As a school Governor I was interested in this book of anecdotes about life as a teacher. Sadly there was insufficient threads linking the stories together and so I just lurched from one incident to another. Not engaging enough to keep my attention from wandering, I stopped reading at 55% and haven’t gone back to it. Think that’s a C-, Sir!!

This is the teacher's answer to Adam Kay's "This Is Going To Hurt". I love books that take you behind the scenes into what a place/job is really like, and Wilson absolutely nailed it. Brutally honest and funny, "Let That Be a Lesson" is hilarious and fascinating. Thank you so much for the ARC!

I loved this book. As a retired maths teacher I understood and could relate to so much of the book. The humour expressed was just delightful. A great refreshing book that shows the dedication of teachers as well as some of the trials that they have to go through. As Ryan says there is nothing in the world that beats the inner thrill and warmth when a child understand what is being taught. Highly recommend.

A brilliant insight into the life of a teacher from a newly qualified teacher who progressed through the system to being the head of a senior schools English department but eventually had to leave as the bureaucracy became too much and the joy was sucked out of actually teaching
Teaching certainly isn't the easy option a lot of people think it is !

While I enjoyed Put a Wet Paper Towel On It, by far my favorite of the two books has Let That Be a Lesson by Ryan Wilson. This memoir-style book by a former secondary school English teacher follows his career in chronological order starting with his time as a teaching trainee at university, continuing to his first year teaching in an inner-city secondary school, then moving through his various promotions to Head of Department and eventually his decision to leave teaching altogether.

As this is more of a memoir than a collection of individual themed sections, it is far more personal and follows the author’s own story – although many of the incidents he recounts will likely be familiar to many teachers. The book is also an emotional rollercoaster that at times had me genuinely laughing out loud, cringing from second-hand embarrassment, and almost brought me to tears on several occasions. There were also some stomach-churning moments such as a false allegation of sexual assault against the author that reminded me how every day as a teacher is filled with the unexpected and that far from knowing their subjects, possibly the biggest requirement for the job is being able to face these endlessly bizarre, frustrating, and occasionally terrifying moments without faltering.

Despite being more a narrative of a personal journey than a true look behind the scenes of a secondary school, I absolutely loved Let That Be a Lesson and ended up rating it a full 5/5. Not only was it a thoroughly interesting and engaging story, but it also reminded me that all the teachers my son is about to meet during his own journey through secondary school are real people facing their own challenges and to cut them as much slack as possible in the times that frustrations will inevitably bubble up.

It's a perfect mix of humour, poigancy, angst, frustration and inspiration, presented as a series of episodes rather than a strict chronological account. And it had me laughing out loud.

There are classroom mishaps and misunderstandings, high jinx in the staffroom, wise-cracking pupils, and various examples of how teachers can never really switch off - sitting bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night as if to discipine a class, then immediately falling back into a deep sleep, or assertively telling pupils how to queue outside a theatre and inadvertently rounding up random members of the public in the process.

It's hilarious. I've gone back to some of the stories a few times now, because I found them so entertaining but this book is also another reminder of how many talented, gifted, committed individuals we are losing due to the unrealistic expectations that are placed upon them.

The author, Ryan Wilson had always wanted to be a teacher, even playing at class (where he was in charge) while he was still at primary school.

Sadly the bureaucracy, ever-changing fashions of best practice, lack of resources and the political point-scoring eventually wore him down and this book is his parting gift as he moves on to another career in journalism.

As he describes his own route from first training as a teacher, to being appointed a department head, he shows us the multitude of qualities needed to lead young people through the education system, and he highlights the outstanding individuals he's met who have been called to this profession. It really is inspiring and uplifting, rather sad occasionally, but with lots of incidents which will make you laugh. I hope you'll take a look.

The thought of being a teacher brings me out in a cold sweat, however I have many friends who are teachers and I know from some of their anecdotes that this book had the potential to deliver great entertainment. I was not disappointed.
It was utterly brilliant - obviously the writing was going to be...would be rather worrying from an English teacher had it not. However it also offered a very open and honest feel, self deprecating in parts (which I perhaps wouldn't have expected from a teacher!!) and insights and stories from angles that I wasn't expecting, such as the interrelationship between colleagues and the bonds that form.
There are the hilarious moments I was sure would be present but some of the tragic and heartfelt aspects worked beautifully to balance the book and make it 'un-put-down-able'. I hope if the author ever reads this review, as an English teacher he will appreciate that word!
If you have friends who work in education of have fond memories of your own then I would strongly recommend this little gem.

