The Concise Edition of the popular Cornerstone: Building On Your Best is designed to help unprepared first-year students become more academically prepared and to help all first-year students adjust to college life. Material and activities in the text empower students to make responsible choices in college and in life. It shows, rather than tells—its real-life vignettes and self-reflective exercises both engage students and help them look at themselves and their lives through different eyes. The text promotes student growth, change, and responsible decision-making—whether the student is looking at his/her own study habits or making difficult decisions about career goals. It maintains a sharp focus on motivation, values , and diversity; provides thorough coverage of “nuts and bolts” issues near and dear to students (studying, test-taking, and succeeding in college and in life); and discusses important new ideas about critical thinking skills, learning styles, and cooperative learning.

The Concise Edition, 2/E consists of 12 of the 16 chapters in the full version of Cornerstone—focusing on core study, presentation, and goal-setting skills. (The full version includes 4 additional chapters on relationships, wellness, stress, and responsibility).