How to Study in College

This was a textbook for a college class of mine. I didn't read it all, as my class didn't. I probably read less than I was suppose to though. Either way it is a pretty good book. It had nice visuals to help you understand, and was pretty straightforward. I will probably keep it, rather than selling it like I will most of my books.

DOCTOR PETER TEIMAN DAVIS here, Bastion of books on study skills. DOCTOR PETER TEIMAN DAVIS Sweden

I bought this book for my first year high school student who goes to a pretty competitive school. She read it over the summer and it was full of very good insights on how one commits new material to memory, why cramming doesn't work and many good tips for time management, notetaking, how to read a text book, etc. Although its a college study book, it is just as applicable for high school students in these times.

I have been teaching from Pauk's How to Study in College for many of the last 30 years. Although I have tried other similar textbooks, but none have been as successful with student's as Pauk's. How to Study in College provides solid, time proven strategies that, if used, will help a student fulfill his or her academic goals. The strategy most often used by my college students is Pauk's Cornell Notetaking Method. Included in this textbook are also chapters about listening skills, test-taking strategies, and the power of asking questions. The major change in the seventh edition is a greater emphasis on vocabulary. Beyond revisions in the vocabulary chapter, are two improvements included at the end of each chapter. The first improvement is the addition of an etymology section. One word is highlighted at the end of each chapter, with it's history and current use explained. The second revision is that instead of just listing words in the vocabulary improvement section with three possible synonyms from which a student may choose, words are now being given in context, usually within a quote. The added twist here is that an instructor can discuss the person being quoted, thereby adding historical perspective to students' often too lean knowledge of history. This book is, then, and excellent one for courses that emphasize study strategies and reading comprehension. It is also a textbook that is eminently useable by a student without benefit of an instructor.

Before I bought this book, I was a borderline 2nd year engineering student, and that's putting it lightly. After reading through it, my grades jumped high enough to get me into grad school, and I got straight A's in all my MSc courses. I also got an MBA later on.Now that isn't just because of Pauk, but I would never have done it without his marvelous advice from 'How to Study in College.' When I read the book, I felt like I was being talked to by someone GENUINELY interested in HELPING ME do better. Not what you expect from someone who spent decades teaching at a stuffy Ivy League university (Cornell).Pauk is no charlatan. He does not preach. All he offers are research-based techniques that have stood the test of time. In other words, through his years helping real students, he has found real techniques that have achieved real results. This is not theoretical stuff. And his systems are flexible, offering a variety of solutions to the various dilemmas students face. In the book, Pauk himself says not to follow every single one of his methods, but to pick and choose what suits the reader. This is indeed a practical man.How practical? Well, Pauk even goes into details like how your room should be lighted and how to correctly lie down for powernaps.Moreover, I have found that much of his advice, for example on time management, taking care of yourself, and memorization, are just as applicable in the working world. I refer to it all the time, and even today find it sincere, practical, and timeless. This is right up there with Shrunk and Wright on any person's list of must reads.One final note: Pauk's advice is clearly more geared towards students taking qualitative subjects rather than math/science/engineering courses. However, the general lessons can help anyone, no matter what one is studying. This is THE book, the original, the one and only, the legend. There is no substitute.