Customer Reviews

Confessions of a College Freshman: A Survival Guide for Dorm Life, Biology Lab, the Cafeteria, and Other First-Year Adventures

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Honestly, I read this book. I felt it was very down to earth and a very easy read. Zach does his best to make incomming freshmen at ease with their transition into college life. For the most part it is humorous and has enough wit to keep most readers interested.

I will say that it doesn't give the most complete look at college life. In order to impart your college freshman with a complete point-of-view of the college experience I recommend (in addition to this book):

Been There, Should've Done That II : More Tips for Making the Most of College by Suzette Tylor. (ISBN: 0965608611 ) Decent advice, and a quick read.

College 101 : The Book Your College Does Not Want You To Read (ISBN: 0966412206 ) by Guy Stevens. The advice is spot on and any book hated by college administrations can't be all bad! Also some of the stories are pretty classic.

I bought this book the day after I graduated from college. No kidding! I read it in pieces here and there, and found myself reading bits and paragraphs to my friends and old roommates. This is one of the funniest books I have ever read! Having already been to college, I knew exactly what Arrington was talking about in so many parts. In a mix of philosophy on 8 am classes to explict directions on doing laundry (useful for most guys I know who have been doing their own laundry with much, um...obvious...abandon for years), he manages to cover all the bases of college life. His insight and humor is astounding, and whether you are about to start college, or have graduated a long time ago, I'd recommend this book. This would be an especially good gift for a recent high school graduate.

BTW, make sure you see the drawing on page 50... ;)

I bought this book as a going away to college present for my daughter on her eighteenth birthday just a week before she was to start college. She was getting nervous about the big move and this really helped her face the future. She absolutely loved it! She was laughing so hard and she couldn't put it down. I skimmed the book and found it told it like it is in a down to earth way. Now that she's been gone for a few months she told me it's all true! This would make a really good Christmas gift for a high school senior or a high school graduation present.

This is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable books I have ever read! It is like having a hilarious conversation with your best friend. The insight and observations recorded in this book will surely prove handy when I start college in the fall. The vocabulary and descriptions are simply perfect. A must read for all ages.

I went to the same school as the author in fourth grade, and just recently went to the book signing he had at ... . We talked for a while and I have to admit, he is just as hysterical in person and just as funny as he used to be in class. I know that everyone who is going off to college or is already attending or if youve already graduated, you will all find this book to be a great laugh. Dont even be surprised if you do it out loud in front of a bunch of people you dont know. Just show them the book and tell them to buy it, it is most certainly worth it. Im almost tempted to buy another autographed copy just to sell it after it sells out and he becomes famous. And I would not be surprised at all if the review of this book from the reader in Tomball is him.

Zach Arrington writes in a breezy style about his experiences during his Freshman year, and what he learned that might be helpful to others. Most of his advice is good and his writing style and silly illustrations will make it more readable for teens.

It is important to note however, that he has a rather conservative outlook and I overlooked the fact that the book is produced by a Christian publishing house - as a result, he has chapters on things like keeping your faith through your college years. Also, he writes about his experiences in a boys' dorm and gets a friend to write a chapter on her experiences in a girls' dorm - but many or most colleges today commonly have co-ed dorms or floors. A college Freshman would need advice on dealing with co-ed living situations. There is a chapter on dating, but it is very weak and basically advises you to wait until you are married to have sex.

It is amazing to me that in the 21st Century someone could write a book on surviving the first year of college and never once mention the topic of drug use. He has a chapter on drinking (don't), but the word 'drug' never appears.

I think that you can do better in terms of finding an advice book that takes on the more difficult issues that face college Freshmen, such as co-ed living, relationships and sex, and drinking and drugs. As it is, this is a great book for anyone who became a Freshman before about 1963.

INSPRING! PROVOCATIVE! LIFE CHANGING!

Do you want to know why we are here? ZACH TELLS YOU IN THIS BOOK! Do you want to know the secret to happiness? ZACH TELLS YOU IN THIS BOOK! Do you want to know if there is inteligent life out there that is capable of more than us mere humans could ever be capable of? I can answer that. Yes, his name is Zach. Do you want to know how your microwave works? GO BUY ANOTHER BOOK! THIS BOOK IS DEALING WITH FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN MICROWAVES!!! WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT MICROWAVES WHEN THERE IS IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO DISCUSS!?!?! This book is like the bible, wikipedia and an automatically updated real time phone book OF THE WORLD wrapped up in one and served to you on a platter of gold on a bed of bacon. That is how good this is. Why hasn't Zach written another book after this? There's nothing further to dicuss! HE COVERED IT ALL AND ANSWERED ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT REALLY MATTER!!!

Follow Zach Arrington on twitter! YOU'LL KNOW WHAT MATTERS BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE! @zacharrington

Well written, great humorous insight into leaving home and heading off to college.

I thought it was a good overall book that covered many areas of college life. The only problem I had with it is I did not know it was published by a Christian publisher. He added some things inside the book that was insulting of me as a non-Christian.I hate politically correct, and this is not a kind of "represent all religions, or don't talk about yours" kind of perception.I think it's good to talk about your religion, no matter what it is, but he had written only that you as a christian might have a hard time learning how to bring people to the Christian way of thinking.I do not want to be converted, as that seems a little intolerant, and infringing on my right to not be bulldozed by mormons, catholics, buddists, islamist, and jehova witnesses.

This is one awful, awful book. I hated it. It was NOT funny, as I think he intended it to be, and it had no content value at all. He is basically trying to sell his diary. To be honest, I didn't finish it. It didn't help me at all.