Robin Hanson recently quoted this book. It summarizes the most effective learning strategies (and was written by a pair of cognitive scientists who just spent a decade studying optimal learning). It should come with a disclaimer that (contrary to what most people will tell you), college isn't about learning, so if you just go there to learn but not jump through the other hoops, things will end badly (relevant Quora answer, SMBC, lecture; the lecture is imperfect, but still valuable).
I also found HPMOR useful when I was in college.
I also found HPMOR useful when I was in college.
I came in this thread to suggest HPMOR. If I had read that before I went to university my life would have looked significantly differently. I think it's the easier material to recommend to show the scope of your decisions in college.
My sister (and about 2.5 million other people) are headed to college in the fall.
I gave her a copy of Cal Newport's How to Win at College as a graduation gift, but given that her life is about to change more than it has in any of the past 14 years, one book probably isn't enough.
What books do you think incoming/recently arrived college students should be reading? You can assign reading with any motivation you'd like, but I'm looking especially hard for books that meet the following criteria: