Summer reading programs for first-year students should be focused on the needs of those students. This book moves away from the paradigm of using general audience novels for summer reading programs. It is a high-impact book written by experienced first-year educators for this specific student audience.

The content articulates to students how a college education can improve quality of their life. The goals of liberal learning, diversity education, and humanity are integrated by educating students about the narrowness of ethnocentric and egocentric perspectives, broadening one's vision to embrace diverse perspectives, and deepening self-awareness.

Primary purposes:

Motivational New students will be inspired and excited about their upcoming college experience. They will learn how college will be distinctively different from their prior compulsory educational experiences, and how it has the potential to improve the quality of their lives in multiple ways.

Contextual It provides new students with an overarching ""big picture"" context that helps them make sense of their upcoming college experience. It will enable them to ""see the forest before they get lost in the trees.""

Preparatory New students will be ready to ""hit the ground running"" when they first step foot on campus. It provides them with high-impact strategies that can have a direct and immediate effect on their success during the critical first term of college.