4.63

5

May 10, 2015

I don't know about you, but when I was in school, the only thing I felt towards the study advice dished out by professors, TA's, and advisors was skepticism ("Really? You seriously read every chapter in the textbook before lecture when you were an undergrad, and that's what you attribute your success to??") and contempt ("This dude is so out of touch... the last time he stepped foot out of his old crusty office was when?").

This book is the opposite - a refreshing, nuts-and-bolts manual on I don't know about you, but when I was in school, the only thing I felt towards the study advice dished out by professors, TA's, and advisors was skepticism ("Really? You seriously read every chapter in the textbook before lecture when you were an undergrad, and that's what you attribute your success to??") and contempt ("This dude is so out of touch... the last time he stepped foot out of his old crusty office was when?").

This book is the opposite - a refreshing, nuts-and-bolts manual on crushing it in college, written from an ACTUAL STUDENT'S perspective (not some ivory-tower pulpit preach).

Besides being a one-stop-shop college powerhouse in general, here Thomas breaks down each piece of the puzzle in a logical and accessible way, with what he calls the "Desired Preparedness Equation." Whether you're looking to make the most of class, stop wasting your time with textbook reading, prepare better for exams, or figure out how to avoid committing a murder-suicide during group projects, he outlines a wide selection of different tactics to get your there (e.g. The 15-Minute Rule, The Learning Pyramid, Hofstader's Law, The Procrastination Equation, avoiding "Low-Density Fun," etc. etc. etc.).

With links upon links to super-useful tools and resources for whatever aspect of the grades equation you're struggling with, this is a perfect gateway to improving your GPA, as well as your overall college experience.

Highly recommended.

Sincerely,

Tom - a recovering engineering student ...more

3

Jan 08, 2016

I am a huge fan of Thomas Frank channel on youtube (collage info geek) i recommend it for every student out there struggling with collage life, lectures,exam anxiety, procrastination and time management .
he wrote this book as a guidance to hack Studying and to get awesome grades. i will sure take stuff i've learned from the book into application !

5

May 05, 2015

Most "student hacks", "study tips" or "study help" books out there suck - they're written by professors who have no idea of what they're talking about, the methods they describe are too time consuming, the advice is not feasible in the real world.

But not this one. This book makes you feel like you're actually sitting with Thomas while has a conversation with you. It's really down to Earth, you can fell that his recommendations come from personal experience. This is a book from a student to Most "student hacks", "study tips" or "study help" books out there suck - they're written by professors who have no idea of what they're talking about, the methods they describe are too time consuming, the advice is not feasible in the real world.

But not this one. This book makes you feel like you're actually sitting with Thomas while has a conversation with you. It's really down to Earth, you can fell that his recommendations come from personal experience. This is a book from a student to another; the gloves are off.

Each step articulates nicely with one another and, without spoiling too much, in them you'll find tips on study methods, productivity, habits and how to balance your work and personal lives.

10/10 would read again.

...more

5

May 15, 2018

I really enjoyed this book, Thomas Frank has a gift for breaking down complex topics to their most simple components. I bookmarked pages to return to because I read it in a few days and it felt like so much information all at once. You can get even more information and tools from his blog and his Youtube channel.

5

Jul 18, 2016

Really nice book for college students! I'm sure I will reread it during my studying year. Recommend to everyone who is interested in getting your college life more organised;) And of course check out this guy's YouTube channel and website -http://collegeinfogeek.com honestly, this guy is awesome ;)

4

Sep 30, 2017

Very funny, lots of tips, and loving the helpful tools and links provided.

4

Jan 13, 2019

Smart people learn from many sources, pick specific pieces and tidbits, experiment with them, and gradually form their own mental encyclopedia of "Stuff That Works."

I've been a fan of the College Info Geek YouTube channel and podcast for years now, but even though I learn a lot from each new upload (and rewatch), there's something about the book format that my brain is better at processing — so it's a pity that it's taken me so long to finally get around to reading this! I did already know some Smart people learn from many sources, pick specific pieces and tidbits, experiment with them, and gradually form their own mental encyclopedia of "Stuff That Works."

