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You probably had to read a lot of books during high school.
You are reading: Best books to read before college
From massive textbooks to literary classics and review essays, you could probably use a break from reading. 😫
here we have put together a list of books to read before going to university, but you will surely enjoy reading them.
Below are modern classics, science made fun, and other exciting stories to consume. 🤪
so, whether you’re a high school student or recent graduate:
These are the best books to read before college:
1. to kill a mockingbird by harper lee
This is required high school reading in most of the US public school system. But if you haven’t explored this 1960’s classic yet, don’t put it off any longer!
atticus finch remains one of the leading heroes of racial equality and justice, and this book contains some disturbing cases of racial bigotry and rape. in a 2006 survey of British librarians, this book was also ranked as the number 1 required reading book of all time. PBS’s The Great American Read voted it “America’s Most Loved Novel.”
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
2. this changes everything: capitalism against the climate by naomi klein
In Naomi Klein’s multi-award winning book This Changes Everything: Capitalism Against Climate, she argues that the biggest enemy of progress and reversing climate change isn’t carbon, it’s capitalism.
The western world’s love and trust in something bigger and better is causing global warming faster than ever. If we want to adequately combat the effects of climate change, she says, we will have to fundamentally change the way we, as businesses and consumers, operate.
definitely one of the most important books for high school students to read.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
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3. sapiens: a brief history of mankind by yuval noah harari
sapiens: a brief history of mankind is a book by yuval noah harari with a historical timeline of mankind from the “birth” of homo sapiens to now in the 21st century.
Our guide, Harari, takes us through our history as a species, but goes further. he also argues that we may never be able to fully escape social prejudice, as well as that many distinctly human inventions, such as commerce, religion, and politics, owe their existence to our “distinctive cognitive capacity for fiction.”
a compelling book that is as much philosophy as it is science and anthropology.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
4. educated: memoirs of tara westover
This book may be a memoir, but it is one of the most captivating and must-read books before college.
tara westover tells her story of growing up in a paranoid Mormon household with parents who distrusted the public school systems for fear that children would be brainwashed. As such, she was homeschooled throughout her childhood until she finally enrolled in BYU.
It’s a story of great psychological suffering, but inspiring for the way Tara overcomes these various adversities. It will definitely make you appreciate the opportunity to go to college that much more!
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
See Also: 5 Great Books for Middle School Teachers – Top Education Degrees
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5. 1984 by george orwell
1984: A novel, often written simply as 1984, is the definitive dystopian novel. Written just over 70 years ago, this novel uses science fiction to contemplate the ruinous effects of totalitarianism, surveillance, and lack of privacy.
Because our world has taken a step backwards from progress in recent years, 1984 is a good book to scare us. Newspeak seems to be a common political rhetorical device these days, and the older brother seems to be more present than the actual biological members of the family.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
6. loved by toni morrison
Written over 30 years ago, Toni Morrison’s Beloved is a novel about unexplained sacrifice, pain and strength.
Set after the civil war in the united states, it is the story of a woman who escapes from slavery in kentucky to go to ohio, a free state. however, she is captured and, so that her child does not have to be raised in slavery, she kills her offspring.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
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7. fahrenheit 451 by ray bradbury
fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian book about a world where books are banned. the “firefighters” burn any book at or above 451℉, the temperature at which the pages can ignite.
This book offers a great philosophical reflection on the suppression of knowledge and ideas. It also provides a compelling argument for the value of free-thinking, liberal friends in our lives, like Clarisse McClellan in this book.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
8. Growing Up: How to Become an Adult in 468 Easy Steps (Give or Take) by Kelly Williams Brown
As you enter college, chances are you’ll also be entering adulthood.
in this book, mrs. Brown gives hundreds of helpful life tips for navigating adult situations. Whether she’s renting her first apartment, landing her first job, or trying to bond with other newbie adults, this is one of the best books for college students to read, hands down.
“These are the steps I wish I had taken before I grew up. wait, what am I talking about? these are steps i will start using today! Kelly Williams Brown writes as charmingly hysterical as she is kind. He gets this book and grows up!”
find this book at: goodreads • amazon kindle • audible
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9. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. salinger
As a high school student entering college, The Catcher in the Rye is a perfect book to deal with familiar teen themes such as loneliness, anger, identity, rebellion, sex, and superficiality, among others.
Although Holden Caulfield, the book’s protagonist, goes through a lot of pain and trouble in a short period of time, there is some redemption and happiness at the end. a powerful coming of age book that is a must read for any new adult entering college.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon
10. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. paddle
Known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in Britain, where it was first published, this is the first in J.K. rowling.
Essential reading for its prominence in pop culture alone, this book sees the poor orphan boy leave his adoptive family for a new world at a new school with new friends and learning about new skills and the responsibilities that come with them. certainly a book all future college students can relate to!
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
See Also: Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
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11. the invisible man by ralph ellison
Although Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man addresses the issues of African Americans, it is essential reading for all because of its unique perspective.
In this book, Ellison talks about many issues facing African Americans at the time it was written, 1952, such as black identity and nationalism. Although it was written decades ago, readers will easily be able to apply the lessons and questions it contains to the real issues and concerns facing African Americans and all minorities today.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
12. The Turning Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of It by Meg Jay
You may not be in your twenties yet, but why not get a head start?
Since its publication in 2012, The Turning Decade has become the definitive book for all twenty-somethings. As this new decade begins, Meg Jay’s book remains just as relevant. Filled with stories from other twenty year olds and lots of scientific research, this is one of the best college books for students and young adults.
“A clinical psychologist issues a four-alarm call for America’s 50 million 20-somethings…. a compelling argument for growth and a helpful guide on how to get there.”
find this book at: goodreads • amazon kindle • audible
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13. brave new world by aldous huxley
Often compared to Orwell’s 1984, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is also a dystopian novel about a possible future society (one world state) where society is clustered by intelligence and many scientific advances in reproduction and education abound.
written in 1931, it seems almost prophetic in nature (which is part of the reason for its comparison to 1984). many of the technologies and inventions in the book have become or are very close to becoming reality.
this book offers us a great thought experiment about why we feel that, despite the fact that we are making so many advances as humans, we are moving further and further away from a utopia. A must read for anyone in your life, but definitely a great book to read to prepare for college!
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
14. david foster wallace infinity joke
david foster wallace can write. this is not only a statement of his skill, but also how the man never tires of saying word after word. At over 1,000 pages, it’s a challenging read, to say the least.
however, it’s also not a challenge at all. as part comedy and part philosophy, the infinity joke is quite enjoyable. you might even wish it would continue!
This book, while fiction, is excellent at making us question the value of life’s various pleasures, from entertainment to personal connections.
find this book at: goodreads • amazon • audible
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15. talking to strangers: what we need to know about people we don’t know by malcolm gladwell
As a prospective college student, you are likely to leave the comfort and safety net of home, family, and childhood friends. making new friends in college can be daunting, to say the least. in gladwell talking to strangers, he doesn’t give us any answers on how to make friends or talk to strangers.
However, it provides excellent insight into why some communications work while others don’t, as well as many historical moments that could have had a different outcome if the parties involved could understand each other a little better.
“mr. gladwell’s big hit is based on the moment the skeptic starts to think that maybe we’re all wrong about everything and maybe, just maybe, this gladwell boy is right… talking to strangers carries more weight than their previous titles.”
find this book at: goodreads • amazon kindle • audible
Well, that’s our list of important books to read before college, and we hope you find it useful and enjoyable! how many have you read? Do you have any questions, comments, or other must-read books for high school students to add to our list? let us know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!