If the title of this book sounds familiar to you, it might be because you have witnessed author Taylor Mali perform the poem of the same title -- a stirring and freshly modern defense of teaching -- at your school or local performance space. Or maybe it was forwarded to you as a text via email, with Taylor Mali's name attached (or not). Or maybe you are one of the people responsible for the SIX MILLION+ hits the poem has received on YouTube (feel free to look it up yourself if you haven't seen it yet). And based on this, and Taylor's decade-plus long career as a touring poet & teaching artist, you might assume that this book is a collection of poetry.
But while "What Teachers Make" (the book!) does contain (some) poetry, it is so much more than that.
In this extraordinarily charming book of essays, Mali shares his thoughtful & smart insights on the ups and downs, challenges and breakthroughs, struggles and triumphs that comes the mantle of teaching. Mali inspires and motivates, and through an extensive collection of poignant & funny anecdotes showcases how teaching is truly a science and an art... and perhaps more than that, it is a calling which should be deeply respected and honored.
I highly recommend this book to any teachers or teachers-to-be. But also, I would recommend it to the parents or skeptical family members of people who are choosing the teaching profession. It makes an incredible & compelling case for teaching, and I wouldn't be surprised if people began gifting "What Teachers Makes" to the disbelieving people in their lives, and simply said, "Read this. It will explain everything."