Over the course of your studies, you’ll read what seems like thousands of books. So reading anything that isn’t on the list handed out by your tutors doesn’t seem very inviting. But there are so many books that are interesting, useful, or educational. Here are the five books every Australian student should make time to read …
100 Conversations for Career Success: Learn to Network, Cold Call, and Tweet Your Way to Your Dream Job
It’s never too early to start thinking about your future career, so make time for a book that will help show you the way. Traditional job search methods are no longer the only, or indeed the best way to find employment in this fast-changing world. With new graduates coming on to the market every year, and people looking for a change of career, you’ve got your work cut out for you when it comes to finding a job. So you need to be aware of how to use social media to your advantage if you’re going to beat the competition and bag the job of your dreams (or at least one that you enjoy most of the time).
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale is beloved of literature departments and Women’s Studies courses for a very good reason. The author herself, Margaret Atwood, pointed out that everything in the story was happening or had happened somewhere in the world when she wrote the book. And given that many rights that women take for granted, such as abortion and access to contraception, are being eroded, even in some western countries, this warning of the dangers of complacency is ever more relevant. Even if the book isn’t on your course, you should read it. Why is the book so important for students? Because every right that you enjoy today comes from other people fighting for them. It’s important for students to be politically and socially aware, and understand that they need to work to make the world that bit better. Student activism can contribute a lot to the world, and so can its young people. So take the opportunity to find out what is going on around you, and choose a cause to work for. Being indifferent to causes that don’t affect you can mean that, to paraphrase Pastor Niemoller, there’ll be no-one ready to speak up on your behalf when it’s your turn. We all need to play our role in helping others and making the world a better place.
The Art of Learning
Do you have the nagging feeling that you’re not studying to the best of your ability? Do you spend ages trying to get your brain to remember facts? Then you need a study guide to help you learn more effectively. This is a purchase you should make right at the start of your university or college course. There are plenty of books to show you how to study more efficiently, remember a lot of information, and get over a tendency to procrastinate and put fun before work (we’ve all done it).
Coping with Stress at University
In their first year, and especially in the first term, pretty much every university student gets the impression that everyone else is having a great time while they alone are isolated and not making friends. The truth is that the emotional demands of going to university can be extremely challenging, far more than students expect when they begin uni expecting to have a great time from day one. But there are many stresses that arise, from the academic demands of their course to coping away from home for the first time. You may be legally an adult, but it can all come as quite a shock. Have a book at hand that will help you deal with adapting to this new life and cope with all its challenges.
The Writer’s Handbook: Developing Writing Skills for University Students
Although this book is intended for an American audience, it will still be valuable for Australian students. Much of the advice will be relevant to students anywhere. Good writing is important, as even if your ideas are sound, poor presentation and writing will detract from what you are saying and lose you marks. Buy a book that helps you improve your writing and make sure that your grammar skills are up to scratch.
