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Home > News > PW Tip Sheet
10 Books You Should Read Before Graduating
College
By Radhika Sanghani | Aug 22, 2014
Tweet 26 Comments
Radhika Sanghani's sharp and hilarious debut novel
Virgin follows 21-year-old Ellies relentless mission to
rectify a disastrous first attempt at performing oral sex, get
deflowered, find the perfect Brazilian wax, avoid her
tradition-bound Greek mothers nagging, graduate summa
cum laude, be a writer, and fit in. Sanghani picked 10
books to make sure you've read before graduating.
In my novel, Virgin, the protagonist, Ellie, is in her final
year of college but literature is not on her mind: shes far
too busy trying to lose her virginity to think about books.
The only reading shes doing is on how-to websites to try
and figure out how to be a normal, sexually active 21-
year-old.
But, for the more balanced students trying to expand their
literary horizons before they graduate, I have a few books Id recommend. All of them helped me
through the student-to-adult transition when I left college a few years ago, and I still re-read them
for pleasure, comfort and some good old-fashioned perspective.
Because, college is a bubble. Whichever one you choose to study at, chances are your entire life
becomes based around the same people, lecture halls and bars. For me, reading was the best
way to get out of that bubble and remember there was a wider world out there that I was just about
to enter and should probably know a little bit about.
I also just had a lot of spare time to read those books that everyone should probably read at
some point. So my list is a mixture of good classics, contemporary reads, and a little bit of self-
help for a time when you really need it:
1. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides - Eugenides
Virgin Suicides was fantastic, but The Marriage Plot is better. It
tells the story of three college friends from Brown Universitya
woman and two menand follows them during their first year
post-graduation.
Even though its set in the early 80s, it sums up quintessential
student life with the parties, the insecurities and the mistakes. Its
really in each character's failures that you learn the typical
graduation pitfalls, and the comforting knowledge that no matter
how bad everything is, at least its life experience.
2. The Women's Room by Marilyn French - This book should
not just be read by women. Men should ignore the title and read
it too. It was written in the 70s and tells the story of a 50s
housewife who ditches the suburb to become a mature student
at Harvard. It's also the story of a woman discovering herself and
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feminism. Even though it was written in a different era, the
themes are still similar to ones we all face now: slut shaming,
pressures and social constraints. The book is pretty seminal for
the feminism movement - one I think every student should
understand.
3. The Iliad by Homer - Not everything on this list is about
helping with life advice - reading The Iliad will help you just by
virtue of the fact that you'll be able to say you've read some
Homer. Not that you should drop it into conversation too often or
you'll become That Person.
The Iliads one of the most famous classical epic poems, and its
still a great read. Literature as we know it generally came from
the classics, and it gives a solid basis for everything we read
now. On top of that, it's also a damn good story. If you get into it,
you've also got The Odyssey and Virgils Aeneid to go.
4. The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman -
College relationships are tough, but dating as a graduate is
even worse. This novel hilariously - and sometimes depressingly
- sums up what it's like to try to find romance when you're still
trying to find yourself.
Nathaniel is not a great boyfriend but he's also a pretty common
one. His obsessions with status, coolness and looks are part of
20-something life. Even if you don't have them, you will
encounter people who do. Reading this will help you
recognise/avoid/laugh at them.
5. Shantaram by Gregory Roberts - Part of me doesn't want
to include this because it's the book you'll see every young Gap
Year traveller reading, but they're reading it for a reason. It tells
the story of an escape Australian convict who creates a life for
himself in India, and it's based on real events.
He learns the life lessons you can only gain from travelling and
for any student who cant go abroad, this is a must. His
depictions of slum life are powerful, honest and definitely worth
reading. The fact that his characters are incredibly compelling
just makes it even more readable.
6. The Secret History by Donna Tartt - Youve probably
already read this but if you havent, I cant recommend it more.
Its a historical, student-based thriller. Need I say more?
Not only does it explore the trope of the eccentric lecturer, it
goes into the loneliness of student life and what it's like being
sucked into a group or clique. If you fancy brushing up on Greek
history, this is also the place to do it.
7. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How
To Make The Most Of Them Now by Meg Jay - This book isnt
even masquerading as a novel - it is pure self-help. But unlike
most self-help books, you dont need a real problem to gain
something from it. If anything, its more preventative to stop you
wasting your twenties.
The general message is that our twenties are a new decade. We
used to go from being children to adults but modern life means
theres now an interim ten years when were not sure about
anything. As this is when college/graduation is happening, its
useful reading.
8. Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee - I loved this
book. Its about an American-Korean woman who graduates from
Princeton and battles between her parents choices for her
future and what she wants for it.
It shows the culture clash between parents and children of
different generations, as well as the pressure on graduates to
deal with the expectations of everyone around them. The moral?
Youre not going to be happy until you do whats right for you.
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9. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway - For anyone
who didnt read this at school, read this book. Not only is it
beautifully written, its an amazing insight into a different era, a
lost generation and unrequited love.
Its also full of wisdom and truisms: Its awfully easy to be hard-
boiled about everything in the daytime, but at night it's another
thing. Fact.
10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - This book taught me to
grow up. It has a pretty addictive plot, but more than that, its the
story of Janes journey from childhood to adolescence and
adulthood. She learns to let go, to adapt and finally, that there
are some things you need to just accept. I cant think of any
better time to read this book than when youre learning to do the
same.
