We all look forward to some precious downtime. And yet we manage to overschedule and overeat (at least some of us do). So, let's be realistic. If you could read only one book, what would it be?

Our top pick is Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Why?

1. It's about how we learn. (Enough said.)

2. It's written by scientists. Who knows science better than scientists?

3. It's rigorous, insightful, and applicable to everyday life.

4. It's not just for educators. It's written for a broad audience, told through engaging stories and interviews.

It's rare to find books with up-to-date research, written by scientists, that are approachable and easy-to-read.

That's why we've put together a NEW page of chapter summaries, downloadable sketches, and recommended research articles dedicated to Make it Stick. We highlight a specific research topic from each chapter, accompanied by beautiful (and downloadable!) sketches by Krystyna Gadd, and links to empirical research articles – in case you'd like some extra reading this holiday season.

Have you read Make it Stick? Are you new to the book? Whether you're just starting or curious for more, join our virtual book group this winter, with a focus on research from the science of learning. A nice little nudge to read a good book during the holidays.

Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

Written by a novelist and two cognitive scientists, Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning presents robust findings from rigorous laboratory and classroom research on powerful learning strategies.

Whether you've already read Make it Stick, plan to read it during the holiday break, or have never heard of it, check out our NEW webpage of goodies:

• Summaries of each chapter in Make it Stick

• Sketches by Krystyna Gadd, Director of How to Accelerate Learning

• Research articles by leading experts in cognitive science

If you like what you see, join our virtual book group this winter. We'll focus on research by cognitive scientists – all things retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, metacognition, and more.

 Authors of Make it Stick

The authors of Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning dug into the vast literature of cognitive science research and brought it all together in this easy-to-read book. It's tough to bring their expertise all together in this email update, so check out our Make it Stick playlist on YouTube for presentations by the authors themselves. All the research, stories, and applications for your viewing pleasure – straight from the source.

Peter C. Brown is a writer and novelist. In addition to Make it Stick, Peter has published novels including The Fugitive Wife and Christmas Lake.

Henry L. Roediger, III is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. A leading expert in the field of cognitive science, Roddy's research spans many aspects of how we learn and remember information – including memory illusions, retrieval practice, and "memory athletes."

Mark A. McDaniel is a Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences and Co-Director of the Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning, and Education (CIRCLE). A leading expert in applying cognitive psychology to education, Mark's research interests also include prospective memory (remembering to do things in the future).

Among many publications over the years, research by Roddy and Mark is featured in our Retrieval Practice Guide and an e-book from a STEM conference hosted by CIRCLE. Additional publications applying cognitive science research in education, in collaboration with scientists around the world, are also available on our resources page.