Lessons from My Teachers: From Preschool to the Present

An inspiring collection of “pristine, perfect” (Elizabeth Strout) essays on the life-altering bonds between teacher and student and the timeless wisdom imparted both inside and outside the classroom—from critically acclaimed author, MacArthur genius, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and Tony Award–nominated playwright and author, Sarah Ruhl.

Based on her popular class at Yale, this “tender and profound” (Booklist) essay collection from one of our greatest living playwrights and teachers, Sarah Ruhl, is a testament to the singular impact of teachers across every stage of our lives. Anchored in stories both personal and universal, drawing on Sarah’s experiences with her parents and children, with schoolteachers, creative influences, and beyond, Lessons from My Teachers is a “a true tribute to those who teach… [that] masterfully captures the ineffable essence of all that passes between teacher and student” (Sharon Salzberg).

Perfect for sharing with loved ones and role models alike and meant for marking important seasons and milestones, Lessons from My Teachers is a collection “told by a master storyteller…Anyone who learns and teaches will find affirmation in this book.” (Kirkus Reviews).

Sarah Ruhl is a playwright, essayist, and poet. Her fifteen plays include In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play), The Clean House, and Eurydice. She has been a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Tony Award nominee, and the recipient of the MacArthur “genius” Fellowship. Her plays have been produced on- and off-Broadway, around the country, internationally, and have been translated into many languages. Her book 100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write was a New York Times Notable Book. Her other books include Smile: A Memoir, Letters from Max, with Max Ritvo, and 44 Poems for You. The Dreams I’ll Dream Tonight is her debut picture book. She has received the Steinberg Playwright Award, the Samuel French Award, the Feminist Press Under 40 Award, the National Theater Conference Person of the Year Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, a Whiting Award, a Lily Award, and a PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award for mid-career playwrights. She teaches at the Yale School of Drama, and she lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Tony Charuvastra, who is a child psychiatrist, and their three children. You can read more about her work at SarahRuhlPlaywright.com.