Graduation is a turning point in a student’s life—a time to
gain not just academic knowledge, but also life skills, self-awareness, and
direction. Reading the right books during this phase can inspire personal
growth, build strong habits, and prepare students for the real world.
Here are seven highly recommended books (with a bonus two!)
that every student should consider reading during their graduation journey:
1. Thinking, Fast and Slow – by Daniel Kahneman
Author: Daniel Kahneman (Nobel Prize-winning psychologist
and economist)
Genre: Psychology / Behavioural Economics
Published: 2011
Overview:
Thinking, Fast and Slow is a groundbreaking book that explores how the mind works, specifically, how we think and make decisions. Kahneman introduces two systems of thought:
System 1: Fast, intuitive, and emotional. It works automatically and quickly.
System 2: Slow, deliberate, and logical. It requires effort
and attention.
Key Ideas:
Cognitive Biases – Our minds often take mental shortcuts that lead to errors in judgment.
Overconfidence – People tend to be more confident in their decisions than they should be.
Loss Aversion – We feel the pain of loss more strongly than the pleasure of an equivalent gain.
Framing Effect – The way a problem or question is presented can drastically change our decisions.
Anchoring – Initial information has a significant influence on our
decisions, even if it's irrelevant.
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
- It improves critical thinking and decision-making.
- Helps you understand your own behaviour and that of others.
- Useful in careers involving problem-solving, leadership, finance, marketing, and more.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People – by Dale Carnegie
Author: Dale Carnegie
Genre: Self-help / Communication / Personal Development
First Published: 1936
Overview:
How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the most
famous and influential self-help books of all time. It teaches timeless
principles for improving communication, building strong relationships, and
positively influencing others in both personal and professional life.
Dale Carnegie uses simple language, real-life examples, and
relatable stories to explain how anyone can become more likeable, persuasive,
and successful through kindness, empathy, and respect.
Key Principles:
1. Show genuine interest in others
– People love to talk about themselves—listen sincerely.
2. Smile and remember names
– Small gestures build strong connections.
3. Avoid criticism, condemnation, or complaints
– Criticism makes people defensive and hurts relationships.
4. Give honest and sincere appreciation
– Everyone wants to feel valued.
5. Talk in terms of other people’s interests
– Understand what matters to them, not just you.
6. Make the other person feel important
– And do it genuinely.
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
- Helps improve social and communication skills.
- Builds confidence in networking, interviews, teamwork, and leadership.
- Offers timeless lessons in empathy, persuasion, and emotional intelligence.
3. Atomic Habits – by James Clear
Author: James Clear
Genre: Self-help / Personal Development
Published: 2018
Overview:
Atomic Habits is a practical and insightful guide to
building good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviours that
lead to remarkable results over time. The core idea is that small, consistent
changes ("atomic" habits) compound into big transformations.
Key Concepts:
- The Power of 1% Improvement
- Small changes made consistently can lead to major improvements over time.
- The Four Laws of Behaviour Change
- Make it obvious
- Make it attractive
- Make it easy
- Make it satisfying
- These principles help in creating good habits and breaking bad ones.
Identity-Based Habits
Instead of focusing on goals, build habits based on the type
of person you want to become (e.g., “I’m the kind of person who exercises
daily”).
Environment Design
Shaping your surroundings makes good habits easier and bad habits harder.
Habit Stacking
Linking new habits to existing routines helps build
consistency (e.g., “After I brush my teeth, I’ll meditate for 2 minutes”).
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
- Helps develop discipline, focus, and consistency in personal and professional life.
- Offers tools to build positive routines after the structure of college is gone.
- Useful for achieving long-term goals with less stress and more clarity.
4. Start with Why – by Simon Sinek
Author: Simon Sinek
Genre: Leadership / Business / Motivation
Published: 2009
Overview:
Start With Why is a powerful book that explores how great leaders and organisations inspire people to take action, not by focusing on what they do, but why they do it.
Simon Sinek explains that people are more
motivated and loyal when they understand the deeper purpose behind a product,
service, or mission.