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Add a comment 23 comments
James Lawless Writer at Full time writer
good choices but what about non-English books, g/abriel Garcia Marquez for example.
Reply Like Follow Post August 23 at 2:17am
Follow
9
Fred Johnston Of life 204 followers
And don't forget to read a book on correct grammar: one graduates 'from' college. "
. . . Before graduating FROM college."
Reply Like August 23 at 2:34am
Follow
5
Jackie Reynolds Anas Portsmouth, Virginia
I agree but I've seen this quite a bit so maybe it is accepted.
Reply Like August 25 at 11:39pm
Nancy J Stohs Food Editor at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jackie Reynolds Anas Clearly bad grammar should never be accepted.
Reply Like August 26 at 1:53am 1
Linda Harrison Top Commenter New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
NO reading of Jane Eyre is complete without also reading Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.
Trust me, you will never think of Jane Eyre the same way again.
Reply Like Follow Post August 25 at 1:34am 6
Ilana Halupovich Top Commenter SW CM support at Astro
Richard Bach - "Illusions", Herman Hesse - "Sidhartha", Robert Heinlein - "Stranger in a
Strange Land", Spider Robinson - "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon", Charles de Lint -
"Someplace to be Flying", Ayn Rand - "We the Living", S.E. Hinton - "Outsiders", Axel Munthe -
"The Story of San Michele", Fynn - "Mister God, This is Anna", Josef Heller - "Catch 22"
Reply Like Follow Post August 25 at 7:59pm 3
James Fugate Los Angeles, California
Typical No Black Authors at all. Even with a Black President we are Invisible.
Reply Like Follow Post August 23 at 3:07am 3
Katherine Hempel Freelance Writer at Blossomland Creative Services
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr Maya Angelo is shockingly missing,
especially this year!
Reply Like August 26 at 5:15am 2
Pete Bohan
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston was one of the best things I
read in college, hands down.
Reply Like August 28 at 10:07am 1
Nancy J Stohs Food Editor at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Headline should read "graduating FROM college." PLEASE don't leave out that important
preposition and reinforce this bad grammatical habit!
Reply Like Follow Post August 25 at 11:29pm 2
Robert Mendelson Top Commenter Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Here's my 10 (in chronological order) for gaining perspective/lessons about life after college:
Moby Dick (1851; no skimming, either. No book the rest of your life will be as challenging)
Ethan Frome (1911; be careful what you wish for)
Tropic of Cancer (1934; maybe my favorite, definitely the most honest)
Rabbit Run (1960; you can't run forever )
The Bell Jar (1963; maybe the most powerful)
The Teachings of Don Juan (1968; no one dies in the name of Don Juan)
Confederacy of Dunces (1980, still relevant today)
Less than Zero (1985; sadly, still relevant today)
Satanic Verses (1988; must reading before commenting on foreign policy)
Harry Potter (1997-2007; yep all seven if you haven't already, though I count as one)
Reply Like Follow Post August 23 at 12:38am 2
Pamela Van Nest Top Commenter King's College Aberdeen,
Scotland
Regarding your comment that no book will be as challenging as Moby Dick, I
would like to add "And no book will be as mind-numbingly boring." :)
Reply Like August 25 at 11:33pm
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Reply Like August 25 at 11:33pm 2
Ginger Williams Mississippi State
Wealthy Barber by Chilton. A gentle intro to personal finance.
Any one title from: Animal Farm by Orwell, Ugly American by Burdick and Lederer, King from
Ashtabula or Teahouse of the August Moon by Vern Sneider, Or any other older novel that
encourages you to think critically about political issues.
A popular science/math/health book that isn't required for class, has more text than photos,
and doesn't promote the current nutrition fad. Proof: the Science of Booze, Frankenstein's Cat:
Cuddling Up to Biotechs Brave New Beasts, or Outliers would work.
Reply Like Follow Post August 28 at 12:09am
Jason Burnham California Paramedical and Technical College, Riverside, CA
Almost completely disagree with the list. I feel the Iliad should be mandatory reading in High
School. I also feel Orwell's 1984 is important reading for High School. College should be
about expanding one's knowledge and awareness. Here is my list for College Reading
books.
10: Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
09: My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass
08: Any Ernest Hemingway written book as he was a perfectionist.
07: Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Burroughs has influenced our culture in
more ways than any other author in our lifetime and it started with this book here).
06: Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
05: One of Ours by Willa Cather
04: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (a very difficult book and then there is a
singular sentence that makes you realize that this is what writing truly is)
03: Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen (probably the single most important book
a Freshman College Student should read before even going to college)
02: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
01: Any Adult Fiction novel written the year the College Student is attending in the Senior Year.
Simply pick one and then discuss it's faults and it's strengths.
Bonus Book: Stephen King's The Stand.
Reply Like Follow Post Edited August 26 at 1:29am
Pamela Van Nest Top Commenter King's College Aberdeen, Scotland
As mentioned below, no Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And what about Warren's "All the King's
Men" as well as Angelou's works and...well, there are very few on your list that should be
there. Most could easily (and properly) be replaced by much better books. To quote a previous
poster: "Piss poor list."
Reply Like Follow Post August 25 at 11:39pm
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Ryan George Amann Driver / Delivery Man at Panatieri's Pizza and Pasta
The Sun Also Rises and Jane Eyre are rough choices I have to say..
Reply Like Follow Post August 27 at 8:07pm