Not only is reading one of the best ways to improve your SAT or ACT Verbal score, but many colleges ask what you’re reading on your college application— some even ask for your favorite books during your interview! Above all, reading expands vocabularies, highlights effective communication of ideas, and introduces new perspectives.
So, with summer right around the corner, the LogicPrep team has compiled a diverse list of our favorite reads for you to check out. We promise you’ll find one that piques your interest!
A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles
Erika recommends this book because: “It is amazing how Count Rostov — while confined to stay within the walls of the Metropol Hotel — finds so much joy and meaning in the seemingly smallest details of his daily existence. After experiencing extreme social isolation this year during COVID, A Gentleman in Moscow lifted my spirits and reminded me that there are many adventures to be had and events to smile about no matter the circumstances.”
Becoming
by Michelle Obama
Luana recommends this book because: “Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world.”
Between Two Kingdoms: A Journey into the Wilderness of Survivorship
by Suleika Jaouad
Grace recommends this book because: “‘Between Two Kingdoms’ is an amazingly vulnerable and deeply moving memoir of a young woman (Princeton '10!) who receives a devastating cancer diagnosis at age 22 and chronicles the emotional challenges — and relational joys — of navigating her reentry to "normal life" after remission. I knew of Suleika since college (we were both in Princeton's orchestra together) and closely followed her journey with cancer through her "Life, Interrupted" NY Times column. During the pandemic, I signed up to receive her newsletter — The Isolation Journals — which has been a lifeline and a beautiful (virtual) community during an otherwise difficult time. I love everything Suleika writes, and this book is no exception.”
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Gretchen recommends this book because: “I'm still in the process of reading ‘Caste’, but I'm already prepared to assert that this book should be required reading for everyone living in the United States. Wilkerson's framework for understanding systemic racism in the US as a caste system not dissimilar from that of India or Nazi Germany is both thought-provoking and enlightening. It is also beautifully written, weaving together an impressive depth of research with stories that are deeply human.”
Dear Edward: A Novel
by Ann Napolitano
Sharon recommends this book because: “This is a coming-of-age story that is deeply human. You can't help but form a strong bond with the main character, Edward, and his friend Shay as they help Edward cope with tragedy. I also appreciated the structure of the book; it builds suspense and holds your interest.”
Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--and the Journey of a Generation
by Sheila Weller
Lindsay recommends this book because: “This biography, split in three, reads like a sharp work of fiction and is equal parts a window into the subjects' personal histories and the history of popular music. For anyone who loves a good story (and all three women were powerful storytellers themselves) regardless of genre, there's lots of excellent stuff here: romance and heartbreak, success and disappointment. It'll make you listen to their music - and any music, really - with a totally new perspective.”
Go Tell It On the Mountain
by James Baldwin
Adam recommends this book because: “This novel by James Baldwin, one of America’s great authors and one of the 20th century’s foremost writers on the Black American experience (both fiction and nonfiction), appeared in 1953. Almost 70 years later, it remains a searing, harrowing portrait of the intertwined lives of a Black family in Harlem. Baldwin uses flashbacks and multiple narrative threads to weave together the stories of a boy on the verge of adolescence, his violent preacher father, his strong-willed aunt, and his long-suffering mother as they worship together in a midnight church service. The prose is gorgeous and evocative, the characters are richly drawn, and Baldwin’s powerful voice remains deeply resonant and essential in a time when America continues to grapple with its fraught racial history.”
Homeland Elegies: A Novel
by Ayad Akhtar
Marjorie recommends this book because: “This book was recommended to me by a friend who reads widely, and upon reading it immediately became a devotee of the author. ‘Homeland Elegies’ is an immensely captivating, compelling read by an important author for our times. Masterfully illuminates many contemporary familial and political currents and cross-currents in our (increasingly polarized) country and the complexities of identity. This book is a must-read for anyone who reads. I also recommend checking out this book talk with the author, facilitated by Stanford University.”
Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do?
by Michael J. Sandel
Filipe recommends this book because: “‘Justice’ explores critical analysis of classical and contemporary theories of justice, including discussion of present-day applications. Topics include affirmative action, income distribution, same-sex marriage, the role of markets, debates about rights (human rights and property rights), arguments for and against equality, dilemmas of loyalty in public and private life. It's absolutely intriguing the way Michael J. Sandel relates great problems of philosophy to prosaic everyday matters. It is easy to understand why his ‘Justice’ course at Harvard is one of the most sought after in the world.”
Mathematics for Human Flourishing
by Francis Su
Thomas recommends this book because: “‘Mathematics for Human Flourishing’ is an inspirational account of why mathematics is so important to our modern lives and, above all, why everyone is capable of engaging with it. I hope this inspires people to engage with mathematics and its beauty! It shows how mathematics is an essential part of the human condition and curiosity as well.”
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
by Jill Bolte-Taylor, PhD
Meghan recommends this book because: “This book is both educational and inspiring. If you are interested in neuroscience, psychology, or the science of spirituality, this book may quite literally blow your mind. Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor came into fame through her TED Talk which is a much-abbreviated version of her book. If you like the TED Talk, you will love the book.”
