What students at 10 of the best colleges in the country are reading this summer

Published Sat, Aug 5 201711:00 AM EDT

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As summer winds down, across the country are finishing their required or suggested summer readings. Collegiate summer reading lists are selected by some of the world's brightest academics and are designed to challenge, educate and engage students. No matter what stage you are in your career, can .

Penguin Random House compiled a list of over 440 collegiate summer reading programs for the 2017-2018 academic year. Common among this year's list are books that give students the tools to discuss the current political climate. Pomona college selected "Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right" by Arlie Russell Hochschild. Princeton University opted for their students to read "What Is Populism?," by Jan-Werner Müller.

Princeton University

Source: Princeton University

Other schools selected books that can be broadly applied. For example, Olin College of Engineering encourages students to read, "Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation" as by Edward L. Deci and Richard Flaste.

This book breaks down how to motivate people as students, professionals and individuals and argues that "the best way to motivate people — at school, at work, or at home — is to support their sense of autonomy." Publisher's Weekly describes "Why We Do What We Do" as "An insightful and provocative meditation on how people can become more genuinely engaged and successful in pursuing their goals."

If you're looking to be challenged and inspired or just on the hunt for your next read, check out the great books that college students are reading this summer: