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Teacher Man  By  cover art

Teacher Man

By: Frank McCourt
Narrated by: Frank McCourt
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Publisher's summary

Nearly a decade ago Frank McCourt became an unlikely star when, at the age of 66, he burst onto the literary scene with Angela's Ashes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir of his childhood in Limerick, Ireland. Then came 'Tis, his glorious account of his early years in New York.

Now here at last, is McCourt's long-awaited audiobook about how his thirty-year teaching career shaped his second act as a writer. Teacher Man is also an urgent tribute to teachers everywhere. In bold and spirited prose featuring his irreverent wit and heartbreaking honesty, McCourt records the trials, triumphs, and surprises he faces in public high schools around New York City.

©2005 Green Peril Corp. (P)2005 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

  • Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Biography/Memoir

"Should be mandatory reading for every teacher in America. And it wouldn't hurt some politicians to read it, too." (Publishers Weekly)
"Teacher Man is an irresistible valedictory, about a man finding his voice in the classroom, on the page and in his soul." (The New York Times)

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What listeners say about Teacher Man

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

For the teachers

Those of you who are part of this circle, this is a must. If you teach, then you can relate and empathise with Teacher Man as he recalls and recounts his exploits as a HS English teacher in NYC.
Rather a slow read, with great highlight and some parts that drag on, perhaps it might be better with the abridged version.
Read by the author, always a plus!
Gold - for those who teach and can relate
Silver - for those who are looking for an interesting read, but slow.
Bronz - for those who want action adventure and wild themes.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful and fun

It was great listening to Frank McCourt recount his memories of teaching in New York City. He is honest, insightful, and humorous. He tells his story in a blunt and humorous way. He doesn't try to make himself sound like a goody-goody teacher who was out to save the world; yet he probably made a huge impact on many students. I will look at my students with "wider eyes and a better listening heart" from now on. He is definitely a "late bloomer" as he, himself admitted in his book. I loved his previous book, Angela's Ashes; tolerated his book Tis, but I LOVED this new book of his!!!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun, quick, well done!

"Quit bothering me, man". I don't know how ANYONE can tolerate teaching teens. God bless'm! I have some of my own. It is my opinion that teachers should be held in the highest esteem, paid exobintantly and worshipped by all. Teachers have the most important jobs in any society (no, I'm not a teacher). "Teacher Man" was absolutely fantastic and enjoyable. Read well... My only wish was that it was longer.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional Audiobook

I loved this book and wished it were longer. I could have listened to Frank McCourt's stories of teaching for hours and hours (and I heard the unabridged version). His teaching career ran the gamut of high school experiences -- from vocational high school to elite college prep, with a little community college thrown in. And somewhere in these teaching experiences, he "found himself."

Mr. McCourt is an exceptional reader -- better than most authors who read their own books. His accent is charming, and easy to understand. His voice added greatly to the memoir.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

More interesting stories from Mr. McCourt

This book contains more interesting stories about an interesting life. As you read (listen to) this book it is fun to keep in mind the Pulitzer Prize won by this most unassuming author. Angela's Ashes was one of the most amazing stories I have ever read. I also read and enjoyed ‘Tis. The author tells his own humble story as a long time high school teacher and never boasts about or even mentions his previous award winning best seller. This exemplifies the humility that makes him so great. He focuses on what he gained from his students and the experience in all his years of teaching English, not on what he gave back to the literary world. His perspective is refreshing to hear and I can’t wait for his next book.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful to listen to

This was the most wonderful memoir. McCourt has spoken for many educators who just want to be left alone to teach in classrooms of America. We want the politicians to just "Leave people alone" We are all doing the best that we can, considering the talent we have been sent. We help some to grow academically, but mostly we want to help them to grow into productive members of society. The politicians want us to send out a group of lemmings. Education is about teaching to differences and teaching diferently. McCourt celebrates just that as he reads to us about the love of his life... Helping children, and young adults to see the wonder within themsleves.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Mixed

This is a review from a teacher:
Frank McCourt won a Pulitzer Prize with his book Angela's Ashes (I have not read any of his other works and only read this because someone suggested that teachers should read it.). This book is an account of his time as an English teacher in inner-city New York. He taught there for more than 20 years and earned himself nothing. Yes, there were students who came back and said "You really influenced me.” Or “You made a big difference in my life." But what didn't happen, and what doesn't happen to nearly every single teacher you have ever had, is a secure ending. When he retired, he retired to an incredibly small teacher’s pension.

The praises of the students warms the hearts and souls of teachers but they do not warm houses. They do not put kids through college. They do not allow for dental work. They do not allow for their retirement to be secure. Nearly all students will earn more than the teacher who educated them. Most educated students will vote for an expansion of the football stadium over an increase in teacher salary despite the fact that their employer hired them because of their education.

So when I read this book, I see the same problems all teachers face. To be sure stupid students can be funny. Last year a student asked me whether or not we knew for certain the other planets were actually round (she meant spherical) or were they flat like the Bible says. In Oklahoma recently two industrial factories chose to locate in other states because the people of Oklahoma simply were not intelligent enough to work in a factory. This is not an isolated occurrence. So for me, a teacher, this book was depressing.

By the way, the highest paid a public official in the state of Oklahoma is Oklahoma's football coach who makes more than 2 million a year. Who is the highest-paid public servant in your state?

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

love the accent

This book was wonderful, a joy to hear. I liked the first two books a bit better though, this one was on self indulgent side. His stories of teaching high school kids are fun. A good listen.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

Reading this book confirmed to me that I went into the right profession. McCourt's stories about teaching for 30 years in NYC public schools was very inspirational to read and at times I just laughed out loud becuase I knew exactly what he was talking about. It really is a great read espeically if you are a teacher.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

another teacher

This past summer I heard the author speak at a teachers' convention...I had to get the book. It is his narration that I enjoyed so much. After spending the majority of my adult life in the English classroom, his students, situations, administration, and frustrations came to life in a memorable and humorous way...(and believe me, it isn't often humorous at the time)...thanks to the author for the laughs and the tears...

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4 people found this helpful