Summer Reading: 5 Audiobooks Every Graduate Student Should Read

If you’re a grad student, you’re probably busy juggling work, classes, projects, internship applications, and much more. This means you likely have little time left to read (outside of your required reading). So, here are five great books to listen to while you’re working or on the go that will help you boost your skills, expand your knowledge, and change your mindset to unlock your academic and career potential.

1. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing by Paul J. Silvia PhD.

Regardless of what you’re studying in grad school, knowing how to write well will be one of your keys to success. This book combines the need for skillful academic writing with tips on how to write productively while balancing life outside of school. It’s great for anyone looking to improve their productivity and writing skills. 

2. The Unwritten Rules of Professional Etiquette: Building a Positive Reputation in Graduate School by Ryan Sharma

In grad school, your grades are not the only measures of success; the reputation you build while you’re in school also matters. In fact, building meaningful relationships with professors and faculty will impact your chances of receiving various recognitions and can impact your career outlook. This book guides you through nuanced academic etiquette they don’t teach you in school.

3. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. 

Grit is all about persistence, perseverance, and resilience in the face of adversity. This book uses the author's personal experiences to highlight and explain the importance of grit in and out of the classroom. This book can help you push through and succeed on even your worst days.

4. Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction by Chris Bailey. 

Grad school requires an abundance of focus in order to complete tasks on time and with a high degree of excellence. This book dives into the topics of focus and productivity through the lens of neuroscience. We all get distracted from time to time; this book will help you improve your focus, allowing you to be the best student you can be.

5. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck PhD.

In this book, you’ll learn how to shift your mindset in order to unlock your potential and success in grad school. With a background in psychology, the author explains just how important your mindset is and how it has a direct impact on your success. This book does more than just tell you to “think positive”; it dives deep into various different mindsets and shows you how to cultivate the ones that will benefit you the most in your academic and professional careers.