Great Books Recommended for Students
- itsgoldenandme
- Oct 10, 2017
- 2 min read
1. Confessions of a Public Speaker
Companies aren't blowing smoke when they list Communication Skills as the #1 desired quality in college grads - and public speaking is a huge part of that. Confessions of a Public Speaker is a great read if you're looking to increase those vital public speaking skills. Berkun goes over lots of related topics, like gaining confidence as well as using certain tools to help you out (like confidence monitors).
2. A Mind for Numbers
If you're looking for practical techniques you can use to increase your ability to learn new information effectively, you should read this book. Contrary to what the title would imply, Dr. Barbara Oakley's A Mind for Numbers is applicable to any learning discipline - not just math and science. This book will quickly give you an understanding of how your brain learns and encodes new information, and will also equip you with strategies for learning more while studying less.
3. So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Countless teachers, counselors, bloggers, and other people will probably tell you to "follow your passion" - but passion alone isn't going to land you your dream job. Plus, most of us don't even know what our "passion" even is! That's why this book is such a breath of fresh air; Cal Newport counters this "Passion Hypothesis" with what he calls the Craftsman Mindset, which focuses on getting really good at something. Not only will this help you build the career capital you'll need to get hired, but it'll also often lead to true enjoyment in your work.
4. Brain Rules
If you know how the brain works, you'll be better equipped to manage your own and understand the ones contained inside the heads of the people you know and meet. In Brain Rules, John Medina expertly shows us how the brain does things, and lays out 12 rules that form a basis for using that pile of mush more effectively. It's not just an excellent brain book - it's an excellent business book and an excellent college success book as well.
5. The Productivity Project
This is the best overall introduction to productivity that I've ever read. Other books that you'll see on this list go deeper on specific topics - such as habits or procrastination - but The Productivity Project does an awesome job at giving you practical tips and advice on pretty much all of them. It's a great starting point for becoming more productive.
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