My daughter is leaving for college…suggest me something that inspires and/or encourages self exploration…or just a good read that has impacted you in some way. Thanks!
Not a suggestion for a book, but I think you should write a letter to her giving her advice that inspires and encourages her. It can be something she keeps and can read and reread whenever she needs it, even after college.
Andnowforsomethingcd on
I’m sure there are a ton of great fiction novels that would be perfect, but I’m more of a nonfiction reader. I’m older now, but I would definitely recommend any of the below to my 18-year-old self:
– **Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need** by Dan Pink. It’s in comic book/graphic novel form!
– **Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us** by Dan Pink
– **Bird By Bird: Some Instruction on Words and Life** by Anne Lamott. Highly recommend especially if she plans to pursue a degree that’s writing-heavy. It’s a beautiful, warm memoir that also folds in some truly spectacular advice on writing. Her chapter “Shitty First Drafts” was taught in one of my undergrad English classes, one of my graduate grant writing classes, and one of my law school legal writing classes. But the whole book is phenomenal and not dry at all.
– **Breakfast With Socrates: An Extraordinary (Philosophical) Journey Through Your Ordinary Day** by Robert Rowland Smith. I think it’s a great intro to philosophy, which I didn’t really discover until law school. But I think as a young person who is leaving the nest and must start to create her own value system, this can help give some interesting food for thought about how to evaluate those values.
– **The Art of Logic in an Illogical World** by Eugenia Cheng. I think formal logic should be a prerequisite for a fine arts degree, but alas, I am not the president of college. But I think this is a great layman’s introduction to the formation of internally consistent arguments – as well as how to spot many common inconsistent arguments.
theponderingreader_ on
Hello! This is so sweet of you. As someone on the other side of the experience, I remember when I first moved into my college… it was a scary experience. I remember crying when my parents left, but things will turn out okay for her ❤️ I’m glad that from what it seems she has a great support system in place. It’s hard for both sides: parents and children. Just remember, she worked hard to get where she’s going with your help, you did a great job— now it’s time to let her explore new environments whether it be new people or classes or whatever! Everything will be okay. It might be rocky at the start or at some points, but the people she meets along the way will help her out, and she has the people at home too!
Enjoy the time you have left before summer ends! Wishing you both good luck 🙂 Here are some books I loved:
– The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness- Psychology non-fiction about the importance of relationships (nurturing those close to us) for our happiness! Really puts into perspective how important and crucial the friends we make are!
– Atomic Habits: Probably one of the biggest names in the non-fiction section now but very worth the hype, thought of this because it teaches us how small steps can lead to big changes- one step at a time
– Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before: Written by a clinical psychologist, it explores the importance of mental health and how to deal with such critical topics, essentially a must for college life and beyond
Fiction Books (aka my personal comfort books that I would bring to my dorm in times of homesickness or self-doubt)
– Legends & Lattes: cozy, low stakes fantasy book about starting over, leaving your past to create something new, meeting new friends that support your journey
– Honestly, what are some of your daughter’s favorite books? I brought along a copy of some of my favorites to my dorm to re-read or just to think of home, like I kept a copy of Harry Potter that I would flip through during midterms or more stressful seasons!
Hope this helps! I’m sorry for the long tangent, but I feel the nerves you might be feeling along with your daughter. Enjoy the rest of the summer! ❤️ wishing you all the best!
DrmsRz on
May I ask you (nay, *beg you*) to please buy [*The Gift of Fear*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316235776/) by Gavin de Becker *today* and ask her to read it (even just part of it, all of it, some of it, any of it) as soon as she can?
You and she can read it together; download it free from your library if needed.
All other guardians/parents reading this: please consider doing the same for your own children…and for yourself! I’m due for a re-read, so let’s all read it together.
TL;DR – Trust your gut; do **not** be afraid to offend anyone at all; do not be a people pleaser; *trust your gut!*
boxer_dogs_dance on
Range by David Epstein tells the stories of a number of people who succeeded in life after failure and setbacks.
