Looking back on 2021, one of the things I am proud of is my commitment to reading every day. I read all sorts of things, from poetry to “how to” books to pop psychology to meditation guides to more traditional novels and nonfiction. That said, I wanted to share a selection of books that, while not explicitly related to college counseling per se, provided some interest and perspective to my professional world. Here are the top five-ish from 2021… 

1. Time Off, John Fitch & Max Frenzel - As a career-long college counselor, I was struck by the power of this book’s focus on reclaiming leisure time. I have certainly recognized the pitfall of evaluating my work life by how busy I am. This book dismantles that perspective and, instead, focuses on how to build a rest ethic as opposed to a work ethic. I found that I was able to apply a lot of the lessons learned to my time away from work, but I also developed new practices at work that would allow me to put the work away when I was able.  

2. Permission to Feel, Marc Brackett - Dr. Brackett is the director of the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence, and this book examines the concept of emotional intelligence and how to develop it. One concept that took hold within me as a college counselor is the clarity of the research that an individual’s emotions determine whether content will be processed “deeply” and retained, something that I have spent a great deal of time pondering in thinking of my goals in working with students. 

3. Stop Leading, Start Building, Robyn R. Jackson - This book had more staying power than I initially thought it would. Having worked now at 6 different high schools on four continents, I have become leery of schools’ focus on vision, mission, and values in that they have always tended to seem to be more about marketing and less substantive. That said, this book provides an interesting take in how to take that next step, not only within your broader institution but also within your niche area. As a college counselor, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the ways in which our work aligns with vision, mission, and values and how to bring them more into alignment. 

4. The Extended Mind, Annie Murphy Paul - I was hooked on this one from the very start. This book is, essentially, a summary of the ways in which modern science has expanded upon our traditional perspectives of the brain and our minds. The book focuses on the ways in which the mind interacts with stimulus external to itself, especially in regards to feelings, body movement, physical spaces, and the like with an eye on improving life and relationships with others. This is a book I intend to re-read in the coming months, particularly in that is is rife with implications for the work of college counselors. 

5. The First 90 Days, Michael D. Watkins - 2021 was a year of transition for me personally and professionally as I relocated with my family to Brazil and to a new school. This is a book that was recommended to me a long time back – by whom, I can no longer remember! – but it has provided a great deal of guidance and support over the years as I’ve transitioned to new places, roles, and schools. For anyone making any sort of transition to a new school or within an institution – which seems to be the lot of college counselors’ lives! – this is a must-have. I am particularly appreciative of the STARS model that is outlined. 

6. BONUS. The Inner Work of Racial Justice, Rhonda Magee - I could not righly leave this one off. For any of us to contribute to the difficult work of justice, we all have a lot of inner work to do, and this book not only guides you through it but also assists with it. While it took me seemingly forever to read, I had to take it in small bites because it provided so much fodder for reflection. As a practicing meditator, I appreciated that the book also gives routine meditations to reflect on the ongoing work we all have to do in regards to equity, justice, and inclusion. 

Of course, living abroad in a country where English is not primary language and where English-medium books are hard to come by, I am slave to my Kindle reader, and so I provide links to Amazon; however, if you choose to purchase, please see how you might support a local, independent bookstore! 

That said, this list was hard to put together, and, in many ways, these five were arbitrarily selected from the list. As such, here is, in no particular order, a selection of other books I read in 2021 that have a connection to college counseling, again, without explicitly being about college counseling or admissions: The No Asshole Rule, Robert Sutton; Brave, Not Perfect, Reshma Saujani; Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice, Meyer, Rose, and Gordon; Biased, Jennifer L. Eberhardt; Farsighted, Steven Johnson; and Street Data, Shane Safir. If you have thoughts or recommendations, please pass them along!