Buy used:
$6.51
FREE delivery May 15 - 16. Details
Or fastest delivery May 9 - 10. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Frank McCourt
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

TEACHER MAN Hardcover – Import, January 1, 2005

by Frank McCourt (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 371 ratings
See all formats and editions
A third memoir from the author of the huge international bestsellers ‘Angela’s Ashes’ and ‘‘Tis’. In ‘Teacher Man’, Frank McCourt details his illustrious, amusing, and sometimes rather bumpy years as an English teacher in the public high schools of New York City.Frank McCourt arrived in New York as a young, impoverished and idealistic Irish boy – but who crucially had an American passport, having been born in Brooklyn. He didn't know what he wanted except to stop being hungry and to better himself. On the subway he watched students carrying books. He saw how they read and underlined and wrote things in the margin and he liked the look of this very much. He joined the New York Public Library and every night when he came back from his hotel work he would sit up reading the great novels.Building his confidence and his determination, he talked his way into NYU and gained a literature degree and so began a teaching career that was to last thirty years, working in New York’s public high schools. Frank estimates that he probably taught 12,000 children during this time and it is on this relationship between teacher and student that he reflects in ‘Teacher Man’, the third in his series of memoirs.The New York high school is a restless, noisy and unpredictable place and Frank believes that it was his attempts to control and cajole these thousands of children into learning and achieving something for themselves that turned him into a writer. At least once a day someone would put up their hand and shout ‘Mr. McCourt, Mr. McCourt, tell us about Ireland, tell us about how poor you were…’ Through sharing his own life with these kids he learnt the power of narrative storytelling, and out of the invaluable experience of holding 12,000 people’s attention came ‘Angela’s Ashes’.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    6.38 x 1.14 x 9.57 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0007173989
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0007173983
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition (January 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007173989
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007173983
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.23 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 1.14 x 9.57 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 371 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Frank McCourt (1930-2009) was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Irish immigrant parents, grew up in Limerick, Ireland, and returned to America in 1949. For thirty years he taught in New York City high schools. His first book, "Angela's Ashes," won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the L.A. Times Book Award. In 2006, he won the prestigious Ellis Island Family Heritage Award for Exemplary Service in the Field of the Arts and the United Federation of Teachers John Dewey Award for Excellence in Education.

***************

Frank McCourt (1930-2009) nació en Brooklyn, Nueva York, de padres inmigrantes irlandeses, creció en Limerick, Irlanda, y regresó a Estados Unidos en 1949. Durante treinta años enseñó en escuelas secundarias de la ciudad de Nueva York. Su primer libro, "Las cenizas de Angela", ganó el Premio Pulitzer, el Premio del Círculo Nacional de Críticos de Libros y el Premio L.A. Times Book. En 2006, ganó el prestigioso Premio Ellis Island Family Heritage por el Servicio ejemplar en el campo de las artes y el Premio de la Unión de Maestros John Dewey por la excelencia en la educación.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
371 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Edward Goodwin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
Exactly as described and very favorably priced. Super-quick shipping!
Helpful
 Report
LitChick
4.0 out of 5 stars More of McCourt's Story but With Less Bite Than The First Two
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2014
After being mesmerized by Angela's Ashes which took me straight into the heart of an Ireland I did not know anything about truthfully other than American generalizations brought to surface in the forms of St. Patrick's Day, leprechauns, and assorted other glossy visions, and immediately hungrily reading it's follow-up best seller, 'Tis, I was ready for more of the same tight observations, wisdom gleaned from experience and education. "Teacher Man" propels the reader into the late 60s and early 70s, a peculiar period of American history during which mores and attitudes on every social tier change so rapidly due to the political atmosphere of the era, McCourt's writing reflective of himself as a maturing adult and teaching professional also change significantly. Gone is the vernacular of the Irish, the weaving of Irish history into the story line, the intricate tapestry Catholicism creates in the author's motives and decision-making as he becomes free of it's influences. To this reader, the story is a bit less rich in the spiritual loss the author experiences as he frees himself from it's shackles.

That said, this portrait inside an American urban high school is eye-opening. The writing crisp, reflective in it's phrasing and the short sentences popular in this era. Many who were familiar with this time period will laugh as commentary made by both students and other faculty accurately reflects slogans, thoughts and ideas common to all then. One also cannot help but notice the beginnings of the "pushy parent" now everywhere in contemporary educational settings who is only concerned with great grades and wants the best college to admit what they consider a "star" student (whether or not that is accurate). There is a huge amount of pressure on faculty and administrators to produce exceptional students and make-up for the shortcomings of parental influence and guidance. A theme running clear into today's educational system.

