62 Books for Your High School Summer Reading List

When school is out and homework is done, students in all grade levels are presented with a little more free time, which gives them the perfect opportunity to catch up on some reading! If you are asked to interview during the college admissions process (though college interviews are getting rarer and rarer) you may be asked about what you have most recently read. And while there may be many books on your high school required reading list, college admissions officers may ask about the books you’ve read that haven’t been assigned. But with a library of choices, it can be difficult to decide what books to pick up. In this article, we listed the 62 best books for high school students to read this summer.

Benefits of Building Your High School Reading List

No. 1 Readers Make Better Writers

Once you embark on the college admissions process, you will be writing often! Not only does the Common Application ask all students to complete one essay, but the top 20 schools have several supplemental essays as well. Applying to 12 of the top U.S. universities could very well mean writing over 30 essays!

No. 2 Reading Improves Critical Thinking Skills

High school students who read on a regular basis are continuously analyzing the text and finding evidence to support various hypotheses. What’s going to happen next? Why did she do that? Reading also gives students the opportunity to challenge preconceived ideas – when the plot takes a turn they didn’t expect. These critical thinking skills will be a valuable asset in their future endeavors.

No. 3 Reading Teaches Empathy

Reading gives you a window into the lives and experiences of other people. When you’re reading about someone from a different culture or a different background than your own, you’ll better understand the perspectives and motivations of different characters and develop an appreciation for diverse points of view.

No. 4 Readers Have Higher Self-Esteem

Reading provides high schoolers with a sense of accomplishment – they checked a book off their reading list! Books also provide a unique perspective on the world, giving students the opportunity to see their own abilities and differences and how they can use them to accomplish their goals.

Recommended Books for Your Summer Reading List

Book suggestions are broken down into majors and areas of interest:

Business Reading List

• “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie - One of the best-selling books of all time! And even though it’s nearly a century old, this book is still highly relevant and will teach you valuable life skills to help you succeed in business (and in every other area of your life)
• “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey - Life is ever-evolving, and adapting to change can be difficult. This book will teach you 7 principles to help you see change as an opportunity and help you live life more effectively well beyond your high school years.
• “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill - Written in 1937, this motivational book is still a best-seller with over 15 million copies sold worldwide. In it, Napoleon Hill teaches you how millionaires of his time (Carnegie, Edison, Ford, etc.) found success and how you can use his principles to find your own.
• “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t” by James C. Collins - This book will teach you business management strategies that work by detailing the methods used by companies that made the leap from good to great – and held their status for 15+ years. It’s a great book for any future business leader to add to their high school reading list.
• “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki - Though it’s nearly 25 years old, Rich Dad Poor Dad is still the #1 personal finance book of all time. It flips the script of “getting rich” and will teach you invaluable skills to lead you to financial success.
• “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin - Seth Godin is a marketing genius, and he’ll teach you how to make your products and ideas stand out – or run the risk of becoming invisible.
• “People Skills: How to Assert Yourself, Listen to Others, and Resolve Conflicts” by Robert Bolton, Ph.D. - Effective communication is a skill everyone must learn in order to succeed. In People Skills, you’ll learn how to better communicate and resolve conflicts – not just in business, but in your everyday life!

Business Reading List

• “Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions” by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths - If you’re interested in computer science (and even if you’re not), this book can transform your life. Add it to your high school summer reading list, and you’ll learn how computer algorithms can be applied to your daily human life, and discover strategies to make better decisions, take risks, and solve other problems that arise when you have limited time and space.
• “The Soul of a New Machine” by Tracy Kidder - A true account of how a computer company attempted to gain competitive advantage in the 1980s. The book details the highs and lows of the process and helps readers better understand the history and culture of the tech industry.
• “Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies” by Nick Bostrom - What will happen if machines become more intelligent than humans? What does that mean for the future of humanity and intelligent life on Earth? This book attempts to answer those questions – possibly some of the most important questions asked in the modern age.
• “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer” by Stephen Levy - Stephen Levy, who is now Editor at Large at Wired, details the early history of the computer age and how a few “hackers” took risks to get technology to the place it is today.
• “Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software” by Charles Petzold - If you’re thinking about getting a job in the Tech industry, or if you’re even the slightest bit interested in how computers work, this book is a great read. Using plenty of diagrams and analogies, the author breaks down otherwise complicated information into something nearly anyone can understand and enjoy.
• “The Chip: How Two Americans Invented the Microchip and Launched a Revolution” by T.R. Reid - The title says it all. This book tells the history of how Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce launched the start of the digital age with their invention of the microchip.
• “The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in Times of Brilliant Technologies” by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee - Published in 2016 but still as relevant as ever, The Second Machine Age describes how technology is transforming the world and how we can learn to embrace it in order to survive and prosper.

