Books to Read in College

1. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

You are going to be learning and teaching things for the rest of your life and I think this book does a good job in talking about why that’s important. Going into college you learn to value community and that’s what this book really focuses on.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tuesdays-with-morrie-mitch-albom/1101100706?ean=9780767905923#/

2. Defining Decade by Meg Jay

Don’t wait until your 30’s. You’re 20’s are a unique opportunity to create healthy habits for the rest of your life. Work on your life with rigor. Get in shape now, work on your relationships now. Don’t waste your time on waiting for your 30’s for your life to get better, enrich your 20’s with experience.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-defining-decade-meg-jay/1110780430?ean=9780446561754#/

3. The Bible

“Whether you are a Christian or not, I think it is valuable to have read the Bible before college.” I had a professor write that in his syllabus and especially if you want to go into politics/law or literature it is extremely valuable to go into college having read what the basic themes of the Bible are. Read it like a story.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/esv-economy-bible-large-print-crossway/1122097666?ean=9781433558412

4. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

As shocking as this dystopian world is, it is important to see the themes of women’s rights being tackled in this book and the parallels between Gilead and the current political state we are living in.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handmaids-tale-margaret-atwood/1100295471?ean=9781984899668#/

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I hope you read this in high school but if you lived in Biloxi, Mississippi and didn’t read it. This classic talks about social inequality, the values of education, and laws practiced by a society. I think this is one of those books you need to read at different life stages: high school, college, dating, married, and with children. Your perspective of the book is bound to change with your own life experiences.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-kill-a-mockingbird-harper-lee/1100151011?ean=9780446310789#/

6. How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Professor Kendi is opening up the conversation to not only be aware of our own racism, but how we can foster a society that seeks justice and equality.

He is a professor at my school and runs the Antiracist Research & Policy Center

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-be-an-antiracist-ibram-x-kendi/1128688664?ean=9780525509288#/

7. Pachinko by Minjin Lee

A story about 4 generations of a Korean family. As a Korean American, I couldn’t stop thinking about this book. It sparked a lot of conversations with my family. This story is a historical fiction read about the clashes between Japanese and Korean history and I think will grant some wisdom for generations to come.

I had the privilege to hear her speak at my school and my God, she is an incredible lady. She is teaching at Amherst College this year!

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pachinko-min-jin-lee/1123889620?ean=9781455563920#/

8. Grit by Angela Duckworth

Applicable ways to build tenacity. I read this my junior year of high school with my entire family. Here’s a book that gives you the secret to success.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grit-angela-duckworth/1122569881?ean=9781501111112#/

9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Trust me, I hated this book in high school because I had to read it for Theory of Knowledge (S/O to the IB nerds out there) but I think it does get you thinking about a lot of things you will experience in college. Like what boundaries come with freedom? What do you really find important in your life? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to survive? I think it is a compelling way to tell a story.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/life-of-pi-yann-martel/1100302344?ean=9780156027328#

10. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

I think Aziz Ansari is extremely talented and his witty twist to relationships in the Post Facebook-Tinder age is necessary to digest.