As a university student, you are ultimately responsible for getting your work done; no one’s here to do it for you. However, when you’re balancing studying, life admin, socialising, and so much more, you might drop the ball sometimes. Thankfully, we’ve rounded up eight of our top books that every student should read. From building healthy habits to nailing time management and prioritising your workload, these recommendations will help you with your studies and beyond.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Once you read this book, you’ll quickly understand how it became a #1 New York Times bestseller. With over 3 million copies sold, this book harnesses the power to change your life. Regardless of your goals, Atomic Habits is full of practical strategies that allow you to improve every day, one habit at a time.
Getting Things Done by David Allen
As one of the most influential business books of its time, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity is a must-read for any student committed to ticking off their to-do list with minimal stress. Who wouldn’t want that?
Working Hard, Hardly Working by Grace Beverley
Bought to you by Grace Beverley – a serial entrepreneur who founded her first company while studying at Oxford – Working Hard, Hardly Working is a game-changer. If the idea of achieving more, stressing less and feeling more fulfilled appeals to you, you won’t be disappointed by this seriously inspiring book.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
The world is more distracted than ever; no wonder we struggle to focus on the task at hand. So, as we battle ever-growing distractions, mastering deep work – the ability to concentrate without distraction – will take you far in life. This offering from Cal Newport is the ultimate guide to any student keen to find your focus, highly recommended.
Get Your Sh*t together by Sarah Knight
If you’re a fan of straight-talking, this no-nonsense self-help book from New York Times bestseller Sarah Knight should most definitely be on your reading list. Written to help you get your priorities in order and achieve your goals, you can count on Sarah to support your study efforts.
The Only Skill That Matters by Jonathan Levi
Do you ever wish you could read faster, recall information better and learn more effectively? If the answer is yes, The Only Skill That Matters is intended to help you achieve precisely that with the help of neuroscience-based approaches. Give it a go!
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Brought to you by phycologist and Nobel Prize-winner Daniel Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow offers a unique perspective on how our minds operate, which will change how you make decisions. As an international bestseller selling 2 million copies, this book comes highly recommended time and time again.
The One Thing by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results is one of the world’s best-selling success books. Taking things back to basics, the book discusses the value of simplifying your workload by shifting focus to a singular and most important task in any given project. If you struggle to prioritise your work, this book is for you.
According to self-development author Brian Tracy: “if you read one book per month, that will put you into the top 1% of income earners in our society. But if you read one book per week, 50 books per year, that will make you one of the best-educated, smartest, most capable, and highest-paid people in your field. Regular reading will transform your life completely.“
So there you have it, our top selection of books can not only help you transform the way you learn but the way you live too. We hope these will inspire you to be the best version of yourself and excel in your studies and overall university experience.
Novel Student offers brand new student accommodation in Leicester with unique design (do follow), social spaces and top of the range amenities at its heart. At Novel, we appreciate that many student accommodation environments aren’t designed to be productive learning environments. Novel’s amenity areas have been specifically designed to provide you with dedicated quiet study rooms to help you focus and engage while you study.
