Once again, it’s that time of year when another batch of young, intelligent minds embark on a new journey called university.
A time of immense change, university forces you to take on adult responsibilities that you’d probably otherwise choose not to have, live with a random group of people and find your new social circle – all while needing to complete a degree. But how do you prepare for all this while also trying to find yourself?
We have compiled a list of books that will help you adapt to this next stage of life. From guides on how to win friends and ways to stay calm in stressful situations, to legendary campus-set novels to distract you from those hefty textbooks you’ll soon be reading.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (1936)
In How to Win Friends and Influence People , author Dale Carnegie explores the art of getting along with pretty much anyone, making it the perfect pre-read before you hit your halls of residence. It also acts as a reminder that we are humans of emotion rather than logic; a useful nugget to bear in mind when navigating almost any social situation.
The Secret History follows Richard Papen as he befriends an eccentric group of students at an elite university in New England. Obsessed with classical history and encouraged by their charismatic professor, the new friends begin to distance themselves from their peers –with devastating consequences.
Considered a modern classic – and devoured by BookTok – Donna Tartt’s haunting story begins as a typical campus story before developing into something far more sinister as the students break the boundaries of thought and society, and cultivate a uneasy pact built on paranoia and murder.
If you have ever been shamed, called out or discouraged by certain academic pedants, then Rebecca Gowers' meticulous little read is for you. Horrible Words: A guide to the Misuse of English explores the rules we’ve been taught and deconstructs them to demonstrate that language cannot be policed.
Entertaining as it is informative, Horrible Words covers the history of etymology and linguistics to show how words have changed their meanings over time, and is crammed full of quotes from language purists (and abusers) throughout history, including the great Jane Austen and James Joyce. Reading this book will leave you feeling confident in writing essays, voice opinions in seminars and help you embrace the fact that language belongs to us all.
On Beauty by Zadie Smith (2005) Howards End On Beauty explores an ongoing feud between two families. At the heart of the rivalry is Howard Belsey, a white English academic, and Monty Kipps, a West Indian intellectual. Exploring morals through some searching questions about life and love is a reminder that all of us are still searching for answers - which underpins the meaning and heart of academia.
We Can do Better Than This edited by Amelia Abraham (2021) We Can do Better Than This brings together 35 voices from celebrities to drag queens exploring the future of LGBTQ+ rights. The collection, brought together by journalist Amelia Abraham, shares stories and visions for the future tackling everything from visibility to safety; dating and gender, exploring the ways we can all contribute to a brighter and inclusive future.
Author Tara Westover’s memoir focuses on the importance of education. Raised in a fundamentalist Mormon household in rural Idaho, Westover's childhood was shaped by her father’s beliefs that the family should not interact with state-supplied health and education systems, leaving her and her siblings frighteningly neglected.Educated chronicles the moment Westover, then aged 17, set foot in a classroom for the first time. She went on to win a scholarship to the University of Cambridge. Through her formative years as a young adult, Westover realises that a true education goes beyond gaining qualifications, offering self-discovery and the importance of enlarging your perspectives.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer (2018) The Female Persuasion is the story of Greer Kadetsky, a shy college student who is mentored by Faith Frank, a glamorous and influential member of the women's movement who changes her life forever. Spanning that formative period of Greer's life – from her adolescence to her late twenties – The Female Persuasion explore the relationships we feel will last forever at school to those moments at university that can shape us for life. Masterfully, Meg Wolitzer depicts the intense feelings we have as young adults while finding our place in the world.
Currently being adapted into a series for Netflix, One Day is the bestselling novel from David Nicholls that follows Emma and Dexter over the two decades that after first encounter on the night of their graduation. A heart-wrenching will-they won't-they love story, One Day also revels in the highs and lows of adulting, and the importance of remembering that life is a non-stop journey.
Fans of the British television series ‘Black Books’ may recognise this title when it was accidentally consumed by bookshop owner Manny, causing him becoming extremely calm in the process. As with owning a bookshop, university can be a lot of fun but, at times, extremely stressful and although we don’t recommend you eat the book, putting this pocket-size edition in your bag will help dull your nerves and calm your anxiety whenever you dip into it.
Illustration at top: Flynn Shore / Penguin