Engineering Reading List

• “The 4-Hour Chef” by Tim Ferriss - Reading a book about how to learn may sound a little strange, especially when you’re in high school, but this book gives you a step-by-step process to learn absolutely anything you want – at an accelerated rate.
• “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel - There is no limit to progress, and Peter Thiel (who founded PayPal) will help you discover how to move past the ordinary and find new inventions and new things to explore – things no one has thought of yet.
• “Engineer to Win” by Carroll Smith - For anyone interested in cars or mechanical engineering, this book will take though through every material, piece, and process that goes into building a racecar.
• “Set Phasers on Stun” by S.M. Casey - A great read for any future engineer, this book tells multiple true stories of how poor design has lead to technological disasters.
• “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield - An in-depth look at what it takes to be an astronaut and how conventional wisdom can hinder success. It’s a great book to add to your high school reading list, even if you’re not interested in space travel. You’ll learn how to think like an astronaut – how to prepare for the worst and make the seemingly impossible come to fruition.
• Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe - This one is light but still thoughtful. With tons of illustrations and diagrams paired with simple language, this book is a great guide to how things work, including helicopters, cells, tectonic plates, and more.

Pre-Law and History Reading List

• “The Paper Chase” by John Jay Osborne Jr. - A much-loved novel about a student’s first year at Harvard Law School. It’s a fantastic book to add to your summer reading list in high school, especially if you’re thinking about going to law school.
• “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson - Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice committed to helping those in need. This New York Times Bestseller tells the story of his pursuit of true justice.
• “QB VII” by Leon Uris - A riveting historical fiction piece that tells the story of an author on trial for libel.
• “Anatomy of a Murder” by Robert Traver - A courtroom novel with an authentic flair that will keep you captivated until the end.
• “Law School Confidential” by Robert H. Miller - This book gives you an inside look at how to get into law school and what it will be like when you get there.
• “America’s Constitution: A Biography” by Akhil Reed Amar - An in-depth look at the Constitution – what it says, what it means, and why it exists.
• “Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges” by Antonin Scalia and Bryoan A. Garner - Learn the basics of building a case for the courtroom, from writing legal briefs to delivering persuasive oral arguments.
• “One L” by Scott Turow - The author’s non-fictional first-hand account of his first year at Harvard Law School.
• “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court” by Jeffery Toobin - An informative read about the politics and people on the Supreme Court and an explanation of some of its decisions.
• “Letters to a Young Lawyer” by Alan Dershowitz - A compilation of short letters to help young lawyers (and anyone else interested in law) realize their opportunities to do good while also being successful.
• “Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams” by Richard Michael Fischl and Jeremy Paul - This guide will teach you how to prepare and study for law school exams while also teaching you an invaluable skill as a future lawyer – how to confidently argue both sides of a case.
• 1L of a Ride: A Well-Traveled Professor’s Roadmap to Success in the First Year of Law School” by Andrew McClurg - As the title suggests, this book will help you prepare for and successfully navigate your first year of law school.

Psychology Reading List

• “Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole: A Renowned Neurologist Explains the Mystery and Drama of Brain Disease” by Dr. Allan H. Ropper and Brian David Burrell - It’s not for the faint of heart, but this book gives an authentic account of stories and life-altering neurological issues seen at Harvard Medical School’s Neurology Unit.
• “Elephants on Acid and Other Bizarre Experiments” by Alex Boese - Real life accounts and outcomes of some of the most bizarre experiments that we’ve done in modern times.
• “Mistakes Were Made” (but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson - Two social psychologists take you through an explanation of how your brain is wired and how you can learn to take responsibility for your mistakes and overcome self-justification.
• “The Happiness Hypothesis” by Jonathan Haidt - A look at how a deeper understanding of ancient philosophical wisdom (like “do unto others as as you would have others do unto you”) can lead to a happier life.
• “The Private Life of the Brain” by Susan A. Greenfield - How do our brains create a unique life experience for each of us? This book answers that question and more.
• “The Little Book of Psychology” by Emily Ralls and Caroline Riggs - A brief and understandable introduction to the history, ethics, and ideas of psychology. It’s a great book to add to your high school reading list to get a taste of the key components of psychology before diving deeper into coursework in college.
• “The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil” by Philip Zimbardo - A look at a social psychologist’s firsthand research about the line between good and evil and what makes otherwise moral people do immoral things.
• “The Psychopath Test” by Jon Ronson - A fascinating and well-researched exploration into neurology, madness, and psychology, written by an investigative journalist who learns how to spot a psychopath.

