Recommended Reading for High School Students

Outside Reading Helps Students Expand Vocabulary, Explore Interests One the most important college admissions prep goals for 2014 that students can easily achieve is to expand their outside readings. Not only does reading help foster creativity, it expands students’ vocabularies (which is important for the SAT and ACT!) and helps them learn more about topics that interest them. Colleges are looking to build well-rounded classes made up of specialists, so becoming well-versed in a few areas of interest is important for applicants. Outside reading is one way to become an expert in a field of interest, or just a way to explore a new topic or activity to see if it is a good-fit for a particular student. Whether it’s to explore a new interest, learn more about a current one, or just for pleasure and relaxation, reading is a great activity for all students that will draw many long-term benefits. Here’s what to read if you’re interested in: English and Literature A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway The book describes Hemingway's apprenticeship as a young writer in Europe (especially in Paris) during the 1920s with his first wife, Hadley. The memoir consists of Hemingway's personal accounts, observations, and stories of his experience in 1920s Paris. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells From the twentieth century's first great practitioner of the novel of ideas comes a consummate masterpiece of science fiction about a man trapped in the terror of his own creation. Art and Art History History of Art by Anthony F. Janson and H.W. Janson With more than four million copies in print in 14 languages, History of Art has long been considered the indispensable art reference. Great Artistis: The Lives of 50 Painters Explored Through Their Work by Robert Cumming A benchmark for intelligent, engaging nonfiction, this superbly designed book is written and illustrated with a lushness that takes the breath away. Fifty double-page spreads cover artists from da Vinci and Rubens to Monet, Picasso, and Pollock. Engineering Engineering Ethics Blog Comments on current events with an engineering ethics angle. Progressive Engineer Magazine Progressive Engineer is an online magazine and information source covering all disciplines of engineering. They show the fun in engineering and the cool jobs engineers have. Business The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance by Joshua Holmberg and David Bruzzese From opening a bank account to investing in mutual funds, The Teen’s Guide to Personal Finance provides a sound foundation of financial knowledge upon which young adults can build realistic strategies to achieve financial independence. It illustrates basic but critical financial concepts, and is a must-read primer for all teens as they become more independent and more responsible for the financial choices they make. Becoming Financially Literate: The Basics You Never Learned in High School by Eric J. Weiss In this book you will learn the financial "nuts and bolts" necessary to achieving financial wellness. The book was written to fill the personal finance learning gap and includes topics such as: budgeting, insurance, taxes, using financial services, investing, understanding financial media, retirement planning and understanding how financial products are sold. Technology The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen In The Innovator’s Dilemma, author Clayton Christensen discusses how and why outstanding companies that do everything right can still lose their market leadership and fail. The Chip: How Two Americans Invented the Microchip and Launched a Revolution by T.R. Reid This story chronicles how the electronics revolution began. The story shows the race to create the first integrated circuit, commonly known as a chip, which became the brains of everything electronic. These books and publications are a great place to start if you are looking to expand your library. For more suggested reading, check out our 2013 Summer Reading List, and continue to research other books and publications that match your interests! What’s on your outside reading list? Tell us in the comments below!