Book Blogger Hop

 

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

It’s back-to-school time. What book would you recommend to students, whether it’s an educational read or an enjoyable diversion from textbooks?

Let’s start with the “enjoyable diversion” bit, it’s the easiest (and the toughest to implement sometimes). Find something that appeals to you–because of the cover, because of what the back cover promises, because you’ve read something by the author, because someone you know liked it.

Now, for the “educational read” part. I don’t think I can limit it to one, really. But if I had to, I’d go with:

Cover of Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer
Dreyer’s English:
An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style
by Benjamin Dreyer		 Cover of Dreyer's English (Adapted for Young Readers) by Benjamin Dreyer
Dreyer’s English (Adapted for Young Readers):
Good Advice for Good Writing
by Benjamin Dreyer
Cover of The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs
The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
by Alan Jacobs		 Cover of How to Think by Alan Jacobs
How to Think:
A Survival Guide for a World at Odds
by Alan Jacobs		 Cover of Breaking Bread with the Dead by Alan Jacobs
Breaking Bread with the Dead:
A Reader’s Guide to a More Tranquil Mind
by Alan Jacobs
Cover of Surviving Religion 101 by Michael J. Kruger
Surviving Religion 101:
Letters to a Christian Student
on Keeping the Faith in
College
by Michael J. Kruger

Dreyer’s English (pick the version most appropriate) is going to be my pick if I have to limit it to one. Getting language, punctuation, and other details about writing down will help in all sorts of courses (and life)–and Dryer’s book will help greatly in that way, and is entertaining enough that you won’t mind learning something outside of class.

I feel like I should have some other suggestions for Elementary and Middle School readers, but I don’t. Sorry.

For High Schoolers and above:

The trilogy of Alan Jacobs books there are ever-so-helpful. The first helps you remember that reading should be a pleasure, and not the equivalent of eating your vegetables. The second book is so helpful to train you to think clearly and charitably–something we all need. And then Breaking Bread with the Dead, helps the reader see ways they can read, profit from, and enjoy books and writers from the past, even if their lives, politics, morality, and so on, is different from our own.

Lastly, Michael Kruger’s book is a very handy book for College or High School students to read as they interact with non-Christians and anti-Christians socially or in the classroom. It’d probably be handy for non-Christians to read so they understand what they might be decrying.

As (almost) always when I’m asked for a book recommendation, I overshot. Oh, well…

What did I leave off my list?