Books that every freshman should read


Everyone always says that ‘college is the best time of your life’ – but is it really? Sure, we’re pretty excited about moving away from home, meeting new people, learning new skills and expanding our minds, and getting involved in college life. But on the other hand, we’re utterly TERRIFIED about moving away from home, meeting new people, learning new skills and expanding our minds, and getting involved in college life. It really is an emotional rollercoaster. Luckily, thousands of people go through college every year and come out the other side – and many of those people are now offering advice on how to survive these years. So, check out the books that every freshman should read…

‘Stuff Every College Student Should Know’ by Blair Thornburgh

We’ve always been told not to judge a book by its cover and its title, but we can kinda tell by this title that it’s the perfect book to calm our nerves – because we do really want to know stuff every college student should know. Blair Thornburgh covers all aspect of college any new freshman could need to know. From graduating high school to getting ready for life outside of college – this book will teach you how to be the perfect student and get the perfect mix of fun, education, and independence. What more could you want?

‘Now You Tell Me’ by Sheridan Scott, Nancy Allen, and Anya Settle

One of the best ways to understand what college life is really like is to have a chat with college graduates who have gone through everything you will soon experience. However, it’s not so easy to get a graduate on the phone and unleash all of their worries (to be fair, they’d probably hang up on you). Thankfully, graduates Sheridan Scott, Nancy Allen and Anya Settle have decided to put all of their knowledge into one handy guide, so you can learn from the experience of older students who were once freshman – just like you.

‘The Last Lecture’ by Randy Pausch

Many people think college is all about frat parties and living away from your parents – and it is. However, college is all about looking at the bigger picture and setting you up for life. If this is your way of thinking, you’ll love ‘The Last Lecture’ by Randy Pausch. Pausch was once a prolific professor at Carnegie-Mellon University whose life changed forever in 2006 when he was diagnosed with cancer. He soon realized that the end was near, and wanted to give his students one last lecture – which can now be read in this book. The lecture focused on the three topics: childhood dreams, really achieving your childhood dreams and enabling the dreams of others. It is a truly inspiring read.

‘Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)’ by Mindy Kaling

If you’ve ever watched The Mindy Project, you’ll know that Mindy Kaling is downright hilarious – but did you know she has some pretty sound advice about being a youngster and getting through college without having an emotional breakdown? Yep. This book is more of a memoir than a self-help book but follows important themes of friendship, self-confidence and the ability to achieve your dreams.

‘So Much I Want to Tell You: Letters to My Little Sister’ by Anna Akana

If you’re a fan of YouTube stars, you’ll probably know who Anna Akana is. This filmmaker/writer released this book in 2017 – and has since gone on to dominate the book charts with her collection of essays. We know, we know. Who wants to read MORE essays when you’re a college freshman, right? Well, these essays are a little different. These essays follow the life of a teenager or young adult, and covers everything from relationships, to money, to food, to education, and more. All of these essays are directed towards her little sister, who took her own life in 2007, but will give you enough inspiration and motivation to fly through your first year of college.
Are you starting college soon? You need to check out these books every freshman should read…

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