What did the Columbia and Wake Forest applications have in common this past year? Both asked students to share information about books they’d read!
Yes, reading is a great way to pass the time in general, but it can be especially important for rising seniors to pick up a few books while hitting the beach this summer. Remember, even if students aren’t applying to schools that ask about books in the application, they still need to be prepared to discuss reading material in college interviews.
Unfortunately, selecting books to discuss, whether in an interview setting or in a supplemental essay, can be tricky. Students have to find the right balance. War and Peace? Nobody is going to believe a 17-year-old chose to read that for fun. And yet the trashy beach reads won’t be your best bet, either.
Instead, we advise our students to try to find texts that are in alignment with their academic (or extracurricular) interests and overall application narrative, yet aren’t dry and obscure, either.
Check out our top pics below — no matter your intended major, we’ve got options for you!
‘Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space’ by Adam Higginbotham
If you're into gripping true stories, check out this book about the 1986 Challenger disaster. It dives into the tragic event where the space shuttle broke apart just seventy-three seconds after launch. All seven crew members were killed, including a teacher named Christa McAuliffe. This book isn't just packed with facts—it's also super inspiring and thought-provoking. You'll get the full scoop on what led up to the accident, the disaster itself, and the investigation afterward. Plus, it touches on big themes like ambition, ingenuity, political drama, and heroism.
We recommend this for students interested in history, politics, science, and engineering – or anyone who can appreciate a good real-life thriller!
‘Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection’ by Charles Duhigg
Check out this book for a fascinating read that can up your communication game! Imagine being in a jury room where one person manages to get everyone on the same page, or a young CIA officer convincing a reluctant foreign agent, or a top surgeon trying to persuade a patient to choose a safer form of treatment. This book is packed with cool stories like these, showing how great communicators work their magic.
Duhigg explains that every conversation has three layers: practical (what’s this about?), emotional (how do we feel?), and social (who are we?). Knowing which one you’re dealing with can make a huge difference in connecting with people. You'll learn how to pick up on emotions, negotiations, and beliefs that shape our talks. By the end, you'll get that with the right tools, you can connect with anyone.
We recommend this for students interested in communications, business, and politics – or anyone looking to improve their communication skills in a fun and engaging way!
‘James’ by Percival Everett
If you enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you have to check out this book, which reimagines the classic story from Jim's perspective! When Jim hears he's about to be sold and separated from his family, he hides on Jackson Island and meets Huck. Together they embark on a dangerous adventure, aiming for the Free States. Everett's version keeps all the exciting elements of the original — floods, storms, treasure hunts, and run-ins with scam artists — but it shines a new light on Jim. You'll see his intelligence, agency, and compassion in a way that the original story didn't show. This book is packed with humor and sharp observations that make it an electrifying read. It also dives into serious themes including language, race, and power.
We recommend this for students interested in English literature, race and culture, psychology, or sociology – or anyone interested in stories that mix adventure with deep, thought-provoking themes.
‘Finding Fortunato: How a Peruvian Adventure Inspired the Sweet Success of a Family Chocolate Business’ by Adam Pearson
Dive into this exciting memoir about a family's adventure in the northern Peruvian jungle. They stumble upon a rare cacao bean, once thought extinct, and their journey turns into an epic chocolate business story! This book takes you through their struggles and triumphs as they decide to disrupt the traditional supply chain by trading directly with farmers. Their efforts not only produce what the BBC calls "the Rolex of chocolate" but also help lift farmers out of poverty. A tale of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, the book shows how gut instincts and determination can lead to incredible success.
We recommend this for students interested in business, politics, or global studies – or anyone interested in adventure and making a difference in the world.
‘All the Gold Stars’ by Rainesford Stauffer
Dig into the pressures of ambition and how it leads to burnout! From gold stars in grade school to getting into the "right" college and grinding at work, our drive to achieve is celebrated but often comes with serious downsides. The book explores how cultural, personal, and societal expectations push us to tie our worth to productivity, limit our imaginations, and drive us apart.
Through her own story of ambition and burnout, along with interviews with students, parents, workers, psychologists, and labor organizers, Stauffer uncovers the common pressures we all face. This book challenges us to rethink what success really means and offers new ways to approach ambition that's more about caring for ourselves and each other.
We recommend this for students interested in psychology, sociology, or education – or anyone feeling the weight of expectations and looking for a healthier way to achieve their goals.
‘The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security’ by Scott Galloway
If you want to get a head start on financial success, check out The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway. Today's world offers more opportunities and mobility than ever, but also some big challenges like inflation, housing shortages, and climate issues. The old financial advice your parents followed just doesn't cut it anymore!
In this book, you’ll learn how to choose a career by focusing on your talent (not just your passion!); how to adopt a mindset that will help you develop better financial habits; and how to make small steps now that will have a big impact later.
We recommend this for students interested in economics or business – or anyone looking to make smart money moves!
‘The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness’ by Jonathan Haidt
If you're curious about why so many teens are struggling with mental health issues, check out this book, which dives into why rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide skyrocketed for teens starting in the early 2010s.
Haidt, a social psychologist, breaks down the facts about this mental health crisis and explores how childhood has changed. He explains how kids used to grow up with lots of play and independence, but starting in the 1980s, this "play-based childhood" started disappearing. By the early 2010s, the rise of smartphones completely changed how kids grow up. Learn how this shift has messed with adolescent development, from sleep problems to addiction, loneliness, and constant social comparison.
We recommend this for students interested in psychology, sociology, or education – or anyone interested in understanding and tackling the mental health challenges facing Gen Z.
‘There’s Always this Year: On Basketball and Ascension’ by Hanif Abdurraqib
This book dives into what it means to succeed, who deserves it, and the tension between excellence and expectations. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, in the '90s, Abdurraqib experienced an amazing era of basketball where legends like LeBron James were born. He combines his personal stories with a deep exploration of basketball's impact on culture. The book is filled with joy, pain, solidarity, comfort, outrage, and hope, and it’s creatively structured like a basketball game, divided into quarters with "timeouts" that mix prose with poetry.
We recommend this for students interested in sports, race and culture, or psychology – or anyone who loves powerful storytelling!
‘The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport’ by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
If you're into fast cars and thrilling stories, you need to check out this epic story of how Formula 1 (F1) racing went from being a distant third behind NASCAR and IndyCar in America to leading the pack in 2023. It dives into F1’s fearless reinvention and its breakthrough in the US. With fast cars, engineering geniuses, driver rivalries, and glamorous settings, you'll see how F1's rise in America was actually decades in the making. It's all about constant transformation and bold moves.
This book isn't just about sports; it's a high-octane history of how modern F1 racing came to be. It's the first book to cover the outrageous successes and spectacular crashes that led F1 to its current, thrilling moment.
We recommend this for students interested in cars, engineering, popular culture and business – or anyone who wants to know how F1 broke into the American sports scene with style, cash, and personality!
Runner-Ups
‘Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI’ by Ethan Mollick
‘Hot Dog Money: Inside the Biggest Scandal in the History of College Sports’ by Guy Lawson
‘Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV’ by Emily Nussbaum
‘The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony’ by Annabelle Tometich
‘A Thousand Times Before: A Novel’ by Asha Thanki
‘The Cemetery of Untold Stories’ by Julia Alvarez
‘What this Comedian Said Will Shock You’ by Bill Maher
‘The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq’ by Steve Coll
‘Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis’ by Jonathan Blitzer
‘ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD’ by Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness
‘Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water’ by Amorina Kingdon
‘WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE: AN ORAL HISTORY OF D-DAY’ by GARRETT GRAFF