With A Book
A review of “How to Succeed in College (While Really Trying): A Professor’s Inside Advice” by Jon B. Gould
Gould, B. Jon. How to Succeed in College (While Really Trying): A Professor’s Inside Advice. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 2012. Print.
Dear Fellow,
Books still do a lot. I only have to pick another and see what it is able to accomplish. Before going into today’s conversation, consider what books could do again.
I was together with a friend. We had this very interesting conversation going on. An opportunity presented itself, then I leapt at it. To chip in a lesson I had learned from a book. When sharing the lesson, I began by saying, “Professor Gould wrote on something similar—” I was cut short by my friend. “Tell me you do have friends who are professors!” he said. Thinking it through, I said yes, but not firmly, because I did not recall that I still have the listening ears of a few of them on my contact list. However, my yes was based on the fact that I enjoy moments with these professors through their books: C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Ken Robinson, and only recently, Professor Gould’s book, which is today’s subject.
The Backstory
On 18th May 2023, I was in the central library of my school, University of Jos. A lecture that was scheduled for ten in the morning did not hold, so I decided to spend the rest of the time in the library until the following lecture which was scheduled for two in the afternoon. In between that time, I had a meeting with the supervisor for my undergraduate research work. Her assessment of my work was quite unexpected and I had this silent assumption that she was unjust in her treatment of my work. I had this notion that since I am good with writing—consistently churning out engaging pieces and garnering positive feedback from you, my good Fellow, for example—she must be feeling threatened by the skillfulness displayed in my draft under review at the meeting. I had assurance that if there was any error in my work, it will be very minimal. The errors I made were more than I expected. Her assessment of a portion of the draft stuck. She wrote on the draft, “Looks more like journalistic reporting.” And this is meant to be a piece of scientific writing. (I have more to say on my false ideas about words and writing in a subsequent despatch.) I took in all she said and left my thanks with her. I quickly returned back to the library to commence reading . . . yet another academic, Professor Gould.
The Reading
At first, How to Succeed in College (While Really Trying) came across as yet another book prescribing—sometimes unrealistic and oftentimes boring content—tips on how to be successful. Self-help books suffer from this shared stereotype among folks who read for leisure as well as for learning; that they don’t entertain is a fault. Being one who reads for several reasons including pleasure, entertainment, and enlightenment, I had assumptions about what Professor Gould’s book will be about. But two things—maybe three—held on to me from the book: a portion of the title in parentheses “While Really Trying”, the subtitle “A Professor’s Inside Advice”, and a portion of the prelims where it is stated that there are many books about higher education, but too few written by faculties on the subject. I was willing to listen to what Professor Gould had to say. So I stayed with him for a total of about 7 and a half hours.
This book is a holistic piece of instruction, information, and needful guidance for going through higher education, especially college or university. The content also has substantial information about post-undergrad realities. Through the book, I figured my motives for involvement in the university weren’t all profound and clear-cut. Some things I did by sheer intuition—with little consideration for why it is necessary or what the consequences were—and others by mere association with people who have earned the respect of well-meaning folks in school. Until I picked this book I didn’t, for instance, know with certainty why it is necessary to really follow the routines of school with diligence, and yet not necessarily for the grades. The book provided substantive reasons why. Given the style of writing used in the book and the comely language employed by the social scientist, lawyer, and teacher, I didn’t feel attacked. Rather—given his incessant emphasis that faculty aren’t invested in making us fail—I became more empathic toward teachers in higher education. (Mind you, I read bearing in mind that this book is set in America.)
The Lessons
Professor Gould helped me to see more reasons why schoolwork deserves more time even as much as I want to learn outside of the classroom. He doesn’t join the crowd of folks who think one should be lost in the routines of schoolwork. He only emphasises the need to learn to be wise and not to play against the rules of the territory that hosts you, only for a while. Encouraging words like this are spread in the book: “One of the central advantages of college is the opportunity to figure out who and what you are” (p. 31).
I was able to summarise the entire message of the book in two statements. They are: 1. Be Proactive and 2. Seek/Ask for Help when in need of it and from the appropriate sources in school. These two instructions are enough to guide and direct an individual, only if you think about their implications.
I wish I found this book as a fresher. I wish I had found it earlier. I wish I had read it even before writing entry exams for the university. I want more students to read more books like this. I wish more books like this will be written by faculty, to see things from their honest and kind perspectives only. I want counsellors of secondary schools in Nigeria and other stakeholders to become a bit more intentional in instructing students about college in advance. Through this book, I again realised how ignorantly I have gone through these four years and more as an undergraduate.
The Conclusion
I owe a lot to Professor Gould for the significant change I have experienced in my mind as a result of reading this book. I really wish I could write to him and tell him thank you, but I haven’t found a way to reach him yet.
I hope you have seen that books still do a lot.
Your Letterman,
Tongjal, W. N.