Alexander Conquers the World: A Story About Learning and Motivation

ISBN-13: 9781502531858 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 300 str.

Martin Lehn

Opis

When teenaged Alexander meets the mysterious teacher Chiron, it marks the beginning of an intellectual journey that will change his life. Alexander becomes fascinated by the man's breadth of knowledge and begins to realize that there is more to life than playing computer games and, more importantly, realizes that Chiron can teach him how to succeed.

In Alexander Conquers the World, Martin Lehn offers his reading audience a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, humor, and understanding of what it takes to motivate young people to learn and succeed in life. He does this in the form of clever multigenre fiction composed of authorial narrative, as well as emails and computer chats between Alexander and Chiron. The result is a fascinating look at what can happen when a complete stranger voluntarily takes on the role of mentor to a teenage boy trying to discover who he is and where he is going in life. Each chapter focuses on one key to success. The story follows Alexander's intellectual and emotional growth as he struggles to understand how motivation, mindset, sleep, exercise, willpower, habits, and diet are vital to successful learning. At times resistant to complying with Chiron's "assignments" and "missions," Alexander gradually understands that this mysterious man is teaching and sharing ideas far beyond what he has learned in school.

Recommended for everyone in pursuit of student success

Besides being an entertaining read, this multifaceted book can serve a variety of educational purposes. High school teachers can use it as supplemental reading for social studies, personal health, and psychology courses. The book can also be useful at the college level for entering freshmen trying to find their way around the often-confusing college campus, whether it involves academic pursuits, social endeavors, or personal relationships.

Alexander Conquers the World is sure to find a home on the shelves of teachers, students, and anyone else interested in educational fiction as an alternative to direct, didactic instruction. Offering a wealth of knowledge on a variety of subjects, this unique book definitely has a place in high school and college libraries, as well as on the reading list of anyone between the ages of twelve and eighteen who wants to get the most out of life.