Review of The Priority List by David Menasche

[mandap24]

The Priority List is a book written by a high school teacher from Miami. He mainly worked at the magnet school Coral Reef Senior High where he taught honors English classes for 15 years. The book follows Menasche's journey to becoming a teacher, something he truly loves doing, but it also discusses his struggle with brain cancer. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006 but continued to teach until he could no longer physically handle the long hours and became partially blind in 2012. Throughout the book he shares his memories of teaching and experiences with students. The book continues to follow him after he leaves the classroom and heads out on an adventure to visit some of his former students all over the United States.

Menasche is a wonderful writer he puts his true emotions, thoughts, and feelings onto the page accompanied by his own type of humor. This book can be sad at points but Menasche is a fighter that really inspires readers to live the life they truly want to live. There is much to learn about life in this book and it can really get you to start thinking a lot about yourself. Reading about his experiences with his students and the letters they wrote for the book can really make you wish Menasche was your English teacher in high school. I know I wish I had a teacher like him to change my life the way he did for so many of his students. Luckily, I got the chance to experience his unique personality a few times when I was a student myself at Coral Reef Senior High but I still wish I was in his English class.

The title of the book comes from a list Menasche would have his students write out in order to find out what was most important to them in life. There is a list provided in the back of the book consisting of 26 words from "Acceptance" to "Health" to "Wealth". You can create your own priority list using these words and I suggest doing so if you get this book as it can show insight on what is important to you.

This book is inspiring and thought provoking and I suggest all to read it. I give it 9 out of 10 stars.