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Letters to a Young Teacher MP3 CD – Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

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Jonathan Kozol (Author)
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Jonathan Kozol (Author), David Drummond (Narrator)
3.9 out of 5 stars 33 customer reviews
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$16.48 FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books. Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
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Product Details

  • MP3 CD
  • Publisher: Tantor Audio; MP3 - Unabridged CD edition (October 15, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1400155460
  • ISBN-13: 978-1400155460
  • Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 7.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,050,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsThought-provoking in places
By Canadian Reader on April 25, 2008
Format: Hardcover
This is a worthwhile read. There are ideas, which, while not exactly new, are refreshing--for example: the assertion that teaching is an art, not a science and that the creativity and personality of the teacher matter (allowing a sort of alchemy to take place). Kozol's comments on teachers' enslavement to standardized tests and to teaching standards in general certainly resonated for me. Having said that, I found the tone of the book occasionally pretentious and the format--only Kozol's letters to the teacher and not the teacher's missives to him---rather forced and artificial. This is not Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, on which, I suspect, Kozol's text is modeled. I think collection of personal essays would have been a more natural fit.
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5.0 out of 5 starsTells it like it is
By L. Jones on June 27, 2008
Format: Hardcover
As one who works with teachers and visits inner city school classrooms on a regular basis, I can say that Jonathan Kozol accurately describes the problems in our schools today. He convincingly demonstrates that "No Child Left Behind" not only fails to promote real, sustainable school reform, but actually supports the forces driving schools (and society) back to segregation and inequality not so different from the time before Brown vs. the Board of Education. At the same time, his letters celebrate the many ways that innovative teachers instill hope and a love of learning in their young charges, despite these conditions. Every teacher would find some value in this book, because practices like the ones Kozol describes are not taught in many schools of education today.
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4.0 out of 5 starsA thoughtful gift for a new teacher
By S. Kay Murphy VINE VOICE on September 7, 2008
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
At this writing, this book is averaging four stars in terms of reviews, and I think that's about right. As a high school English teacher, I found some sections--especially those regarding standardized testing and how public education does not address the needs of poor children--quite compelling and validating. However, as another reviewer mentioned, I had difficulty with Kozol's tone at times, which seems just a bit condescending and does not match the acceptance and warmth he alleges to share with children. Well, I suppose there are those of us who get on much better with young people than we do adults. I do appreciate Kozol's wisdom and especially his willingness to toss aside what administrators dictate and teach in a manner that is in the best interest of the children. That is perhaps the most abiding lesson in this book.
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5.0 out of 5 starsReading for every one!
By B. Gstalder on February 16, 2008
Format: Hardcover
This book is an inspiration for teachers, young and seasoned, people thinking of going into teaching and even retired teachers like myself!It is never too late to realize that the problems of inner city schools are huge but not insurmountable. Kozol makes an eloquent case.
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5.0 out of 5 starsI'm Self Smarted.
By Ricky Grade Ten on February 15, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
The thing with me is I'm self smarted. I like, just smarting myself. Sos I go and got this book sos I can understand what trinity is going through down at the school. I dont have enough people words to make it understand you the way it understands me but I like what this guy is saying is all.
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3.0 out of 5 starsNot the worst, not the best.
By Jessica Hongach on January 30, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Although this book had a lot of great insight, it was almost too complex and text-booky. I would have enjoyed this book more if it was written more like a casual conversation with a friend, which I think is what this book was aiming for, since it is written using a series of letters.
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4.0 out of 5 starsMagnificent souls
By wiredweird HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER on February 26, 2010
Format: Paperback
I'm a teacher, among other things, and always looking to do better in that part of my career. And, although I've been teaching for a number of years, I consider myself inexperienced and eager to learn from others' experience. Reading this book brought at least three surprises: the first, something of a disappointment; the second, an overwhelming sense of admiration; the third, a furious outrage.

