Top Books for High School and College Students

Here are hand-picked books for high school and college students covering various aspects of life and careers. I (Raghu) have read over most of the books listed below; the rest are on the reading list. When I’m giving a gift to a high schooler, teenager, or college student, I pick one book from here.

Contents hide

1 Professor Cal Newport Books

2 Personal Development

3 Money & Wealth

4 Job Search & Career

5 College Admissions

6 Other Links

Professor Cal Newport Books

39%

How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by...

So Good They Cant Ignore You [Paperback] Cal Newport

42%

2,852 Reviews

How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College...

44%

How to Win at College: Surprising Secrets for Success from the Country's Top...

Personal Development

45%

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

49%

131,077 Reviews

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

42%

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Harper Perennial Modern Classics)

41%

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College...

Money & Wealth

45%

The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness

39%

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and...

29%

Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom

Job Search & Career

37%

What Color Is Your Parachute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and...

28%

The 2-Hour Job Search, Second Edition: Using Technology to Get the Right Job...

30%

The Job Closer: Time-Saving Techniques for Acing Resumes, Interviews,...

43%

Knock 'em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide (Knock 'em Dead Career Book...

College Admissions

The following books are read for any families navigating the colleges.

Parents tend to say they have never heard about specific colleges, so these books should not be good enough for their children. However, these books give exposure to various colleges and getting scholarships.

12%

The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2025: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants...

43%

Fiske Guide to Colleges 2024

23%

The Best 389 Colleges, 2024: In-Depth Profiles & Ranking Lists to Help Find the...