The college journey actually begins in high school, so don’t wait until your student is in college to give them food for thought about the college experience. In this episode, Vicki and Lynn discuss some of their favorite books for you to share with your student. Reading these books will inspire students to take charge of the next step in their lives. Topics include making the most of your college experiences, understanding how your brain works, coping with health concerns on your own, and listening to advice from students who’ve gone before you. Several of these books will make ideal gifts for your high school or early college student (and don’t forget to sneak a read before you pass it along!).

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We admit it. We love to read books. We especially love to read books about the subjects that are important to us. So we just naturally like to share.

Back in episode #020 – Our Favorite Summer Reads for College Parents, we shared a list of some of our favorites for families of college students. Check out that episode for our suggestions.

We know that many students don’t do much reading these days beyond what is required, but we hope you’ll share some of these books with your student. They will help to make college feel more approachable and comfortable and help your student find ways to make the most of their experiences.

Here are the books that we shared.  Some have reviews here on College Parent Central and we’re sharing links to those reviews as well.

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College  by Harlan Cohen

Cohen talks about his own experience figuring out how to survive college and then shares tips and suggestions with humor and facts. Worth reading just to read the story about the book’s title.

There is Life After College: What Parents and Students Should Know About Navigating Jobs to Prepare for the Jobs of the Future by Jeffrey Selingo (Read our review of the book here.)

Parents should read this before they pass it on to their students. Will help students understand that what they do in college is more important than where they go, and will help parents think about their student’s strengths and challenges. This will also remind many of us how much college has changed since we attended a “few” years ago.

The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook by Jill Grimes. (Read our review of the book here.) (Listen to our interview of Jill Grimes here.)

College students often face their first “solo” illnesses in college.  This is the book you want them to have with them.

It’s the Student Not the College: The Secrets of Succeeding At Any School Without Going Broke or Crazy by Kristin M. White (Read our review of the book here.)

Success is within a person’s own power and will not be determined by the college they attend. Helps students understand how to have the motivation and ambition to build their own success.

Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom by Rick Hanson

Student’s are often drawn to this book as it sits in Lynn’s office. It’s premise is that Buddha was born with a brain like us, but he was able to change his brain in order to change the world.

Put College to Work: How to Use College to the Fullest to Discover Your Strengths and Find a Job You Love Before You Graduate by Kat Clowes (Read our review of the book here.)

Practical advice for students written in a tone and manner they will actually read. This book is a great blend of personal experiences and professional expertise showing students the mistakes to avoid and the opportunities they can embrace.

My Dyslexia by Phillip Schultz

Phillip Schultz won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry. Here he shares his own journey with dyslexia as he learns that his own son has been diagnosed with it. This began as a graduation speech to his son’s class and grew into his memoir. Lynn points out that this isn’t just for students with diagnosed learning challenges. All students will learn about themselves from reading the book.

Collegiate: 7 Big Ideas to Make College Awesome by Nick Salyers and Caleb Stevens (Read our review of the book here.)

Written by two college students for future college students, this small book contains a great deal of wisdom. It’s written in a way that will draw students in, and share 7 important qualities that will help students maximize their time at school. Don’t be fooled by the seeming simplicity of this book.

Learning Outside the Lines by Jonathan Mooney and David Cole

While much of this book is written for kids who’ve received the label LD or ADHD, many of the suggestions can be just as helpful for those who feel frustrated with the daily routine of standard education. Perfect for kids who may be disillusioned with school.

College: Been There Should’ve Done That: 995 Tips for Making the Most of College by Suzette Tyler (Read our review of the book here.)

This is a fun little (literally) book of quotes and advice from college students covering everything from orientation, dorms, clubs, activities, choosing courses and taking notes in class. If parents read this first, there will be lots of opportunities for good conversations.

The Doodle Revolution: Unlock the Power to Think Differently by Sunni Brown

Sunni Brown was named one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by the Fast Company. Her mission is to bring the power of doodling to the rest of us. This teaches us how to apply our innate visual literacy to transform boring text into engaging information. Another book perfect for kids who may be disillusioned with school.

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