He introduces the idea of the Golden Circle, which consists of three layers:
Why – The purpose, cause, or belief that drives you
How – The process or values that make you different
What – The result or product you offer
Sinek uses examples from companies like Apple and leaders
like Martin Luther King Jr. to show how starting with “why” leads to stronger
communication, leadership, and success.
Key Messages:
- People don’t buy what you do—they buy why you do it.
- Inspiring leaders and brands to start with purpose, not just products.
- Clarity of purpose builds trust, loyalty, and long-term success.
- Great leadership is about motivating others through shared beliefs and values.
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
- Helps clarify your goals, values, and direction in life or career.
- Builds strong leadership and communication skills.
- Encourages you to work with passion and purpose, not just for money.
5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – by Stephen R. Covey
Author: Stephen R. Covey
Genre: Self-help / Personal Development / Leadership
Published: 1989
Overview:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a classic
self-help book that teaches powerful principles for personal and professional
effectiveness. Stephen Covey presents a step-by-step framework to help
individuals live with integrity, focus, and purpose by developing strong
character and leadership.
The book focuses on changing the way you see and think about
the world, shifting from being reactive to proactive and from short-term success
to long-term growth.
The 7 Habits Are:
1. Be Proactive
– Take responsibility for your actions and choices.
2. Begin with the End in Mind
– Define your goals and vision for the future.
3. Put First Things First
– Focus on what’s most important, not just urgent tasks.
4. Think Win-Win
– Seek mutual benefit in all relationships.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
– Practice empathetic listening before speaking.
6. Synergise
– Collaborate with others to create better outcomes together.
7. Sharpen the Saw
– Continuously renew yourself physically, mentally, and
emotionally.
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
- Builds strong personal discipline and goal-setting skills.
- Improves relationships, leadership, time management, and decision-making.
- Encourages a balanced, purpose-driven approach to life and career.
6. Educated – by Tara Westover
Author: Tara Westover
Genre: Memoir / Autobiography
Published: 2018
Overview:
Educated is a powerful and inspiring memoir that tells the true story of Tara Westover, a woman who grew up in a strict, survivalist family in rural Idaho, USA. Her parents did not believe in formal education or modern medicine, so she never attended school as a child and had no official records or formal learning.
Despite this, Tara taught herself enough to take the ACT
exam, was accepted into college, and eventually earned a Ph.D. from the
University of Cambridge.
Key Themes:
The power of education – Education transformed Tara’s life, giving her freedom and a voice.
Family and identity – The struggle between loyalty to family and the desire to grow as an individual.
Personal resilience – Overcoming emotional and physical abuse, ignorance, and isolation.
Self-discovery – Finding her own truth and building a life beyond her past.
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
- Shows that education can break barriers, no matter your background.
- Encourages courage, independence, and critical thinking.
- Inspires readers to value learning and to pursue growth, even in the face of adversity.
7. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Author: Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
Genre: Memoir / Autobiography
Published: 2018
Zero to One is an influential book that focuses on
innovation, entrepreneurship, and building successful startups. Written by
Peter Thiel, a billionaire entrepreneur and co-founder of PayPal, in
collaboration with Blake Masters, the book is based on notes taken during
Thiel's lectures at Stanford University.
Key Ideas:
- Going from Zero to One:
Thiel explains that creating something entirely new (zero to
one) is more valuable than copying existing ideas (one to n). Innovation means
doing something unique that has never been done before.
- Monopoly is Good:
Contrary to traditional beliefs, Thiel argues that
successful businesses should aim to become monopolies — companies so good at
what they do that no other firm can offer a close substitute.
- Think for Yourself:
The book encourages students and entrepreneurs to think
independently, challenge conventional wisdom, and look for hidden truths others
ignore.
- Start Small, Scale Fast:
Great companies begin by dominating a small niche market.
Once they succeed there, they can expand and grow into larger markets.
- The Power of Technology:
Thiel emphasises that technology is the most powerful tool
for shaping the future. He encourages readers to focus on technological
progress rather than competition.
Why It’s Important for Graduates:
Zero to One provides a fresh perspective on building a
career, starting a business, and contributing to meaningful progress. It’s
especially valuable for students interested in entrepreneurship, startups, or
changing the world through bold, original thinking.