I think young people, especially bright young people believe success will be quick and straightforward. This book encourages patience and creativity.
jcd280 on
Just reread this…not exactly applicable but it popped into my head…
6 Comments
Not a suggestion for a book, but I think you should write a letter to her giving her advice that inspires and encourages her. It can be something she keeps and can read and reread whenever she needs it, even after college.
I’m sure there are a ton of great fiction novels that would be perfect, but I’m more of a nonfiction reader. I’m older now, but I would definitely recommend any of the below to my 18-year-old self:
– **Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need** by Dan Pink. It’s in comic book/graphic novel form!
– **Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us** by Dan Pink
– **Bird By Bird: Some Instruction on Words and Life** by Anne Lamott. Highly recommend especially if she plans to pursue a degree that’s writing-heavy. It’s a beautiful, warm memoir that also folds in some truly spectacular advice on writing. Her chapter “Shitty First Drafts” was taught in one of my undergrad English classes, one of my graduate grant writing classes, and one of my law school legal writing classes. But the whole book is phenomenal and not dry at all.
– **Breakfast With Socrates: An Extraordinary (Philosophical) Journey Through Your Ordinary Day** by Robert Rowland Smith. I think it’s a great intro to philosophy, which I didn’t really discover until law school. But I think as a young person who is leaving the nest and must start to create her own value system, this can help give some interesting food for thought about how to evaluate those values.
– **The Art of Logic in an Illogical World** by Eugenia Cheng. I think formal logic should be a prerequisite for a fine arts degree, but alas, I am not the president of college. But I think this is a great layman’s introduction to the formation of internally consistent arguments – as well as how to spot many common inconsistent arguments.
Hello! This is so sweet of you. As someone on the other side of the experience, I remember when I first moved into my college… it was a scary experience. I remember crying when my parents left, but things will turn out okay for her ❤️ I’m glad that from what it seems she has a great support system in place. It’s hard for both sides: parents and children. Just remember, she worked hard to get where she’s going with your help, you did a great job— now it’s time to let her explore new environments whether it be new people or classes or whatever! Everything will be okay. It might be rocky at the start or at some points, but the people she meets along the way will help her out, and she has the people at home too!
Enjoy the time you have left before summer ends! Wishing you both good luck 🙂 Here are some books I loved:
– The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness- Psychology non-fiction about the importance of relationships (nurturing those close to us) for our happiness! Really puts into perspective how important and crucial the friends we make are!
– Atomic Habits: Probably one of the biggest names in the non-fiction section now but very worth the hype, thought of this because it teaches us how small steps can lead to big changes- one step at a time
– Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before: Written by a clinical psychologist, it explores the importance of mental health and how to deal with such critical topics, essentially a must for college life and beyond
Fiction Books (aka my personal comfort books that I would bring to my dorm in times of homesickness or self-doubt)
– Legends & Lattes: cozy, low stakes fantasy book about starting over, leaving your past to create something new, meeting new friends that support your journey
– Honestly, what are some of your daughter’s favorite books? I brought along a copy of some of my favorites to my dorm to re-read or just to think of home, like I kept a copy of Harry Potter that I would flip through during midterms or more stressful seasons!
Hope this helps! I’m sorry for the long tangent, but I feel the nerves you might be feeling along with your daughter. Enjoy the rest of the summer! ❤️ wishing you all the best!
May I ask you (nay, *beg you*) to please buy [*The Gift of Fear*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316235776/) by Gavin de Becker *today* and ask her to read it (even just part of it, all of it, some of it, any of it) as soon as she can?
You and she can read it together; download it free from your library if needed.
All other guardians/parents reading this: please consider doing the same for your own children…and for yourself! I’m due for a re-read, so let’s all read it together.
TL;DR – Trust your gut; do **not** be afraid to offend anyone at all; do not be a people pleaser; *trust your gut!*
Range by David Epstein tells the stories of a number of people who succeeded in life after failure and setbacks.
I think young people, especially bright young people believe success will be quick and straightforward. This book encourages patience and creativity.
Just reread this…not exactly applicable but it popped into my head…
Summer Crossing by Truman Capote