I've been a fan of the College Info Geek YouTube channel and podcast for years now, but even though I learn a lot from each new upload (and rewatch), there's something about the book format that my brain is better at processing — so it's a pity that it's taken me so long to finally get around to reading this! I did already know some of the things Thomas brings up in this book, but to be fair I keep up with his content as it comes out, and I'm the kind of person who procrastinates by reading productivity articles.

This book tackles both the how and why behind improvements you can make to your approach to student-ing, with flexibility to accommodate different learning styles and personal preferences. Nothing is set in stone because everyone thinks and works differently, but this is a great starting point to figure out the best practices for yourself. ...more

4

Jan 22, 2018

22/1/18
A nice book if you’re looking for habits to improve your study skills!

22/5/19
Just skimmed through this book today and realised a lot of things never stuck with me. I feel that this is a really good starting book if you're trying to figure out how the study in the first place, but in the end you yourself will have to do the hard work (as expected) to find what works best for you.

You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website

5

Dec 25, 2016

If you too are obsessed with being more productive every single day, this book is the ONE!!!

Brief and informative guidelines, categorized and sorted into 10 easy steps, based on psychology and statistics, not just personal experiences.
And it's not boring at all!

You can download the book right away... just visit https://collegeinfogeek.com/get-bette...

4

May 05, 2015

Okay, I might be a little biased (and in the interest of full disclosure, I am a writer for College Info Geek), but still, this is an excellent book. Thomas presents, in an orderly, entertaining manner, useful advice for earning better grades, just as the title implies.

I think the "while studying less" part is where the book really shines. Thomas doesn't advocate laziness, but he does emphasize efficiency. In particular, I found his chapter on how to waste less time when working on a group Okay, I might be a little biased (and in the interest of full disclosure, I am a writer for College Info Geek), but still, this is an excellent book. Thomas presents, in an orderly, entertaining manner, useful advice for earning better grades, just as the title implies.

I think the "while studying less" part is where the book really shines. Thomas doesn't advocate laziness, but he does emphasize efficiency. In particular, I found his chapter on how to waste less time when working on a group project to be quite helpful. Also, make sure to see his section on "high density" vs "low density" fun. It may just change the way you approach studying. And you could say that of the book in general.

If you're a college student (or even just a professional looking to work more effectively), check out this booK! ...more

4

Oct 13, 2018

Its all the tips that you can find about getting good grades, but I still don't think he catched the essence of it. I will try to practice some of his tips and see

5

Oct 13, 2015

I happened to find the College Info Geek youtube channel by browsing youtube out of boredom and damn, am I glad I found it. Thomas wrote this book in a way everyone can enjoy and get something out of it. But I think geeks and nerds (like me, for example) will definitely enjoy this book even more than others thanks to the awesome references and "videogame geeky" motif. So, the book is well written, but... ¿Is the content any good?
Definitely, maybe my opinion about this kind of books might not be I happened to find the College Info Geek youtube channel by browsing youtube out of boredom and damn, am I glad I found it. Thomas wrote this book in a way everyone can enjoy and get something out of it. But I think geeks and nerds (like me, for example) will definitely enjoy this book even more than others thanks to the awesome references and "videogame geeky" motif. So, the book is well written, but... ¿Is the content any good?
Definitely, maybe my opinion about this kind of books might not be the best or most reliable, since it´s the first book of it´s kind that I read, but the whole content is pretty solid and well thought out, with good foundations and explanations. 5/5, great read for every college student, and if I may say so, for everyone in general. ...more

5

May 03, 2018

Brilliant. Love Thomas Frank's work, and this book is really helpful, while also being easy to read and understand, as well as humorous. It offers intelligent insights into productivity and other things that are important to students. Would definitely recommend you check it out, and it's available for free download from his website (which is also excellent) College Info Geek.

