DAVID INGRAM
Consilium Education library specialist, Sal Flint, continues her column – School Readers – in which she talks to educators about their favourite books. This month’s Reader is David Ingram.
Why ‘School Readers?’
We all urge kids to read, but how has reading shaped our own personal and professional lives? I want to know which four books have most influenced the people I talk to – an unforgettable children’s book, a novel, a work of non-fiction and a ‘go-to’ book about education.
David is Founding Head of College at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi. A finalist for Principal of the Year at the TES Awards for International Schools 2024, David developed his leadership experience at The Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, Kellett School in Hong Kong and Tanglin Trust School in Singapore, where he will be returning in August to serve as Head of College at Dulwich College (Singapore) David is a proud member of Save the Rhino and is passionate about sustainability, global citizenship and public speaking; and these are important elements of the schools that he leads. He believes in the importance of making a difference in the wider community and serves as a member of the Board for the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA).
I had the pleasure of speaking with David about his favourite books as he sat in the back of a car navigating the bustle of Puxi, while I was in the quiet of rural Lincolnshire! Despite the contrast in setting, our shared passion for reading bridged the distance and sparked a connection I’m sure our readers will recognise.
David Ingram’s ‘four books’
(Click the book cover to follow the link to Amazon)
Amor Towles: A Gentleman In Moscow
“A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is a tale of charm and optimism in the face of adversity. Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov’s house arrest particularly resonated with me because I read it while my family and I experienced the Shanghai lockdown in 2022. The novel gave me hope and enabled me to thrive despite the severe restrictions we were living under at the time. Its message about finding meaning and joy within constraints is one I often return to. I couldn’t help but envy the Count’s ability to weather confinement with the help of a perfectly mixed drink at the Metropol Hotel’s Shalyapin Bar. If only every lockdown came with a resident bartender and a wine cellar to rival the Count’s, I suspect we’d all have faced adversity with a little more style and a lot more cheer.
What it’s about:
Set in the heart of post-revolutionary Russia, A Gentleman in Moscow follows Count Alexander Rostov, who’s sentenced to live out his days under forced confinement in a grand hotel opposite the Kremlin. Though confined, he finds meaning in the small details of daily life—building friendships, routines and unexpected joys. It’s a thoughtful, beautifully told story about how we adapt, endure and stay connected, even when the world outside is shifting beyond recognition.
2. Peter Frankopan: The Silk Roads
“The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan captivated me with its sweeping narrative of the trade routes that connected cultures and civilisations across the continent. Having lived in China for nine years, I was drawn to its fresh perspective on the region’s significance in world history—thought-provoking and deeply informative, it left me feeling I understood the world much better. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to appreciate the interconnectedness of our global community.”
What it’s about:
Peter Frankopan’s The Silk Roads retells global history by placing the East, Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond at its centre. It follows the ancient trade routes that carried ideas, power, and commerce across continents. Challenging Western-focused narratives, the book shows how these connections shaped the world we know today and how they’re shaping its future.
3. Ethan Mollick: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
“Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick is a thoughtful and optimistic exploration of the evolution and ethics of artificial intelligence. Both philosophical and practical, it has encouraged me to be curious about experimenting with AI and confident about getting better at it along the way. As educators, embracing this new era of co-intelligence will be key to preparing our students for the future.”
What it’s about:
Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intellgence is an exploration of how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, learning and creativity, and how Mollick views it not as a threat but as a tool for collaboration. He encourages us to see AI as a partner, a coworker, a coach and a co-thinker rather than something to fear.
What it’s about:
Jeanne Willis’s Don’t Let Go, now reprinted as Daddy, Don’t Let Go! is about a young girl who is learning to ride her bike with her dad steadying the handlebars and gently urging, “Don’t let go.” As she finds her balance and confidence, the roles shift until it’s the father who needs encouragement. It’s a touching story about growing independence, parental love, and the bittersweet steps of letting go.
What David is reading at the moment:
Fiction: Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
Non-fiction: Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Sal Flint is a Senior Consultant specialising in school library development at Consilium Education.
If you would like to share your four School Readers, write to ITM on https://consiliumeducation.com/itm/contact-us/.
FEATURE IMAGE: by Lubos Houska from Pixabay
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