8 Self-Help Books Every College Student Must Read

 

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College is an educational institution that provides higher education to individuals, in various professional and vocational courses. College life becomes pivotal in framing the personality of a student who, for the first time, steps out of the cocoon of school and faces the real world with real challenges.

Getting exposed to an entirely dynamic environment of college life with its freedom, endless opportunities, and taxing workload, students may feel intimidated and lost, without an objective, or goal.

If you are someone who feels the same and is finding it hard to find a sense of balance in your overwhelming college life, then here is a list of self-help books you must read to gain perspective, insight, and beget lessons on exploring and achieving what you truly want from your life:

1. The Magic of Thinking by David J. Schwartz

Published in 1959, this book is more than just a self-help book; it provides practical, useful methods, programs one can put into practice in real life. It advises you to think big and act on that thought slowly, avoiding all the negativity that comes your way. This book will make you realize the importance of a positive and progressive mindset, and will mentally polish you up.

Schwartz assists you in learning more effectively, finding more happiness, and subsequently, in achieving true success. According to him, believing that you can fulfil your goal enables you to have a chance to achieve it.

2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Coelho's popular best-selling book about a young shepherd, his search for a fabled treasure, and his ensuing journey across Eastern Europe and the Middle East will surely strike a chord with all the students who feel lost, aimless, and without purpose. Through this book, the author follows the journey of an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago to the Pyramids of Egypt. 

Santiago, interpreting his recurring dreams as a sign that he would gain an untold treasure in the near future, proceeds to travel towards Egypt. After a series of events that called for introspection, he meets an alchemist, with whom he discovers himself, and eventually, his treasure.

The author tries to tell us to pursue our desires, and that every failure is as important as a rampant success. This powerful story of self-discovery will make you look into yourselves, and also teach you the one thing life's all about; it's the journey that matters more than the destination. 

3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

In this book, Kiyosaki's anecdotes tackle the one subject that has a pivotal role in our lives, but surprisingly, never actually taught to us- financial literacy. Using his own experiences from having a 'rich' dad and a 'poor' dad, he shapes up a very interesting read on how money works, and how you can make the money work for you, instead of having to slave away for it. 

For instance, the rich always buy assets, not liabilities; owning wealth that depreciates over time isn't a sign of prosperity. It tells us that the opportunities that present themselves are never to be avoided. This book provides you with the knowledge on financing, and that true financial literacy can only be gained through experience and trial-and-error.

4. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Penned by the son of Stephen Covey (popular American educator, and author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People), The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens is Sean's way of following his father's footsteps of writing a book which teaches young adults to master these crucial and formative years of their lives.
Sean includes cartoons, stories, quotes, and ideas on varieties of topics like social media and what not to make the book more relevant and appealing in the young market.

5. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The oldest book on this list, Carnegie's masterpiece still stands out like a monument in the world of self-help literature. This book has inspired thousands of people, over the course of more than 80 years. How to Win Friends and Influence People is a must-have for every collegian struggling with his new surroundings, and all the students having trouble fitting in with their peers. 

It teaches you the importance of your behaviour and helps you read the atmosphere, people, and their characters more effectively. Carnegie's teachings will put you on a path of becoming a better person, both mentally and physically.

6. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

This book is full of inspiring calls to action and powerful, accessible techniques to help one take charge of one's life. According to Jeffers, there are many practical, and simple things one can do to confront fear. She goes on to explain that the more we do things we're afraid of, we end up proving to ourselves that we can handle danger, uncertainty, loss, and loneliness. We start feeling confident that we will be able to handle similar experiences in the future as well. In simple words, she calls on people to confront their fears which is the best way to diminish its very roots.

7. The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind by Alan Wallace

Wallace's book is a well-written guide to meditative concentration practice and inculcating daily wisdom with a scientific approach. The author combines the various nuances of modern scientific research with the teachings and ideals of Buddhism. The book discusses the ten stages of meditative insight, along with their scientific reasoning, stages that lead to a purported state of Shamatha, or a stage where attention is sustained, effortlessly. This book may be a bit complex and in-depth for a casual reader, but if one manages to put into practice, the various stages of meditative enlightenment, one can achieve a heightened level of concentration and clarity in their lives.

8. Declutter Your Mind by S.J. Scott

This book's goal is simple: it teaches you the habits, actions, and the mindset required to organize your mind, and possibly, contribute to living a more fulfilling life. The book suggests that by practicing mindfulness, it is possible to declutter your mind, control your thoughts, and learn to live in the moment. Our minds are constantly engaged in thinking. Our thoughts give shape to our perception of reality, and these thoughts can range from being positive, negative, or neutral.

Unsurprisingly, it's our negative thoughts that end up being the most harmful for us. Even if we manage to distract ourselves, these negative thoughts come back again, and this vicious circle starts afresh. So, how do we break the loop, and gain control over our mind and thoughts? 

The book describes this as ‘decluttering’ and this is explained from four perspectives; decluttering our thoughts, our life obligations, our relationships, and our surroundings. This book helps the reader understand and comprehend the various nuances that make up an integral part of our lives and helps them deal with those in real life.

Reading the aforementioned books will help you find the equilibrium and peace that you seek in your life. You will be able to see through complexities, derive lessons, and lead a productive life at college.

Written by - Siddharth Biju

Edited by - Vasudha Sabharwal