4

Aug 28, 2016

I want to give my review for this book because I think it's important. I found Thomas Frank on YouTube and I felt instantly inspired so when I found out that if you subscribe for his newsletter you'll get his book in e-form for free I jumped on it and I don't regret it . First of all how awesome is it that he gives you his book for free keeping in mind that this book actually has a publisher.I really enjoy his personality and I think he put everything into this book.You can see that he made a I want to give my review for this book because I think it's important. I found Thomas Frank on YouTube and I felt instantly inspired so when I found out that if you subscribe for his newsletter you'll get his book in e-form for free I jumped on it and I don't regret it . First of all how awesome is it that he gives you his book for free keeping in mind that this book actually has a publisher.I really enjoy his personality and I think he put everything into this book.You can see that he made a lot of research and that he actually enjoyed it.I knew a lot of his tips and tricks because of his YouTube channel but I still got a lot out of this little thing.I give it only 4 ☆ because I know he can do better and I know he will write an even greater book . Definitely a fun and informative read.Looking forward to what he will do in the future. ...more

0

Nov 11, 2016

I'm not a student but I struggle every day with problems like focusing (at anything!), sticking to my goals, or working towards them.. This book despite being meant for students is actually great for everybody else.. Either as a professional whose work requires creativity or simply doing simple tasks but that require focus for long time.. Or as someone looking for simple tips to organize his life! Simply this is a book for those looking for a better way to develop themselves and being more I'm not a student but I struggle every day with problems like focusing (at anything!), sticking to my goals, or working towards them.. This book despite being meant for students is actually great for everybody else.. Either as a professional whose work requires creativity or simply doing simple tasks but that require focus for long time.. Or as someone looking for simple tips to organize his life! Simply this is a book for those looking for a better way to develop themselves and being more organized and productive.
I've been following Thomas Frank on his Youtube channel for some time now along with other people in this domain.. I learned a lot from these guys, and developed my own experience along the way.. But this book I believe gathers the best from everything I read and watched and even some of my own experience which mean I'm probably on the right way.. :)
I recommend this book for everybody.. If what I mentioned above rings a bell for you, then this book will definitely help you.. ...more

4

Sep 10, 2015

Most of the things you read are what I have heard from teachers and counselors, but he takes it a step further and includes additional advice upon his experience. For example, he'll give advice on removing obstacles that distract you from studying, but he'll include his own bitcoin (two-cents) by suggesting popular software to prevent you from getting distracted, such as SelfControl.

He offers various suggestions on topics from effective notes to procrastination. He seems to be trying to connect Most of the things you read are what I have heard from teachers and counselors, but he takes it a step further and includes additional advice upon his experience. For example, he'll give advice on removing obstacles that distract you from studying, but he'll include his own bitcoin (two-cents) by suggesting popular software to prevent you from getting distracted, such as SelfControl.

He offers various suggestions on topics from effective notes to procrastination. He seems to be trying to connect with today's college kids, because he's casual and make cultural references within the last decade. I admire his advice on Low-Density fun, and it has made me think about ways I can interact with people more on a weekly -- if not daily -- basis. He really seems like the type of guy who likes to have fun on the weekends and still get passing grades on his exams. I've seen a couple of his videos blogs, and I think the subjects he talks about are definitely worthing thinking for my academic life. He'll cite his sources, because nothing is truly his.

I would like to see him expand on the chapter about writing better papers. The process and suggestions he offers are expected when writing a paper, but a good paper is different from writing just any paper. Basically, he's telling us to research, write, and revise. There are many things about writing an essay or lab report that makes them seem difficult. Creating a valuable thesis, formatting papers for different classes, or offering reference for different kinds of citations would be helpful.

As I said earlier, a lot of his suggestion are written to awareness that we live in technologically enhanced society, and he's encouraging us to take advantage our iPhones and iPads to keep ourselves accountable. For readers not looking to use software or websites for accountability, preferring the 4th century paper calendar, this book may not be for you.