Let That Be a Lesson by Ryan Wilson is an eye-opening account of what it is really like to be a secondary school teacher in Britain. It gives an insight into daily life, relationships with fellow colleagues, provides entertaining stories of interactions with students and it is unapologetically political in terms of addressing the things that desperately need changing and updating within the education system.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This is the book I’ve been waiting so long to read. A few years ago I read and fell in love with Adam Kay’s ‘This is Going to Hurt’; it was moving, hilarious and heart breaking in equal measure. I found myself hoping that someone would write a similar book recounting my own profession - teaching. Ryan Wilson does this perfectly.

It recounts Wilson’s experiences throughout his teaching career, right from the beginning, with the perfect mixture of hilarious anecdotes and insights into how schools operate. He made the stories accessible and enlightening without being too bogged down in the many acronyms we use in teaching (something that all other educational memoirs I’ve read failed to do). He really captured the best and worst parts about the job in these pages, including the fears, embarrassments and frustrations teachers face on a daily basis. The ending was particularly poignant and emotional, and just completely hits the nail on the head.

One of my most highly recommended memoirs of this year. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC!

This book certainly had it all, humor and raw emotion from a secondary school teacher. I was told that is was very much like Adam Kay’s book so I grab at the chance to read it. I loved the writing style and the diary entries worked well. Overall fantastic look at the uk schooling system

This book was not quite what I was expecting. It was a bit more autobiographical than sticking just to teaching, and this was a good thing. It also was a seesaw of hysterical anecdotes and serious, often heartbreaking themes.

The book is quick to read and has a very easy style about it. Short chapters and snappy anecdotes help to keep it moving.

The serious points are well worth listening to and thinking about, and I sincere my Hope a future education secretary does read this.

An enlightening and entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this memoir, Ryan Wilson writes about his time as a teacher. He starts with his experiences as a trainee and goes on to write about memorable moments and stories over the years. The book is a tribute to the colleagues who befriended him and to the chaotic, brilliant, maddening students who inspired and enraged him. Above all, it's about the lessons they taught him: how to be patient and resilient, how to live authentically and how to value every day.

I was so excited for this review copy because I was approved two weeks before my first practical training in a school during my bachelor‘s degree. So this was honestly perfect timing. 😁
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I really enjoyed all the short stories. It‘s such an engaging memoir and it was so easy to read. And I love how humorous and honest Wilson‘s short stories are. The stories are a good mix of funny and more serious stories and advice. 😊
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Wilson does not hold back on his views on the education system in England, and I agree with his criticism. Since I‘m German, a lot of things about the English education system were new for me because it‘s different in Germany. And I also think that the teaching profession is a more respected job here. I never get any negative reactions when I tell people I want to become a teacher. Not even cool people at parties who smoke weed, are heavily drunk and love partying all night react negatively to it. Most people are either impressed or at least don’t say anything negative. So in that sense, I couldn’t really relate to Wilson. 😅
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But his short stories made me excited to go to school and teach students in the future. 🤩 I never lost interest in the book and I loved picking it back up. Overall I highly recommend this to teachers, teachers-to-be and everyone who is interested in learning more about the education system in England. 😊
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My favourite quote: ✨“Your greatest tool is not your books, not your fancy projector, not your cleverly thought-out starter activity. The absolute number one thing is your relationship with the students in front of you, and even more important, how they perceive you think of them.” ✨
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CW: loved ones diagnosed with cancer, repeated mention of cancer, death

This isn't my typical type of book but I thought I would try something different and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So realistic and hilarious throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed the style in which it is written in. I loved the flow of the book as diary entries. I think lockdown and home schooling showed just how heroic teachers are and has made this book even more interesting!

