43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for school, for life!, August 30, 1999
By A Customer
Before I bought this book, I was a borderline 2nd year engineering student, and that's putting it lightly. After reading through it, my grades jumped high enough to get me into grad school, and I got straight A's in all my MSc courses. I also got an MBA later on.
Now that isn't just because of Pauk, but I would never have done it without his marvelous advice from 'How to Study in College.' When I read the book, I felt like I was being talked to by someone GENUINELY interested in HELPING ME do better. Not what you expect from someone who spent decades teaching at a stuffy Ivy League university (Cornell).
Pauk is no charlatan. He does not preach. All he offers are research-based techniques that have stood the test of time. In other words, through his years helping real students, he has found real techniques that have achieved real results. This is not theoretical stuff. And his systems are flexible, offering a variety of solutions to the various dilemmas students face. In the book, Pauk himself says not to follow every single one of his methods, but to pick and choose what suits the reader. This is indeed a practical man.
How practical? Well, Pauk even goes into details like how your room should be lighted and how to correctly lie down for powernaps.
Moreover, I have found that much of his advice, for example on time management, taking care of yourself, and memorization, are just as applicable in the working world. I refer to it all the time, and even today find it sincere, practical, and timeless. This is right up there with Shrunk and Wright on any person's list of must reads.
One final note: Pauk's advice is clearly more geared towards students taking qualitative subjects rather than math/science/engineering courses. However, the general lessons can help anyone, no matter what one is studying. This is THE book, the original, the one and only, the legend. There is no substitute.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than a fish: fishing lessons for a lifetime., December 21, 1999
I have been recommending this classic book for 20 years. Mr. Pauk has the gift of communicating very explicit, practical advice in a warm and engaging way. He comes across as a sort of kindly doctor on a house call to a hypochondriac: "Yes, I've listened to all of your excuses for failure; now let's figure out, together, how to get some success." Before you shell out money on a "learning center," or a study-skills coach, or something similar, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Approach it seriously, do as Pauk teaches, and you will be pulled irresistibly toward better grades, higher self-esteem, and a sense of gratitude toward this author. He's the best friend an anguished student could ever have.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is excellent it will reinforce your study skills!, December 26, 1998
There are some things in life you should do. One of them is to read, study and apply the techniques outlined in this book. I was normally an average student making average grades. Fortunately, my wife and I took a class in 1989 on "Reading & Study Skills" improvement. This was the text that was used. My grades have improved(A's and B's now)due to this class and this text. It takes work to succeed in any class. This book definately will help you improve your grades in college or high school. I have used it to help teach others how to improve their study skills. You can develop better study habits if you follow the steps in this book.
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