Otherwise, it's a handy book to have lying around, or at least read a few times, for people who are academically involved. Personally, I see it as supplement to what my advisors, other articles, and my teachers have told me on academics and college life. His videos and blogs complement the book too. I say complement, because he breaks down each topic into manageable bites in four to seven minutes. Some of his video blogs add more information to what is discussed in the book sometimes. It's worth checking out his website and the book. ...more

4

May 04, 2018

today i just got my mark in one of the subjects that i study and it was 9 out of 30 , it also happen that it is the day i finish your book Thomas , is it an accident , never mind i am just kidding i was not giving shit about this subject but here is the point if you really don't care about a subject and you have to pass it just read this book it is not for only straight A's students which may come to your mind from the title but it is for everyone, what do i mean by everyone
1-people who care today i just got my mark in one of the subjects that i study and it was 9 out of 30 , it also happen that it is the day i finish your book Thomas , is it an accident , never mind i am just kidding i was not giving shit about this subject but here is the point if you really don't care about a subject and you have to pass it just read this book it is not for only straight A's students which may come to your mind from the title but it is for everyone, what do i mean by everyone
1-people who care about learning process as a total not just college stuff
2-self development in terms of focusing, organization, time management and so
3-people who like what Thomas frank do on his Youtube channel

this book is straight forward and this what i like in this genre of books just straight to the tips ,tricks and tools here we talk about actual stuff not just hey catch your dreams ,you should be on the top of your class , the top students will have better future

even if you are not a student this book is great because all of us have something to learn and knowledge to gain ...more

5

Apr 29, 2018

It says "earning better grades", but in reality, it gives you SO MUCH MORE. So while the title may give you the impression that it's just for students, really, IT'S FOR EVERYONE. A more apt title would thus be "STEPS TO HAVING A DISCIPLINED LIFE." (not including the 10 in the title since, as you would expect, a few of the 10 steps solely apply for students).

Overall, it's a really good read. It says "earning better grades", but in reality, it gives you SO MUCH MORE. So while the title may give you the impression that it's just for students, really, IT'S FOR EVERYONE. A more apt title would thus be "STEPS TO HAVING A DISCIPLINED LIFE." (not including the 10 in the title since, as you would expect, a few of the 10 steps solely apply for students).

Overall, it's a really good read. ???? ...more

5

Jan 05, 2018

This good man single-handedly saved my school year. Easy read, and 100% worth it.

0

Dec 18, 2017

The College Bible

Thomas has always been my go-to for college advice. This book was a great compilation of trial and error many can learn from.

5

Jul 30, 2019

Great language, very fluid, a must-read to every student to say the least.

4

Oct 12, 2019

i have highlighted at least 50 different sections and i read this right before my final year started i'm hoping i implement a few of these tips so i'll edit this later with a review and an update on how well these tips help me

4

Dec 20, 2015

This is extremely helpful if you're trying to be a good student, but not really succeeding. It gives you handy step-by-step guides that you can actually apply while studying and especially helps you with effectivity, something that I regularly struggle with.

The best part? It's completely free! You only have to sign up to the newsletter of College Info Geek, which I really recommend.

5

Mar 07, 2017

This is actually one of the best books I've ever read.
Everything and every part of it is just as amazing as it sounds and believe me, it helps A LOT.
I absolutely loved every single part of it, the way Thomas writes is just so easy to read that I literally ate the book :) it was very satisfying and mind changing.
I'm absolutely going to apply every single step to my everyday student life >v<
Now, if you're reading this I highly recommend you to read this book, like seriously!

4

Sep 10, 2018

This is quite a nice guide.

It is quite precise and very up-to-date with all the online apps available for free nowadays. It is a good reflection of Thomas' work on his YouTube Channel (though the Channel tackles much broader subjects).

I wonder if it would have helped me when I entered college a few years ago. In France at least, things were not as complicated as what this book seems to describe, and a solid organisation was not really a concern.

I think it would be especially useful for someone This is quite a nice guide.

It is quite precise and very up-to-date with all the online apps available for free nowadays. It is a good reflection of Thomas' work on his YouTube Channel (though the Channel tackles much broader subjects).

I wonder if it would have helped me when I entered college a few years ago. In France at least, things were not as complicated as what this book seems to describe, and a solid organisation was not really a concern.

I think it would be especially useful for someone who has a lot of projects outside of school. ...more