I often get asked to review or recommend books for twenty-somethings. The latest request is a book called a “What They Don’t Teach You in College: A Graduate’s Guide to Life on Your Own.” Since my college graduation was over ten years ago, I thought it would be helpful to have someone who is actually about to graduate from college review the book. Fortunately, Rebecca Bruni, a current college student, was willing to do it!

Here is her review:
“As an upcoming college senior I sometimes get overwhelmed when I think of all the things I am going to be responsible for in one short year. The idea of being solely responsible for car payments, health insurance, taxes and retirement plans can be incredibly scary. James Kramon’s book, “What They Don’t Teach You in College: A Graduate’s Guide to Life on Your Own” breaks down these daunting tasks and prepares you for life after graduation. One of my favorite aspects of the book is that in each section Kramon includes a list of key words and definitions so that you can familiarize yourself with important terminology in different situations. For those of us who will graduate college not knowing what a “draw” is as it applies to employment contracts, don’t worry! Kramon covers this and many other words in the list of key terms in the “Your Job” chapter.

This book even goes so far as to show readers what a blank W-4 form looks like so a new employee can be prepared to fill out tax forms at a first job. The book also includes sample business letters, from a complaint to a landlord to a letter to your bank if you suspect fraudulent charges on your account. Kramon does an excellent job of realizing that college prepares you for your future career, but it doesn’t prepare you for life in general. An attorney turned author, Kramon advises that this book not necessarily be read cover to cover, but be used as a reference when different situations arise after graduation.

Different sections of the book are very easy to reference. You will learn how to handle all kind of situations from the importance of writing your living will to having a termite inspection on your first home. Perhaps Kramon should leave his job as an attorney and turn this book into a text that would become a mandatory course at colleges around the country. I think it would make for much more self sufficient graduates entering the work force upon graduation! If not, however, everyone should pick up a copy of the book. It seems like it would come in handy.

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