's concept of "deliberate practice", the idea that improvement comes through targeted, challenging work with immediate feedback. My favorite insight is that talent is built, not inherited. I apply this directly in my ensembles by designing rehearsals around specific technical challenges, giving students clear feedback in the moment, and helping them understand that struggle is a sign of growth, not failure. Every student can become exceptional through purposeful practice and the right mindset.

Refuse to Choose!

Barbara Sher

Refuse to Choose! speaks to people with many passions and shows that you do not need to pick just one path to live a meaningful life. Sher reframes curiosity as a strength and offers practical ways to build a life that honors multiple interests.

Why it matters to me: One of my favorite parts of this book is how it validates being multi-passionate. As a teacher, arranger, designer, pilot, programmer, engineer, and many more, that message resonates deeply. It reminds me to encourage students to explore broadly, trust their curiosity, and see diverse interests as an advantage that can fuel creativity and confidence.