Mathematics Reading List

• “Wavelets: A Mathematical Tool for Signal Analysis” by Charles K. Chui - Learn step-by-step how to apply wavelets to solve mathematical problems.
• “Matrix Theory: From Generalized Inverses to Jordan Form” by Robert Piziak - To further your mathematical knowledge, this text is intended to broaden your understanding of linear algebra and matrix theory.
• “Quantum Economics and Finance: An Applied Mathematics Introduction” by David Orrell - The perfect math book to add to your high school reading list, this one will give you a head start in quantum finance. It takes complicated math models and makes them more understandable, combining quantum theory with finance.
• “Advanced Mathematical Modeling with Technology” by William P. Fox and Robert E. Burke - This textbook is intended for students who are already familiar with the concepts of mathematical modeling and will teach you how to use modeling to make decisions.
• “Rays, Waves, and Scattering” by John A. Adams - Intended for students with a very strong background in mathematics, this text presents math concepts in coordination with rays, waves, and scattering.

Biology Reading List

• “The Song of the Cell” by Siddhartha Mukherjee - A fascinating portrayal of the history of cells – from their discovery to their use in creating life-saving medicines and how they can be used to form “new humans.”
• “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Siddhartha Mukherjee - An enlightening and readable history of cancer that will demystify the disease and give you insight into the future of cancer treatments.
• “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder - Written in a novelistic style, add this book to your high school reading list and go on a journey with Dr. Paul Farmer, a doctor who travels the world treating the poorest and sickest people to help cure certain infectious diseases once and for all.
• “I Never Thought of It That Way” by Monica Guzmán - If you’ve ever wondered why people think the way they do (or vote the way they do), this book will teach you how to cross boundaries and ask tough questions to gain a better understanding of the people around you.
• “The Unseen Body” by Jonathan Reisman, M.D. - More fascinating than your average biology textbook, The Unseen Body is a great book to add to your high school reading list if you’re interested in anatomy. It will give you a deep and unique understanding of how our bodies work and help you make sense of all of our bodies’ natural processes.
• “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi - The true story of a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at 36. This moving memoir grapples with incredibly difficult life questions and takes you on a journey of hope and perseverance.
• “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande, M.D. - A practicing surgeon gives you a look at research and stories of aging patients who have suffered due to the use of modern medicine.

President Barack Obama’s Favorite Books 2022

• “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mantdel - Sea of Tranquility is a mind-bending novel that follows the lives of two people who are centuries – and worlds – apart. It’s a page-turner that you won’t want to put down.
• “The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams” by Stacy Schiff - If you love history, this is the perfect book to add to your high school reading list this year. It’s a riveting biography of Samuel Adams that will show you how he became one of the most influential people in American history.
• “South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation” by Imani Perry - A beautifully written non-fiction piece that takes you on a journey through the American South, giving you an understanding of the region’s culture, landscape, and history, so you can fully understand America as a whole and help build a better future for the country.
• “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan - This thought-provoking dystopian novel about a mother living in a Big Brother type state has a gripping plot and a difficult story to forget.
• “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson - Before you watch the Hulu series (which is in development), you’ll want to add this novel to your summer reading list. When a mother dies and leaves her children a black cake, family secrets unfold, and the children must decide how to follow through with their mother’s final wishes.
• “Liberation Day” by George Saunders - George Saunders is a masterful short story writer, and his collection of 9 incredible moving stories in Liberation Day will linger in your mind long after you’ve read the final page.
• “Afterlives” by Abdulrazak Gurnah - Set in East Africa during European colonization, this historical fiction piece is both riveting and heartbreaking as you follow the lives of three people whose lives intertwine. A story of love, loss, and survival.
• “The Candy House” by Jennifer Egan - A mesmerizing sequel to Egan’s Goon Squad (though it can be read on its own), this book explores a world in which technology has become overly invasive.
• “Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands” by Kate Beaton - One of the most unique books on this list is a graphic memoir that takes place in the controversial Canadian oil sands. The book illustrates Beaton’s personal experiences during her two years there and the rarely-discussed traumas that occur on a regular basis.
• “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us” by Ed Yong - This illuminating narrative non-fiction will give you an appreciation for how animals experience the world, and how we all form a connection on the planet.

More Suggestions for Your High School Reading List

While there are many notable books assigned in high school, such as To Kill a Mockingbird or The Odyssey, there are plenty of other options that might not be on your required list. Here are a few other places to look for recommendations:

• See if the schools on your college short list have a One Campus, One Book program. Read that book, even if it is from a past year.
• Many schools also put out a summer reading guide that highlights different professors’ suggestions. This is a great place to get book ideas and some insight into the professors.
• NPR has a list of thought-provoking books to read in high school

Whether you pick up one of the books we’ve listed on our high school reading list above or do your own research to find a book or topic that interests you more, be sure to include some reading over the summer break. Reading books can further develop your writing skills (helping you with your college application essays!) and even prepare you for college admissions interviews, giving you a great topic of discussion or a way to showcase your passions.