7 Adult and Continuing Education Books That Accelerate Learning

Brock Eide, co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage, and other experts recommend these essential Adult and Continuing Education Books to boost your skills and knowledge.

Updated on June 28, 2025
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What if you could unlock new learning potential at any age or stage in your career? Adult and continuing education isn't just about acquiring knowledge—it's about navigating life's complexities with fresh skills and confidence. As workforce demands shift and personal goals evolve, these books offer proven strategies and insights tailored for adult learners who refuse to stand still.

Brock Eide, co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage, brings his extensive research and clinical experience to highlight resources that truly resonate with adult learners and educators alike. His endorsement signals that these selections address real challenges—from dyslexia to digital teaching—with clarity and practical wisdom.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks and guidance, readers seeking tailored approaches based on their unique background, skill level, and specific learning goals might consider creating a personalized Adult and Continuing Education book that builds on these insights and fits your individual journey.

Best for adults managing dyslexia challenges
Brock Eide, co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage and a recognized authority on dyslexia, highlights this book as an essential resource for adults with dyslexia. His expert perspective comes from years of work supporting individuals with learning differences, and he emphasizes how this guide addresses the specific challenges faced by adults in a clear, accessible way. "This is exactly the book that adults with dyslexia have long needed! It covers all the key issues that adults with dyslexia face, and is filled with helpful and practical advice," Eide notes, underscoring its value for anyone seeking to better understand and manage dyslexia beyond childhood.

Recommended by Brock Eide

Co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage

This is exactly the book that adults with dyslexia have long needed! It covers all the key issues that adults with dyslexia face, and is filled with helpful and practical advice. Yet it is so well-organized and clearly written that even those who struggle with reading will find it useful. A must-have book for all adults with dyslexia. (from Amazon)

When Marci Peterson MEd, an educational therapist specializing in dyslexia, wrote this book, she aimed to fill a crucial gap for adults navigating dyslexia in ways tailored to their unique challenges. You’ll learn how to enhance executive functioning, improve literacy skills, and leverage your distinctive strengths through clear strategies and exercises found in chapters focused on social navigation and workplace success. The book distinguishes itself by addressing how dyslexia manifests differently in adults compared to children, giving you practical tools to boost confidence and self-understanding. If you’re an adult with dyslexia or someone supporting them, this guide offers targeted insights that go beyond basic awareness to real-life application.

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Best for ESL educators with adult learners
Jackie Bolen is an English teacher with more than 20 years of classroom experience, including a decade teaching in South Korea. Holding a Masters degree in Psychology along with CELTA and DELTA certifications, she combines formal training with practical expertise. As host of the Let's Talk TEFL podcast, Jackie shares insights to help educators and learners alike. This book reflects her commitment to offering ESL teachers ready-to-use, effective activities that transform lessons for teenagers and adults.
101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL/EFL to Teenagers and Adults) book cover

by Jackie Bolen, Jennifer Booker Smith··You?

What happens when decades of classroom experience meet the challenge of teaching English to diverse learners? Jackie Bolen and Jennifer Booker Smith draw on their extensive backgrounds to offer 101 practical activities tailored specifically for teenagers and adults learning ESL. You’ll find detailed, low-prep exercises designed to invigorate your lessons across speaking, writing, reading, listening, and grammar. For example, the book’s step-by-step guidance on conversation games helps you keep students engaged and returning eager for more. This book is best suited for ESL instructors seeking fresh, effective ways to energize their classrooms and foster meaningful language practice.

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Best for personalized learning plans
This custom AI book on adult education is created based on your background, skill level, and the specific areas of adult learning you're interested in. By sharing your goals and preferred topics, the AI crafts a book that fits exactly what you want to explore. This tailored approach ensures you get focused insights on learner engagement and education techniques that truly match your needs, making the learning process more relevant and effective.
2025·50-300 pages·Adult and Continuing Education, Adult Education, Learner Engagement, Instructional Methods, Motivation Techniques

This tailored book delves into adult education techniques with a focus on learner engagement and practical application. It explores adult learning theories, motivation, and instructional approaches that align with your background and interests. By concentrating on your specific goals, it reveals methods for fostering active participation and creating inclusive learning environments that suit diverse adult learners. The content synthesizes current knowledge on facilitating effective adult education and addresses challenges unique to adult learners. This personalized guide matches your experience level and desired outcomes, offering a pathway through complex concepts to enhance your teaching or learning practice with clarity and depth.

