Tim Gunn: The Natty Professor; A Master Class on Mentoring, Motivating, and Making It Work!

Gunn's television oeuvre—including Project Runway and Under the Gunn—made him a household name, but his longtime experience as an educator is what made him so great at his job. In a chatty style, Gunn, with coauthor Calhoun (they previously collaborated on Gunn's Golden Rules and Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible), details how he revitalized the fashion curriculum at Parsons The New School for Design (not without ruffling more than a few feathers) and how important it is to do right by one's students. The book is loosely organized around Gunn's T.E.A.C.H. philosophy—truth telling, empathy, asking, cheerleading, and hoping for the best—and includes anecdotes from the author's life and the aforementioned shows in detailing the differences between teaching and mentoring and the importance of honesty while doing either. Interspersed throughout are vignettes from fans about their most inspiring teachers. It's wonderfully gossipy at times (e.g., when discussing why he doesn't expect Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour ever to invite him to the annual Met Gala), and whether relaying memories of Project Runway or what he's learned in his career, Gunn's warmth, wit, and wisdom shine through.