1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know

Written by Inspired Mother Staff

Books

1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know, by Harry H. Harrison, Jr. (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., 2008) is brilliant, really brilliant. There are many books out there for rookie college students, and a good number are absolute rubbish (or as we discovered recently, full of horrid advice from real students behaving badly). But Harrison's list of refreshingly honest-and often witty--tips for college students is a keeper.

Here you'll find sensible advice, helpful resources (including web sites) and straight talk about everything from study habits and personal hygiene to relationships and religion. One criticism is that it looks deceivingly like a fluffy little gift book. But open it up and ahhhhh, check out these wise excerpts:

"You need to know that when your parents said, ‘You can be anything you want to be,' they were humoring you. You were six. You need to find out what you're good at."

"You need to know your brain can perform only so long on PowerBars and Pop-Tarts before it loses its ability to make a coherent sentence."

"You need to know not to listen to all that nonsense about college being a time of ‘personal exploration.' At up to $50,000 a year, it's job training."

"You need to know that a study group can take the place of a kegger. Only people bring books, not booze. And as the night goes on, they get smarter, not dumber."

And my favorite..."You need to know God's purpose for you is the reason you're alive."

Good stuff here. A word to parents: read all 1001 things Harrison has to say before giving this book to your student, because you'll find some items you should discuss (or beat into your child's brain really fast). List price: $9.99, paperback.