What do we think?
'Desirable Difficulties in Action' by Jade Pearce and Isaac Moore is a really helpful book about how to help pupils learn in effective ways. It has lots of practical suggestions, but also the theory behind the concepts. It's recommended for those who are interested in how we learn.
What is it about?
The book dives into the concept of desirable difficulties – such as spacing and interleaving – and shows how techniques that initially feel counterintuitive can actually boost long-term learning. It combines research evidence with classroom examples and implementation advice.
The four desirable difficulties
The publisher names the four difficulties identified by Elizabeth and Robert Bjork, which the book takes in turn:
- Varying the conditions of practice
- Spacing
- Interleaving
- Practice testing
The publisher says the book also covers why pupils underuse these strategies when studying independently, and how teachers and school leaders can encourage them, with summaries and case studies from practitioners.
Who it is for
Classroom teachers, and teaching and learning leads planning CPD on retrieval, spacing and homework or revision routines. It explains the strategies and how to introduce them; it is not a whole-school assessment or homework policy.
About the book
- Full title: Bjork & Bjork's Desirable Difficulties in Action.
- Authors: Jade Pearce and Isaac Moore.
- Publisher: Hachette UK. Paperback, 15 March 2024.
- ISBN: paperback 9781915261588; ebook 9781036001636.
Source: Hachette UK listing, checked 13 October 2026.