10 BOOKS Every University Student In Kenya MUST READ

Whereas everyone decries the reading culture in Kenya, no one remembers to hold the writers to account. Could it be that people don’t read because they lack appropriate material to read? Or that a lot of gutter material blankets content that would and should be read by most people? I bring you the 10 books that every university student in Kenya must read. These are books that everyone should read before they leave campus. You will be surprised, there’s a writer who has three books on this list.

1.    AntiFragile by Nassim K Taleb

We could possibly recommend that one begins with Taleb’s black swan book before advancing to his other books of Antifragile and Fooled by Randomness. On the other hand, if a University student believes they don’t have the time to read all his three books, then, they could stick to reading only one book from him-AntiFragile that documents things and systems that gain from disorder. This book will put one in the top one percent thinkers in one’s University.


2.    Poor Charlie’s Almanac by Charlie Munger

This is comparable to Charlie Munger’s Autobiography. He shares the wisdom that has helped him and Warren Buffet keep on the top of their game when it comes to investment. He’s that business partner of Warren Buffet that is rarely mentioned. In this book, he makes a strong case for Subtractive Knowledge, especially the principles of Inversion noting that the most important thing in life is to know where you will die from and not go there. Finally, he brings us 25 cognitive biases that see most people fall in the traps of life.

3.    Lessons of History by Will Durant

Will Durant is probably the greatest historical philosopher that graced the modern times. He’s a man who dedicated more than 40 years of his life documenting various events and personalities in history. His book, lessons of history will sum up the reasons and conclusions we take from the study of history. Once you go through this first book of his, you may dare yourself to read; “the story of philosophy” and “the story of civilization.” For an extra mile, you could then think of reading the book; “10 Great Thinkers and Ideas of All Time.” In that book, he mentions 100 books for an education. A list of books you that should take you for 4 years, after which, you will come off wiser and knowledgeable with an education that no University can offer.

4.    Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max

Tucker Max singlehandedly invented a new genre in writing, and that is “fratire.” This is a book that will get you laughing your ribs out. And once you read this book of his, you will automatically be driven to read the other three; I Hope They Sell beer in Hell, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds.
tucker max

5.    On The Shortness of Life by Lucius Seneca

Majority complain that life is short, and even in its shortness, it rushes by at rocket speed. This is not a book; it’s a mere Essay that disputes this fact. The Roman Philosopher Seneca maintains that life is not as short as we think; we merely waste a lot of it, beseeched by vices and other distractions. He notes that the portion of life which we live is very small, the rest is time. This is an essay that will awaken you.

6.    Personal Development For Smart People by Steve Pavlina

Majority of self-help books are hogwash, they will insult your intelligence. Do not count Steve Pavlina’s book among that lot. This is a book that will give you the very roots of personal development. It will show you how to take your life from this point to the next point, and you will do so consciously. This book must be read before one attends their first lecture in University. It will form the foundation for all the years you will spend in University.

7.    Steve Jobs Biography by Walter Isaacson

Many people think that books are a one-time read, material that you read and brag about. This biography of Steve Jobs will get you questioning those myths about books. It will be a book that you will read and find yourself coming back to now and again for elucidation in life. It’s a book about a man who abandoned, drops out of college, and goes ahead to revolutionize three industries. If you have used the Iphone, the Ipod or the fonts on your computer, then there’s a man to thank for that role.

8.    Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson

 That a man who was born with dyslexia goes ahead to start over 400 companies is a record-breaking story in Entrepreneurship. This is the story of the Virgin Group right from its inception. Richard Branson shares every secret of his generously. And if you enjoy this book, then you should read his other book; “Screw it, let’s do it.”

9.    The Game by Neil Strauss (for Male Students) The Rules by Ellen Fein (for Female Students)

for Male Students

for Female Students

Many male students struggle with how to pick up girls. How do you approach a girl you like? How do you stir interest? What are the techniques? The Game by Neil Strauss is that one book that every male student at campus should read. The Rules is a book that Steve Harvey basically plagiarized to produce his own book. Every female student must read this book.

10.    Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This book is set in a time before the White Man comes to Africa, and the aftermath once he’s been accepted in African society. You will fall in love with the Character Okonkwo, above all, you will understand a great part of our African heritage. The African wisdom that is dissipated in form of proverbs will leave you in awe of our ancestors. It’s a book that should be read at every beginning of a Semester.
achebe

BONUS BOOKS
There are books that didn’t make the top ten list that I feel when one gets time, they should go ahead and read them.
-Animal Farm by George Orwell
-The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
– Conjectures and Refutations by Karl Popp
– The Road to Serfdom by Frederick Von Hayek
-48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
– Guns, Germs and Steel by Jarred Diamonds

Once one goes through the strenuous times of reading these books, they will definitely find themselves charting out the course of the next books to read. The beauty about books, the more you read, the more you fall in love with reading them.