It doesn't just share stories from the classroom it delves deeper into topics such as budget cuts and Ofsted and the pressures felt from teachers.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publishers for an advanced copy

Having read positive reviews and comparisons to Adam Kay I was very attracted to this book. It did not disappoint!
This charts Ryan’s journey from aspiring teacher, through teacher training to qualification, promotion and eventual exit..It is firstly a personal journey encompassing Ryan’s personal and professional growth, his relationships and coming to terms with his own sexuality. It is also a portrayal of a profession at the mercy of fickle politics, shortages, changing society and parental values. The writing is funny, sad, reflective, full of great and memorable characters including Ryan himself.
The comparison to Adam Kay holds up well. In both cases full of writing which is punchy, witty and sad with short chapters filled with anecdotes. Both writers bring a sharp and loving critique to professions which are vital and supposedly valued, but which are under resourced and neglected. And ultimately although both writers are worthy exemplars of their professions, they suffer at its hands and like so many eventually leave.
A great read for teachers, non teachers ..everyone!
With thanks to Netgalley and Random House U.K. Vintage for a copy of this book.

Thank you to @rhwilson83 and @ChattoBooks for this advanced copy of Let That Be a Lesson: A Teacher’s Life in the Classroom in return for an honest review. Let That Be a Lesson was published on 19th August 2021 and you can get a copy here.

Description 🔖

Ryan Wilson wanted to be a teacher from the age of eight and his dream came true. This book is the story of his career from brand new trainee English teacher to assistant head. He chronicles hilarious and touching stories and anecdotes about his pupils but also the lessons that he learnt during his time in the education sector.

General Thoughts 🤔

I really enjoy these kinds of books that give us all an insight into the inner workings of particular professions. When I saw this book on the radar it grabbed my attention immediately. I’m so glad that I read it as not only did it make me laugh, it put numerous lumps in my throat. Kids truly do say the funniest things and I imagine that the sprinkling of hilarious comments included in this book are just a few that Ryan Wilson could share.

As well as all of the above, I learnt a lot about our school system in the UK. I’ve always known that schools and teachers are put under an incredible amount of pressure but I don’t think I truly appreciated how poor our government are at policy and decision making. When it was put right in front of my face, it became obvious to me how bizarre it is to have someone in government making decisions on curriculum that has never and does not work in education. My education was by no means perfect but I adored my school years and I’d do anything to do them all over again. I do not envy the pupils and teachers that are battling through the education system now.

Writing Style ✍️

I liked that the book included classroom stories, facts and information about schools and government and also personal background about Ryan Wilson. I would have liked to have read more about the education system and how financial and curriculum decisions have and do impact schools, staff and children. I appreciate that would have made this into more of a reference book but it has piqued my interest now and I need to read more. So I do have this author to thank for that.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖️

I truly enjoyed and appreciated this book. It taught me a lot and I agreed with a lot of the thoughts that were presented by the author. As a step mom to two children of school age, I can only hope that they both have teachers in their lives like Ryan Wilson.

Some seriously LOL moments in this one, and some that hooked me from the off. Also some serious ones, and poignant and thought provoking. Great mix, but I have to say that my favourite moments were more about teachers messing up, or something seriously funny a kid did. Thoroughly entertaining.

If you are a teacher, you'll love this book. If you have ever been through the education system in the UK, you will recognise SO much.

I shall be buying copies for the teachers that I know.

Ryan Wilson started teaching, starry eyed and convinced he would make a difference to children's lives. This book charts his story, how he coped with those early days, how he was left to struggle as a trainee, how he managed to learn the skills to encourage and help children, even the unwilling ones, to appreciate English literature. And ultimately, how Ofsted and the increasing importance of statistics and cost-cutting caused him to review his chosen career choice.

Its an entertaining read - snippets of tales, some funny, a few sad, and a glimpse into a life of a man who was determined to teach his beloved subject. Wish more teachers were like Wilson. And more politicians and Education ministers understood the importance of what he says.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage and Chatto & Windusand for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Funny and thought provoking, the life of a secondary school teacher from qualifying as a student teacher to working as an Assistant Head. Very enjoyable although the frustrations of working with the constraints of government regulations and Ofsted are very clearly an issue.

Ryan Wilson’s Let That Be a Lesson: A Teacher’s Life in the Classroom tells an incredibly engaging and inspiring autobiographical tale, taking the reader by the arm through the dizzying, hilarious highs and heart-wrenching, disillusioning lows of Wilson’s dream career.

Overall, Wilson’s Let That be a Lesson is an outstanding, gripping and informative read that you won’t regret giving your time to in the slightest.