I teach at the college level - mostly grad students, so far, but an undergrad class this term. My disappointment lay in finding that this describes the experiences of an early-primary teacher. Her 'leaky little people,' the six year olds in her classes, have little in common with my students. I already know I lack the patience to work well with a room full of small children, so I almost put the book down when I found out how it was oriented. It just doesn't say a lot to my experience or aspirations. Still, I persevered.

That led to the second and most rewarding of the surprises I found in this book. I genuinely admire anyone with talents I lack, the knack for effectiveness with children being just one. Still, reading this gave me a new a more profound respect for those thousands of women and men who, outside of family, are the most important people in our children's lives. I know that people find themselves drawn to teaching young children. I didn't understand just how deep within a person lies the source of that urge. Kozol's letters to a real but pseudonymous Francesca show that in two ways. First, the passion to teach, to be part of children's lives, is as omnipresent in their worlds as air and gravity are in mine - and as essential to their lives.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsRepeated Correspondence
By RCM VINE VOICE on August 14, 2009
Format: Hardcover
"Letters To A Young Teacher" by Jonathan Kozol, its title a reference to a work by Rilke, is a collection of letters that Kozol wrote to a first-year teacher in an inner-city Boston school. It is familiar stomping ground for Kozol, having begun his teaching career in the same setting, and having devoted his life afterwards to spending time with children of poverty in inner-city slums, documenting their lives and the ways in which public education has failed them. Kozol's books are always an enlightening (and sometimes righteously infuriating) read, but "Letters To A Young Teacher" has almost too much repetition from previous works for those who have read other Kozol books.

Kozol's letters are written to a teacher named Francesca during her first year of teaching. In his letters he highlights conversations that they have had and shares his thoughts on visits to her classroom. He includes his own experiences in his responses (often drawing on material that has previously been published) and his thoughts about education reform. Kozol, whose experience ranges over 40 years, is an adept and intelligent advocate for public education reform, and I am grateful that he continues to push for policies that may never be enacted since all too often the people who make decisions regarding education do not have the slightest idea of what would best help the situation. Too many times the choices they do make and the policies they do put in place are much more damaging to young children than they are helpful.

"Letters To A Young Teacher", while a fast read filled with an intelligent and lucid cry for educational advocacy, seems to be missing something. Perhaps it is because we only see Kozol's letters and therefore really do not share in his experiences in Francesca's classroom.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Good condition

Published 2 months ago by Halea
5.0 out of 5 starsDdelivery and condition just as expected. This was a ...

Ddelivery and condition just as expected. This was a gift for my son. He was eagerly showing it to his aunt (a teacher) at Christmas and they both agreed that this is what he... Read more

Published 2 months ago by lascatx
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Sincere wisdom to impart to young teachers. This should be required reading for those in the field of education.

Published 9 months ago by Angie
5.0 out of 5 starsActually really liked it

Our daughter needed this for a class & absolutely loved reading this book

Published 11 months ago by Priscilla DiNatale
3.0 out of 5 starsWhy do I feel that this book is too much ...

Why do I feel that this book is too much about policy issue? I thought it was about how to help a new teacher get through the first year.

Published 14 months ago by yongyan
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Inspiring.

Published 20 months ago by Andrew Baldwin
4.0 out of 5 starsboring

this was a required book for school. I would never read it only on my own and I would not recommend it if you are looking for a fun book to read.

Published 22 months ago by Laurel
5.0 out of 5 starsEasy to read, heartwarming, and somewhat practical

I recommend this book to starting teachers. It's an easy read, and it reminds us of why we teach and what's at stake.

Published on February 12, 2014 by Erika D. Garvin
4.0 out of 5 starsGood read!

Had to read "Letters to a Young Teacher" for school. Came in great shape, and quickly. Good read! Interesting concepts.

Published on August 8, 2013 by KayteaDoubleyew
5.0 out of 5 starsFeedback

The book was also really enjoyable to read. I won't give away any spoilers. It was a great introduction to teaching.

Published on January 31, 2013 by Maurissa

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