I loved this book and had hoped there was another. I would love to know what happened to McCourt next after his first divorce. I would love to know how he met his next wife and what became of his children, illustrious siblings, nieces and nephews as viewed through his own perceptions rather than reading it in Wikipedia. "Angela's Ashes" and " 'Tis" remain better examples of the author's superb ability to capture a moment with succinct phrasing but if one wants to continue his life story, this book remains essential.
Helpful
 Report
Scott B.
5.0 out of 5 stars The 3rd of his books is just as great as "Angel's Ashes"
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
The 3rd of his books is just as great as "Angel's Ashes", which is a heart breaking story that I couldn't put down. I highly recommend these as a view of life that can tough your soul no matter where you are.
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars an unexpected gem
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
A simple book that's honest funny and often simply beautiful. The story of a school teacher doesn't sound particularly interesting but this is amazing. This story has its fair share pain sadness and self-doubt but its love, compassion and humanity really warmed my soul.
Helpful
 Report
Robert J. Plumer
3.0 out of 5 stars Felt Incomplete
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is the third of Frank McCourt's memoir trilogy which followed up his Pulitzer Prize winning debut "Angela's Ashes" and 'Tis. This deals with Frank McCourt's teaching career in New York City. I did enjoy witty and self depreciating style of writing. I was a little disappointed that even though he dives deep into his teaching career we learn little of his personal life. I would have been interested in his relationships with his wives/children and his brother (and author also Malachy McCourt). I think this would have painted a broader picture of his life and how it influenced his teaching style. I'd only read it if you've read his first two books and wish finish the trilogy plus I think it would more sense to have the back story of the other two. Too bad he hadn't written more as I think his style is entertaining and insightful.
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Book for your favorite teacher!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book is a great read, especially for teachers and beginning teschers. It flows easily and the humor in it is wonderful! Great gift for any teacher!!
Helpful
 Report
Diane L. Lybbert
4.0 out of 5 stars McCourt learns about himself while teaching high school in New York
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2016
Frank McCourt's writing style is very conversational and intimate. He recounts conversations, but doesn't use quotation marks, which at first seems strange but then seems to draw the reader into the situation. In this memoir, McCourt tells of his search for inclusion and acceptance into American society. Born in America but raised in Ireland, he doesn't feel that he fits in or belongs in either culture. After rambling around and various stabs at education, he ends up teaching high school in New York. He develops his own (very loose) teaching style, finding non-traditional ways to relate to the kids and engage them in the lessons. He teaches at vocational high schools (where no one is expected to go to college) and then at a high-end high school (where everyone is expected to go to college). Seeing kids from every level of society, he learns much about himself and the students learn much from him. This was an enjoyable, quick read. I really enjoy memoirs, and McCourt's memoirs are top-notch.
Helpful
 Report
Sarah Bellum
3.0 out of 5 stars this is not an accurate depiction of the way I felt, but it was not the book ( book is outstanding) it was that I got charged tw
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
Teacher Man was a joy. It should be read by every teacher in the U.S. High school especially.
It is full of wonderful ways of teaching 'out of the box'.
I am eighty yrs old now and I still remember a teacher like him when I was in the third grade. She was a young lady 19 yrs old ; a super girl. The children lined up to kiss her on the cheek before we went home for the day..
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Ms. C. A. Jeffery
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
Bought this as a present and they thoroughly enjoyed it.
Report
manuel
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bueno.
Reviewed in Spain on April 13, 2022
Verified Purchase
Es el último libro de la trilogía autobiográfica de Fran McCourt, el autor de "Las cenizas de Ángela ". Muy recomendable, sobre todo si eres profesor de enseñanza secundaria, como yo.
Report
Swati
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in India on October 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
I loved this one. Stories are real and teaches you to deal with life. It reminds us to write and one must share. It is story of someone who never thought of himself as great but his books talks about his great journey as teacher.

It’s a beautiful piece of work . I admired this book.
Customer image
Swati
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in India on October 19, 2020
I loved this one. Stories are real and teaches you to deal with life. It reminds us to write and one must share. It is story of someone who never thought of himself as great but his books talks about his great journey as teacher.

It’s a beautiful piece of work . I admired this book.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Report
ShoesAddict
5.0 out of 5 stars Frank Mc Court... toujours attendrissant et drôle
Reviewed in France on December 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Un auteur que j'aime beaucoup, même s'il a peu écrit car il est venu tard... Ses différents mémoirs (de Angela's Ashes à Teacher Man en passant par T'is) sont toujours attendrissants, et nous permettre de le suivre tout au long de sa vie...
Report
1980 Something Space Guy
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration for aspiring teachers
Reviewed in Australia on January 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
Purchased as a gift for an aspiring teacher at my son's school. I have purchased this book for gifts on multiple occasions and it has been greatly appreciated each time. A thoroughly enjoyable read that will likely inspire you to purchase other Frank McCourt books. Trust your instincts, they are all good.
Report