Your college major doesn’t just shape your schedule — it says a lot about how you think, your interests and how you spend your time. So why not let your major guide your next read? Here are some book picks based on your major. Give your brain a break, get your Goodreads ready and crack open a new book. 

Psychology

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides is the epitome of a classic psychological thriller. The book follows Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who is married to a fashion photographer. Everything in her life seems perfect, until one night when Berenson kills her husband and never speaks another word. The novel trails Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, as he tries to uncover Berenson’s story. 

Clear your schedule before opening “The Silent Patient” and plan to be glued to your seat until you finish it. Everyone I know who has read this book, including myself, has not been able to move on with their lives without finishing this novel first. You will enjoy trying to piece together what you think happened to Berenson  but be prepared for the jaw-dropping plot twist that unfolds in the book’s final pages. 

English/Literature 

For my English and literature majors, I have two very similar books, both of which you will equally obsess over. 

“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt is by no means an underrated book. Chances are you’ve heard of the novel if you haven’t read it already. But this doesn’t mean the attention isn’t well-deserved. Tartt’s writing style will transport you into her world — something an English major can greatly appreciate. And of course, the plot has enough drama to satisfy a literature-obsessed student. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a lesser-known novel with the same personality as Tartt’s. If “The Secret History” leaves you wanting more of the same, consider picking up “If We Were Villains” by M. L. Rio. Following a similar plot and setting as “The Secret History,” “If We Were Villains” enraptures its readers all the same, keeping them on a dark-academia high they can ride out through both novels. 

Biology

“Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe” by Jane Goodall is sure to win the appreciation of biology majors. True to its title, this book takes readers through thirty years in Gombe National Park, a community of chimpanzees in Tanzania. 

Goodall paints vivid descriptions of the chimpanzees, bringing them to life before you through love, power, sex and war. This nonfiction scientific biography reads as beautifully as a novel, and is sure to capture the hearts of any reader, especially one with a love for the study of life.  

Political Science

I’ll start this section by getting the classics out of the way. Of course, if you haven’t already, any of these timeless dystopian novels are worth a read, no matter your major. Be sure to pick up “1984” by George Orwell, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood at least once in your life. 

Aside from the classics, consider adding “How to Hide an Empire” by Daniel Immerwahr to your “to be read.” In this nonfiction piece, Immerwahr takes readers to what are sometimes known as the greater territories of the United States, past and present. Among them are the lesser-known Guano Islands, the Philippines and Puerto Rico.  Immerwahr’s research brings to light that there is much more to the U.S. than the shape on a map that commonly comes to mind, revealing what it truly takes to build an empire and keep it running and powerful. 

Journalism

I wouldn’t be surprised if every journalism student has watched (or at least heard of) the movie “All the President’s Men” directed by Alan J. Pakula. However, it would also be worth a journalism major’s time to read the book. 

“All the President’s Men” was written by the two reporters, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who broke the Watergate scandal story at The Washington Post. The book goes even further into depth about this riveting event that was a defining moment in journalism history. 

If you are looking for a fictional story about journalism, “The Imperfectionists” by Tom Rachman is a great place to start. Rachman’s novel surrounds the journalists of an English language newspaper in Rome. The paper is struggling as the journalism industry transitions from print to digital publication, and the novel follows a handful of characters as they face adversity in their personal lives as well. This highly original story is entertaining and tailors perfectly to journalism majors. 

Business

“The Bonfire of the Vanities” by Tom Wolfe is a satirical novel set on Wall Street in the ‘80s. The novel follows three main characters: a bond trader, a Jewish assistant district attorney and an expatriate British journalist. 

Through the three main characters, the novel explores themes of ambition, social class, politics and of course, drama. “The Bonfire of the Vanities” proves to be a classic, continuing to entice readers into the theatrics of every page. 

Nursing 

“Still Alice” was written by Lisa Genova, who holds a doctorate in neuroscience from Harvard University. The novel follows the highly independent Alice Howland, a 50-year-old Harvard professor, as she begins her descent into early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Be prepared to shed a few tears when reading this compelling story, because it is sure to pull on your heartstrings and give you a new appreciation for the fleeting today. 

For a necessary focus on women’s health, I highly encourage you to pick up “Ask Me About My Uterus” by Abby Norman. In this memoir, Norman details her years-long search for medical answers to her unknown and sudden illness that doctors failed to figure out. Dropping out of college for a job in a hospital, Norman works to find an accurate diagnosis. 

This nonfiction work brings awareness not only to medical personnel but to the world about the neglect of women’s health, as Norman puts her story into a broader sociocultural context. 

Education

As the people who will be in charge of shaping the minds of the next generation, I think that any book of true and important substance could be recommended to education majors. 

I’ll use this major to plug my most favorite trilogy, “Beartown” by Fredrik Backman, a series recommended to me by an education major.  “Beartown,” “Us Against You” and “The Winners” will captivate you, force you to fall in love with the characters and break your heart many, many times. 

“Beartown” follows a tiny, forgotten community of hockey lovers nestled in a forest. The novel picks up when the town’s junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semifinals with their star player, and they have a shot at winning. However, a violent act leaves the town uncomfortable and divided, unsure of how to move forward. 

This novel highlights the impact that mentors and adults have on the youth that look up to them, and how the way they act can shape the next generation for the better, or worse. This trilogy sheds light on what it means to be looked up to, and how the actions of a few powerful figures can define a community. 

A good book serves as an impactful way to tap deeper into your major, reflecting questions, themes and challenges that await you in your career. Next time you need a break from lectures and studying, consider a book from this list. Don’t feel tied to your major’s category, any book from this list (and beyond) is worth a read and has a lesson to take with you.

Happy reading!  

Edited by Ainsley Bryson | abryson@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Caroline Sweet and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com 

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com