Now that winter is (finally) over and the semester is coming to a close, it’s the perfect time to crack open a book that’s not on your syllabus. Grab your sunglasses, an iced drink from Starbucks and head to the BU beach with one (or all!) of these noteworthy selections:
For the graduating senior: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
In this inspiring book, Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that empowers collegiettes to achieve their full potential!
For the thinker: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Recognize the name? Yep, she’s featured in a Beyoncé song. A clip from her TED talk on feminism is sampled on Flawless. Her book Americanah tells the story of a young Nigerian couple. When they leave military-ruled Nigeria for the West, they are separated and are forced to confront issues of race. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion for each other and for their homeland.
For the techie: The Circle by Dave Eggers
Mae Holland, a young twenty-something desperate to escape her unfulfilling job, is hired to work for the Circle, a futuristic all-encompassing internet company that is the next level of online identity. Thrilled with the company’s beautiful campus, first-class utilities, and fabulous parties with coworkers, she’s living her dream. But soon her life outside of her job starts to slip away, and strange encounters with colleagues leave her unsettled, and her identity becomes increasingly public. This thrilling novel will leave you questioning the limits of ambition, idealism, privacy, and human knowledge.
For the future world-changer: The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun
The founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit that has built over 200 schools around the world, Adam Braun tells the story of “how an ordinary person can create extraordinary change.” At 25 and well on his way to a successful Wall Street career, Braun was traveling through India when he asked a young boy what he wanted most. The answer? “A pencil.” This inspiring story of a young man’s journey to find his calling and achieve his goals will give you the inspiration to create your own change.
For the funny girl: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
This one isn’t a new release, but it still deserves a spot on this list. This hilarious memoir will have you laughing out loud and sending snapchats of pages to your friends. Use it as a lighthearted study break or save it for after finals when you can finally breathe easy!