I always get excited when I get to review a book! Today is no exception, as this book is SO GOOD! I hope that if you're looking for something to read, you'll grab this one. Or...listen to it. (little fact: Utah's Public Library is all set up with an online system where you can check out books online, both ebooks and audiobooks. I love this--it keeps me reading AND listening to great books--and they return automatically so I completely avoid late fees! Love, love, love this!)
Okay, back to the book.
This book is a look at college through multiple lenses--for the students who attend Ivy League Colleges AND state colleges. It's a look at the jump between high school and college level learning. It's a look at how which college you study at could affect your lifetime earnings. It's a look at how colleges admit students (this was mind blowing to read how nuanced a process it can be for highly selective colleges). I loved every chapter of this book, enough that I'm now on my third reading of the book...er, my third listening of the book. (see note above:-)
In full disclosure, I need to mention that it contradicts one of the main theories from another of my other favorite books, Frank Bruni's "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be", which supports the theory that a bachelor's degree is not the end-all to the rest of you're life. Bruni illustrates with many well-known people that it is their advanced degrees that made the difference in their life. A bachelor's degree is really just a stepping stone. Bruni also argues that going to a less-selective college and being a big fish in a little pond could be the reason for more opportunities and learning success. In stark contrast, Tough uses individual stories to support the facts (which is hard to argue with since he is pulling facts from academic researchers that pulled their stats from years of IRS data), that monetarily, you are better off going to the best college that will accept you. Even if you are a little fish in a big (or highly competitive pond), you are going to be better off, monetarily at least. Unless, of course, you're in the group that did not finish college, and have huge looming student debt. Going to college and then stopping really doesn't have a lot of benefits. The point of sharing both of these books is that instead of only reading one or the other, if you read both books, you'll get a well-informed and thorough understanding of how college matters, and can make the best decision for you personally. (Which, by the way, I'm happy to chat with you about:-)
Now, this is still non-fiction, so you might not be staying up at night to finish the book (unless you have a future in college counseling). But it is interesting non-fiction. Paul Tough is a great writer, and he's known for his ability to weave facts with personal stories so you don't realize you're learning, because frankly, you're being entertained. Again--a win.
I hope you'll check it out! Happy Reading!