Nowhere Boy
by Katherine Marsh
Cari recommends this book because: “‘Nowhere Boy’ is a novel so masterfully told that its improbable plot about a teenage refugee befriending an American in Europe captures even the least politically knowledgeable reader and transports them to an authentic understanding of the Syrian refugee crisis. It builds investment in European geopolitics and leaves the reader with the hope that comes from deep friendships.”
Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
by Dan Ariely
Olivia recommends this book because: “Economists often expect people to act rationally when making financial decisions (buying the cheapest price or best value) but people rarely do. Dan Ariely explores the many factors that impact how we think about and use money, and exposes how irrational humans really are, especially when it comes to economics. The writing is very witty and approachable, and I think any student interested in economics or psychology would find it a fascinating read!”
Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting
by Lisa Genova
David recommends this book because: “A quick read yet nearly every page it makes you think about how vital memory is -- and how strange! Sure it's useful when we think about test prep, but even more fascinating to me was learning about and pondering the implications of how the brain constructs memory... and memory makes us who we are.”
Such a Fun Age
by Kiley Reid
Rae-Ann recommends this book because: “This book feels very on point with what's going on in the world; it’s a well-done story about race, privilege, & awkwardness. ‘Such a Fun Age’ will be digested quite differently to various audiences — funny, deeply uncomfortable, or relatable. In a skillful way, this story weaves race-related explorations with thoughts on friendship, motherhood, marriage, love, and more, underlining that there’s so much more to us than skin.”
The Bone Clocks: A Novel
by David Mitchell
Sigrid recommends this book because: “This year (for obvious reasons) I've been drawn to escapist, fantastical fiction. David Mitchel is one of my favorite authors because he so masterfully builds worlds that are thrilling and completely engrossing. I am decidedly not a morning person, but ‘The Bone Clocks’ was such a page-turner that I actually woke up early (by my standards at least) to pick up where I'd left off reading the night before.”
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World
by Patrik Svensson
Marjorie recommends this book because: “This book is a surprisingly literary and memoirist tale, more-so than a biological one. t's almost best to think of this book as a series of eel detours through philosophers and biologists of ages past and present. Readable, enjoyable, and interesting to think about how the eel was the point of departure for a book that is as much about an age-old human quest to "know" the eel as it is about the eel itself, in the biological sense. Taken together with Peter Godfrey-Smith's ‘Other Minds,’ this book makes for an interesting comparison/contrast in the role of the organism in the development of the narrative/text.”
The City We Became: A Novel (The Great Cities Trilogy, 1)
by N.K. Jemisin
Sigrid recommends this book because: “If you love (or want to love) New York City, this is a great book for you. Jemisin takes a wildly creative take on the various identities, cultures, and histories that overlap, evolve, and shape the city. Plus monsters and superpowers.”
The Grace of Kings
by Ken Liu
Jamie recommends this book because: “I found this novel because I loved Liu's short story ‘The Paper Menagerie,’ and I also highly recommend his short stories. This novel in particular is a great summer read because it has a great balance of depth and adventure. Liu does a great job of avoiding cliche aspects of fantasy fiction, and the world he creates is compelling, managing to seem simultaneously believable and magical.”
The Nickel Boys: A Novel
by Colson Whitehead
Andrew recommends this book because: “Readable, relevant and really, really good! A precocious young black boy named Elwood finds himself unjustly imprisoned at a 1960s "reform school" in Florida with some dark secrets. The novel is inspired by recent news reporting on a real 1960s institution. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ meets ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ told with exquisite craft and the beats of a bestselling thriller.”
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
by Nicholas Carr
Nico recommends this book because: “‘The Shallows’ is an eloquent investigation into the human mind and its interaction with technology throughout history. As we stumble into the age of TikTok and Zoom, it is essential to understand the costs of our newfound reliance on digital media, and how this reliance represents a momentous shift in our intellectual habits. Ultimately, ‘The Shallows’ is a love letter to the printed page and a valuable reminder to be thoughtful about the ways we use our brains.”
The Story of My Teeth
by Valeria Luiselli
Lucas recommends this book because: “It’s a fun, short novel narrated by Highway, a gregarious and charming auctioneer with a passion for collecting teeth (!). Luiselli does such an amazing job at expressing big ideas in ways that are fun, accessible, and stylish. Plus the book has a really interesting history -- she wrote it in collaboration with factory workers at an industrial juice plant in Mexico City.”
The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber
by Cao Xueqin
B. recommends this book because: “One of the four great classical novels of China, it is at once the story of two star-crossed lovers, Lin Daiyu and Jia Baoyu, as well as a detailed chronicle of an aristocratic family's decline in the Qing dynasty. It is perhaps the greatest novel ever to have been written, not just in Chinese, but in any language whatsoever. There is nothing in the world quite like it.”
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
by Robert M. Pirsig
Brian recommends this book because: “The road trip serves as a vehicle for philosophical reflection. I read it as I was going into college and found it helped me analyze the different ways to approach life and how we align our values. It's a great introspective read for students who are starting a new and exciting journey.”