Tailored Guide
Learner Engagement Focus
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for instructors mastering online education
Susan Ko brings over twenty years of experience directing faculty development programs for online teaching at institutions like City University of New York and University of Maryland University College. Holding a doctorate from Yale University, her expertise in humanities and online education combines with Steve Rossen's background as an instructional technologist and librarian at UCLA to offer a thorough, accessible guide. Their combined knowledge shapes a resource focused on practical strategies that help educators navigate the evolving landscape of online teaching.
Teaching Online: A Practical Guide book cover

by Susan Ko, Steve Rossen··You?

Drawing from decades of experience in online faculty development, Susan Ko and Steve Rossen offer a detailed guide that demystifies the practicalities of teaching in digital environments. You learn how to leverage tools like MOOCs, mobile devices, and multimedia to engage learners effectively, backed by real faculty interviews and case studies that bring strategies to life. The book’s focus on implementation over theory equips you to handle the nuances of online instruction, from managing open educational resources to interpreting learning analytics. Whether you're new to online teaching or expanding your approach, this edition provides specific insights that align with current technologies and pedagogical trends.

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Best for adult ESL learners building grammar skills
DK, founded in London in 1974, is renowned for its visually rich reference books and is part of the Penguin Random House family. Their expertise in creating accessible, photographic non-fiction shines through in this English grammar workbook, which is tailored for adult learners of English as a second language. The book’s engaging visual approach and structured practice exercises reflect DK’s commitment to making learning clear and approachable for a global audience.

DK brings decades of experience in visual reference publishing to this English grammar workbook designed specifically for adult ESL learners. The book offers a hands-on approach to mastering foundational English grammar, with exercises that cover common stumbling blocks like past tenses and comparatives, supported by clear visual explanations and color-coded examples. You’ll find it especially useful if you’re preparing for exams like TOEFL or IELTS, or if you want to build confidence in everyday English usage. The workbook’s structure encourages both self-study and classroom use, making it a practical tool for learners aiming to improve speaking, reading, and writing skills.

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Best for adult education program planners
Sandra Ratcliff Daffron brings decades of experience as a program planner and educator in both the U.S. and the Middle East to this guide. As Professor Emeritus of Adult and Continuing Education at Western Washington University, her expertise informs every chapter, making this book a solid foundation for those tasked with developing adult learning programs. Daffron’s practical approach and global perspective offer readers useful tools to navigate the evolving landscape of adult education.
Planning Programs for Adult Learners: A Practical Guide book cover

by Sandra Ratcliff Daffron, Rosemary S. Caffarella, Ronald M. Cervero··You?

2021·560 pages·Adult and Continuing Education, Adult Education, Program Planning, Instructional Design, Digital Learning

During her extensive career as a program planner and educator, Sandra Ratcliff Daffron recognized the complexities involved in designing effective adult education programs. This book guides you through organizing and managing adult learning initiatives with practical templates and strategies, addressing contemporary challenges like displacement, economic shifts, and digital delivery methods such as virtual reality. You gain insight into administrative tasks and program development tailored for diverse settings, supported by international examples that broaden your perspective. If you're involved in adult education, whether as a practitioner or student in related fields, this book offers concrete frameworks to enhance your program planning skills.

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Best for personal learning plans
This AI-created book on adult education skills is tailored to your background, experience, and specific goals. By sharing what you want to improve and your current level, you get a book focused on the exact areas that matter most to you. This personalized approach cuts through the noise of generic advice, helping you rapidly build your skills with clear steps aligned to your unique learning journey.
2025·50-300 pages·Adult and Continuing Education, Adult Education, Learning Techniques, Skill Development, Personalized Learning

This tailored book offers a personalized journey into rapidly enhancing your adult education skills over 90 days. It explores how to bridge expert knowledge with your unique learning background, focusing on your interests and specific goals. The content covers foundational adult learning principles and provides a tailored pathway that synthesizes complex concepts into clear, actionable learning steps. By matching the material to your experience level and targeted outcomes, it reveals how to effectively boost your educational skills and outcomes in a concise, engaging format. This personalized approach ensures you gain relevant insights without wading through unnecessary information, making your learning experience efficient and meaningful.

Tailored Handbook
Personalized Learning Pathways
3,000+ Books Generated
Best for deep theory and practice understanding
Jovita M. Ross-Gordon, professor of adult, professional and community education at Texas State University, brings her extensive academic expertise to this book. Her deep understanding of adult learning environments informs a text that balances scholarly research with practical insights, aiming to clarify the complex landscape of adult and continuing education for students and practitioners alike. This foundation supports anyone looking to deepen their grasp of adult education theories and contemporary challenges.
Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education book cover

by Jovita M. Ross-Gordon, Amy D. Rose, Carol E. Kasworm··You?

2016·432 pages·Adult and Continuing Education, Adult Education, Continuing Education, Educational Theory, Philosophical Frameworks

Drawing from decades of scholarship, Jovita M. Ross-Gordon and her co-authors provide a detailed exploration of adult education that bridges theory and practice. You’ll learn about key philosophical frameworks, historical and contemporary foundations, and the practical organizations supporting adult learners today. The book also tackles modern challenges like technology integration and globalization, with chapters dedicated to aging populations and social justice, making it especially relevant if you work directly with adult learners or design educational programs. Its research-based approach offers a grounded understanding rather than quick fixes, so it suits those seeking depth rather than surface-level tips.

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Best for TABE exam preparation and review
Mometrix Test Preparation crafted this study guide specifically to help individuals tackle the Test of Adult Basic Education, offering a structured approach to the varied subjects covered. It stands out by combining comprehensive content review with practice questions and video tutorials, making complex topics like equations and literary devices easier to grasp. If you’re preparing for the TABE exam, this guide provides the focused preparation necessary to understand and master the material, supporting your educational and career advancement goals in adult education.
Tabe Secrets Study Guide: Tabe Exam Review for the Test of Adult Basic Education book cover

by Mometrix Adult Education Test Team, Tabe Exam Secrets Test Prep·You?

2015·308 pages·Adult and Continuing Education, Adult Education, Test Preparation, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension

When preparing for the Test of Adult Basic Education, the Mometrix Adult Education Test Team recognized the need for a resource that breaks down the exam's complexity into manageable parts. This guide walks you through essential skills in mathematics, reading, and English, offering detailed explanations and video tutorials that clarify challenging concepts like systems of equations and literary genres. You’ll gain practical understanding of topics such as punctuation rules, probability, and text organization, enabling you to approach each section with confidence. This book suits anyone aiming to pass the TABE exam through focused review and targeted practice, especially those who benefit from clear, stepwise instruction without getting lost in jargon.

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Conclusion

Together, these seven books weave theory and practice, offering tools that range from mastering adult dyslexia challenges to designing impactful education programs. If you're navigating dyslexia as an adult, start with The Dyslexia Guide for Adults for actionable strategies. For educators looking to energize ESL classes or embrace online teaching, 101 ESL Activities and Teaching Online provide hands-on methods.

For those planning or managing adult learning programs, Planning Programs for Adult Learners delivers frameworks grounded in current realities. Meanwhile, Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education deepens your understanding of educational theory and social context. And if you're preparing for essential benchmarks, the Tabe Secrets Study Guide equips you with focused exam strategies.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Adult and Continuing Education book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. These selections can help you accelerate your learning journey with confidence and clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with a book that matches your immediate needs. For adults managing dyslexia, The Dyslexia Guide for Adults offers practical tools. Educators new to adult learning might begin with 101 ESL Activities or Teaching Online for classroom strategies.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Adult and Continuing Education?

No, these books cover a range of experience levels. English for Everyone is great for beginners learning English grammar, while Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education offers depth for those seeking theory and practice.

What's the best order to read these books?

Consider your goals: start with foundational theory in Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education, then move to practical guides like Planning Programs for Adult Learners and Teaching Online. Use test prep books like Tabe Secrets when ready.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your focus area. Each book stands alone with valuable insights. However, combining theory with practical applications across books can give a richer understanding of adult education.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education leans toward theory and frameworks. In contrast, 101 ESL Activities and Teaching Online emphasize practical, hands-on teaching methods you can apply right away.

How can personalized books complement these expert recommendations?

Personalized books tailor expert knowledge to your unique background and goals, making the advice more relevant and actionable. They bridge expert insights with your specific needs. Learn more about this option here.

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