Passionate Teaching in Troubled Times

A revised edition of The Passionate Teacher, this is a must-read for every educator and future educator wanting and ready to invest wholeheartedly in shaping young minds.


Passion is not just a personality trait that some people have and others lack, but rather something discoverable, teachable, and reproducible. First published more than a quarter century ago, Passionate Teaching in Troubled Times is a hopeful guide to motivated instruction, drawing on the voices, stories, and success of teachers in urban, suburban, and rural classrooms. These ideas, and the stories of the inspiring teachers who embodied them, are as vivid and pertinent today as they were in 1995. But so much in education has changed.

As American politics are swept up in antagonism, division, and what appears to be a rebellion by vast swaths of the population against science, knowledge, reason, and truth—all of which can manifest as being against education—this revised edition of The Passionate Teacher seeks to address the new problems, opportunities, and conditions that have shaped education today: post-COVID learning, teaching history and social science without fear, encouraging kindness and anti-bullying in today's classrooms, confronting truths and falsehoods, and more.

The three pillars of the original edition: The Passion, The Stance, and The Game of School remain at the core of the book, amplified by five new chapters, including the voices of Teachers of the Year like Joshua Chard from Maine, De’Shawn Washington from Massachusetts, Carly Maloney from Utah, and Taylor Bussinger from Kansas.

Written in a non-jargon, down-to-earth style, Passionate Teaching in Troubled Times is what new and veteran teachers, and those who hire and mentor them, are looking for. With new material, this book offers the wisdom of teachers who daily employ their skills, their knowledge, their experience, and above all their devotion to every student in their path.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs