Many successful people can point to a single teacher whose talent and dedication made a crucial difference in their lives. Sometimes former students clearly recall a teacher's casually brilliant remark that produced an instant "aha!" response; sometimes they are affected by a teacher's passionate devotion to professional duty. The methods of a great teacher are as varied and distinctive as teachers themselves, but the result - inspired teaching - is a gift enjoyed for a lifetime.

Those Who Can . . . Teach brings together personal reminiscences about gifted educators from a wide array of contributors, including writers, entertainers, business leaders, religious figures, politicians - and of course teachers themselves. Some are humorous, others irreverent, others sweet, still others passionately polemical. Based on interviews conducted by the editors, the book includes many excerpts culled from literature, personal letters, and film.

By Lorraine Glennon and Mary Mohler