5 Non-Fiction Books To Help You Get Through University

University is all about reading. Many students will spend most of their degree deep in a textbook or agonising over an analysis of a piece of literature.

Recommending even more books to sit and read might seem counterproductive to students with very little time left to parcel out. Yet, sometimes books can be motivational and inspirational to struggling students.

There are lists and lists of fiction novels which you are told you need to read before you die. Non-fiction is sometimes neglected and there is a culture that “self-help” books are for the desperate or easily lead. Perhaps those who think that have been reading the wrong self-help books.

University can be a tough time. Knowing where to look for advice can be confusing and it can all seem a little overwhelming. Non-fiction is one of the most fertile genres for encouragement and support that you can find.

From the many valuable non-fiction books out there, here are 5 Non-fiction Books To Read At University.

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey

Procrastination verses productivity is something every student struggles with.

Chris Bailey has tried hundreds of different productivity tactics and distilled them down into 25 that he thinks are the most powerful. This book outlines these priceless productivity hacks, expressing them through stories outlining his smart, funny and often weird experiments in productivity.

The book is a treasure trove of tactics, including strategic coffee consumption, scheduling less time for important tasks, and eliminating the unimportant. The book is both entertaining and a helpful guide to productivity.

This advice would be invaluable to students but can also be applied at any stage of life to help anyone who has ever struggled to get stuff done.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Described by reviews as a self-help book for those who hate self-hate books, The Happiness Project’s full title is The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun.

Published in more than thirty languages, it has sold 1.5 million copies and spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list.

The author, Gretchen Rubin decided to dedicate a year to a happiness project and this thoughtful, engaging and genuinely funny book emerged. With more than simply platitudes or buzzwords, Rubin explores realistic routes to happiness, intercut with insights from philosophers and psychologists.

Published in 2009, it is not a new title but is one well worth the time.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Professors are often asked to deliver their ‘Last Lecture’, a thought-provoking session detailing what wisdom they would impart if it were their last chance.

Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to deliver such a lecture. Soon after agreeing, Pausch was tragically diagnosed with terminal Cancer but made the remarkable decision to continue with the lecture.

Pausch delivered a TED talk entitled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” in 2008, later turned into a book entitled ‘The Last Lecture.’ He challenges his audience to think back to their own childhood dreams and what is really important.

With no time spent on religious or spiritual concerns, Pausch simply encourages practical action in his audience. He includes anecdotes from his own life and the whole book is a heart-wrenching but encouraging story.

Little Book of Calm by Paul Wilson

Everyone has different strategies to relax; some people take a bath, others listen to calming music, and others carry a Little Book of Calm.

The Little Book of Calm is full of inspiring thoughts and wise advice to follow. As the title suggests, it is a small book which can be popped into a bag or pocket. It is easy to dip in to it whenever you feel anxious or overwhelmed.

Much of the book is common sense but it is laid out in a reassuring, easy to follow manner.

As an added bonus, those who are fans of the comedy series Black Books might recognise the iconic little book.

Nosh For Students by Joy May

This is not a joke; your diet can affect your grades.

For many students, university is the first time living alone, doing your own washing and cooking your own food. It can be an added helping of worry onto an already stress-filled plate.

Joy May’s Nosh For Students is on its 5th edition. Apparently originally inspired by the author’s son, Ben, who left for university with no cooking skills, it is a book that every student needs.

The recipes are straightforward and simple. The suggested ingredients are easily acquired and inexpensive. We all know how tight university budgets can get. Equally, the book does not expect a kitchen to be stocked with equipment and every meal’s ingredients can be measured in either handfuls or with a regular mug.

A good diet can help stimulate and motivate your body in the same way that a good reading diet can help stimulate and motivate your mind.

Cat Dennis is a history graduate living and writing in Canterbury. For more, visit Cat’s blog.

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency specialising in all the internships and graduate jobs London has to offer.

See another article on our blog on 5 books to read in the summer!