Everyone needs a little self-help sometimes.
Are you a soon-to-be freshman who would like to know what to expect from college this fall? Maybe you struggle with time management or you’re looking for a way to improve your grades and study habits this year. Would you like to be a little more vocal and less shy in school, for example, when you want to ask your professor a question or you’re participating in group projects? You may not need to own all of these books, but if you’re a college student, there’s a good chance that one or two on this list could help you greatly in school – and likely in life in general.
The Marshmallow Test: Why Self-Control Is the Engine of Success by Walter Mischel
In The Marshmallow Test, Mischel explains how self-control can be mastered and applied to challenges in everyday life–from weight control to quitting smoking, overcoming heartbreak, making major decisions, and planning for retirement. With profound implications for the choices we make in parenting, education, public policy and self-care, The Marshmallow Test will change the way you think about who we are and what we can be. Source: Publisher
I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Making the Journey from “What Will People Think?” to “I Am Enough” by Brene Brown
There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how we’re supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in pretending and perfection.
Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth- Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Source: Publisher
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter–And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay
Our “thirty-is-the-new-twenty” culture tells us the twentysomething years don’t matter. Some say they are a second adolescence. Others call them an emerging adulthood. Dr. Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist, argues that twentysomethings have been caught in a swirl of hype and misinformation, much of which has trivialized what is actually the most defining decade of adulthood.
Drawing from a decade of work with hundreds of twentysomething clients and students, The Defining Decade weaves the latest science of the twentysomething years with behind-closed-doors stories from twentysomethings themselves. The result is a provocative read that provides the tools necessary to make the most of your twenties, and shows us how work, relationships, personality, social networks, identity, and even the brain can change more during this decade than at any other time in adulthood-if we use the time wisely. Source: Publisher
How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport
A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide written by students for students—with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class. Source: Publisher
Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time By Brian Tracy
There’s an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat alive frog, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that it’s probably the worst thing you’ll do all day. Using eat that frog as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day– the one you are most likely to procrastinate on, but also probably the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life– Eat That Frog! shows you how to zero in on the critical tasks and organize each day. You’ll not only get more done faster but get the right things done. Source: Publisher
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Source: Publisher
Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown
Just because you don’t feel like an adult doesn’t mean you can’t act like one. And it all begins with this funny, wise, and useful book. Based on Kelly Williams Brown’s popular blog, Adulting makes the scary, confusing ‘real world’ approachable, manageable – and even conquerable. Source: Publisher
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World by Admiral William H McRaven
Based on the incredible graduation speech with over 10 million views on YouTube.
Admiral McRaven’s original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life’s darkest moments. Source: Publisher
The Quarter-Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, and Build a Life That Matters by Adam Smiley Poswolsky
“Have you ever known that you needed to make a change, but felt unable to do anything about it? Have you ever felt like you aren’t where you are supposed to be, and wondered how the people around you managed to find their purpose in life? After realizing that his well-paying, prestigious job was actually making him miserable, Adam ‘Smiley’ Poswolsky started asking these big questions: How do you actually find meaning in the workplace? How do you find work that makes your heart sing, creates impact, and pays your rent?” Source: Publisher
How to Win at College: Surprising Secrets for Success from the Country’s Top Students by Cal Newport
“How to Win at College is a must-have road map for making the most of the next four years: how to ace your classes, choose the best activities, assume leadership positions, befriend the right professors, and channel your interests into resume-building projects that will make you stand out from the crowd. Based on firsthand interviews with star students at universities nationwide, from Harvard to the University of Arizona, “How to Win at College distills the nitty-gritty details of their winning strategies into seventy-five simple rules that will rocket you to the top of the class and still leave plenty of time for friends and fun. Source: Publisher
