Reddit reviews The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence

A few that come to mind:

• Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre, by Keith Johnstone. Discusses many things in the context of improvisational theatre, such as human interaction, creativity/spontaneity, stories, perception, and teaching.
  
• The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are, by Robert Wright. Evolutionary psychology. Puts some concreteness, even obviousness, to many irrational human behaviors.
  
• The Mind's I: Fantasies and Reflections on Self and Soul, edited by Hofstadter and Dennett. A selection of texts on consciousness, and reflections by the editors. Some is fictional, some non-fictional.
  
• The Tao is Silent, by Raymond Smullyan. Eastern philosophy in an Eastern way by someone who thoroughly understands the Western perspective on things.
  
• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values, by Robert M. Pirsig. No one has mentioned this book so far, so I feel like I should; although it did not affect me directly in the way some of the other books here did, it certainly planted some ideas for "independent rediscovery" later on. Some things I've only thought of some time after reading it and then made the connection. This is Taoism from a Western perspective. I'll read it again in a few years and see how it's different.
  
• The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence, by Josh Waitzkin. A book about learning that says some important things quite well. I read this only a few days ago, but it's influenced my perspective on learning/teaching (and doing in general), so I thought I should add it to the list.

You should really get and read this book to help with tilt
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Pursuit-Excellence/dp/07432774570

I've read Brain Rules by Medina, and I recommend him to everyone I know. I've used a lot of what he's taught me and have only positive things to say.

Here's some talks he's given, so you can see if you like him:
- Brain Rules for Baby (mentioned above)
- Brain Rules


This book is also amazing. It's not aimed at parenting specifically, but he teaches a mindset that will absolutely help you and your children be successful wherever you aim.

Also this blog has been helping me a lot with my mindset for school. (fwiw, I'm studying Biomedical Eng, aiming for a PhD in Cognitive Science)

First, even though you have not achieved your big goal you still achieved more than most people reading this. Please don't ignore that!
Second, I want you to take a break and read this book. You will look back and smile :-)

The Art of Learning

http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Learning-Journey-Excellence/dp/0743277457

I think it's something more useful than any classic/mind trip - (real) advice!