Summer Reading List

Eight books to dive into this summer.

The summer reading list... ohh the summer reading list. I used to dread my high school summer reading list. But… summer provides a great opportunity to explore the larger question of who you want to be as a human. More than your laundry list of activities, more than the classes or major you plan on taking.

Success is defined in moments where you build character, beyond just academic pursuits. Finding a place where your effort and passion are propelled to new heights can be daunting. But rest assured we are all in this together. The college counseling office has been doing our fair share of reading this year and to ease some of that nervousness around the whole college process we have compiled a list of our favorite college related books for you to enjoy in the summer months. We hope you jump onto this reading list with a tad more vim and vigor than I did when I was in high school. 😊 

The first five books relate specifically to the college process, where the last three are thought provoking on education in general. We have included the links and some descriptions from Amazon to assist you in finding, reviewing, and purchasing your new favorite summer reading book. 

Let’s not forget the wise words of Henry David Thoreau:

“A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.”  

1. Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni
   Provides perspective on the idea that the name of the school is what matters and focuses instead on the realization that it’s the effort you put into your education that determines your ultimate success.
    
2. The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make by Ron Lieber
   Mrs. Mahan's favorite (she actually bought a copy for everyone in the office). It is written by a New York Times columnist, who writes an honestly refreshing book, filled with real data that tackles one of the most important financial decisions a family can make. 
    
3. Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges by Lauren Pope 
   Mr. Geary loves this book so much we actually give it to all the juniors during fall family weekend. Profiles on the student-centered schools include the student body, campus life, student housing, dining, and nightlife. It really goes beyond the numbers and gives you a sense of the culture and makeup of the student body. 
    
4. I’m Going to College—Not You!: Surviving the College Search with Your Child by Jennifer Delahunty  
   Raising kids is not easy, and Kenyon College dean Jennifer Delahunty gives the reader an in-depth insight into one of the most challenging aspects of parenting, the college search process.  Helpful for all parents, but particularly helpful to parents navigating when they are carving their own path in this world.  
    
5. How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims
   This one, recommended by Ms.Goudey, explores the challenges that come from over-parenting. It suggests new and alternative ways of teaching your teen to be self-reliant and independent in the world. 
    
6. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
   Another favorite of Mrs. Mahans, in this harrowing story a young woman defies the odds and with the help of education, travels across the world, making her mark at the likes of Harvard and Cambridge University. 
    
7. Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant
   In the book, the author discusses the importance of embracing the joy of being wrong, bringing nuance to charged conversations, and building schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. She provides research-backed tips on how to do these things effectively.
    
8. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth 
   Mrs. Hubacz recommends this book because in Seminar on Learning, they discuss grit and growth mindset. As well as how to understand the power of challenging yourself to try things that may be out of your comfort zone and that it is okay to fail and learn from that.