Title: College Rules!, 4th Edition
Authors: Sherrie Nist-Olejnik, PhD
​        and Jodi Patrick Holschuh, PhD.
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Amazon Link: here
Cost: $10
Pages: 336 
Rating: 5/5 (Fantastic)
Provided by: Blogging for Books

Synopsis: 

This updated classic gives students the tools they need to successfully transition from high school to college, avoid rookie mistakes, and set themselves up for academic success from day one. 

College can be the most exciting time in your life, but it also throws you into the deep end, with new academic and social responsibilities often seeming impossible to juggle. College Rules! will save you time and trouble, setting you up for academic success from the get-go. Whether you’re graduating at the top of your high school class or returning to college as an adult, this updated and expanded edition offers practical advice on how to successfully transition into college. Including tips and strategies that won’t ever be taught in lectures, you’ll learn how to:

- Study smarter—not harder
- Use technology in the classroom
- Choose an app for every occasion
- Excel at time management [Read: Balance homework and parties]
- Stay motivated—even in those “yawn” classes
- Plan a manageable course schedule
- Interact effectively with profs
- Become a research ace—online and at the library
- Survive the stress of exam week
- Set yourself up for stellar recommendations

With sad but true stories that teach tough lessons the easy way and inside scoops that provide advice based on actual research, College Rules! will help you make the most of your college years.

My opinions: 

Wow. This book is good. 

I have one problem with it, and that is that it should not be marketed to just college students. I would say that high schoolers who are college bound or considering need a copy by at least 10th grade. This book needs to be high school kids' Bible. 

There is definitely things that are college specific, but also a lot of things that are just general study and productivity skills. 

Let me give a few examples--

College:
Financial Aid (you might qualify!)
Choosing a major (are you artistic? social? investigative?)

Study/ Productivity:
Balancing a Schedule and life 
Online etiquette (dont post illegal activity)
Time management (dont procrastinate)
Reducing stress (take a walk)
Creating good study environments (try same place, same time)
Who's to blame? (Did you do all you could with what you could control?)

And things like annotating a text, preparing for a multiple choice or essay exam, and presentation tips could fit all across the board as well. I think that these are some of the most valuable. 

^Literally there were chapters on those things. 

There is a table of contents, index, and in between a whole lot of really good information. Think of it as a textbook.  

I have always wanted an older brother and this book, to me, feels like that older brother. Needless to say, this book is amazing. You need a copy. Get yours from Amazon here. 

Two weeks ago, I promised you music and here it is :)

Title: The Blessings of Humility
Author: Jerry Bridges​
Publisher: NavPress
Publication Date: June 1, 2016
Amazon Link: here
Cost: $8
Pages: 144
Rating: 4/5 
Provided by: Tyndale 

Synopsis: 

We all admire humility when we see it. But how do we practice it? How does humility―the foundational virtue of the normal Christian life―become a normal part of our everyday lives?

Jerry Bridges sees in the Beatitudes a series of blessings from Jesus, a pattern for humility in action. Starting with poverty in spirit―an acknowledgment that in and of ourselves we are incapable of living holy lives pleasing to God―and proceeding through our mourning over personal sin, our hunger and thirst for righteousness, our experience of persecutions large and small, and more, we discover that humility is itself a blessing: At every turn, God is present to us, giving grace to the humble and lifting us up to blessing.

Opinions

I would not typically read a book about humility. Yet this cover looks so innocent, right?

Its actually pretty intense, first claiming humitility to be fundamental and then describing the why and how.

The author even goes so far as to say that "All other character traits, in one way or another, are built upon love and humility."

 It is not a particularly happy book, but it will cause you to slow down and reflect and perhaps that is even more valuable.  I have not read any of his other books, but understand that they are all written in a similar fashion. 

There is a very nice passage that explains the idea of "fleeing from sin but not focusing on the sin which you are fleeing from" which is better explained than I have likely ever seen.  The gist of this is to focus not on ourselves and our shortcomings, but our God and how big he is.

 When I was reading the book, the "America is going down the drain" attitude felt overpowering and for that reason I cant give this book a 5 star rating. Still, I later learned that the author, recently deceased, was on older man who would have seen many era's of America and therefore much more qualified to make these statements than many of the rest of us. 

Although short, this book demands that humility must be practiced and there are discussion questions to further a personal or group study of the book. 

In the end, I can give the book 4/5 stars and recommend it to those who wish to study the Beatitudes. It would be useful for either a personal or group study. 

Amazon link

About the author: The Bible teacher and speaker served with The Navigators discipleship ministry for nearly 60 years, and wrote the popular book The Pursuit of Holiness among many others. You can read more about Jerry Bridges here: 
​http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/march/died-jerry-bridges-pursuit-of-holiness-navigators-obit.html

Hope summer is going well for everyone. How is the weather? How is the fun? 

I found a project that sound pretty cool for an afternoon activity. I haven't tried it myself but I can definitely post pictures if I ever do :)

Who doesnt want gummy candies?